Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 07:26 PM

What has anyone done about the backbreaking ride of these things? Ive thought about taking some springs out of the back but im not sure if that would work. Anyone else done anything like this?

**leddzepp** · 09-02-2009, 07:33 PM

You can try pulling a few leafs out (I assume you have leafs instead of coils). Didn't do much for mine. That's why I am converting over to half ton with coil springs.

ironhead342001 · 09-02-2009, 07:36 PM

Drop about 800 pounds in the bed and they ride great.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 07:36 PM

Do you have a build post? if not you should make one im definitely interested in doing that. I have a spare 1/2 ton in my back yard. Unless your just swapping frames.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 07:38 PM

I've had i think it was 2.3 or maybe 1.3 tons in the back or something like that and it rode like a Cadillac

**leddzepp** · 09-02-2009, 07:38 PM

I will be starting a build thread soon. Just picked up a 72 SWB coil sprung chassis

**leddzepp** · 09-02-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironhead342001

Drop about 800 pounds in the bed and they ride great.

I have found that this works better than removing leafs.

Gumby'sC20 · 09-02-2009, 07:40 PM

my coils ride like a Caddy! - even with no weight in the back, you get a little bounce...but shes rides superb.

CG · 09-02-2009, 07:58 PM

I always figured thats part of owning a 3/4 ton. You have it to haul, and heavy duty haulers ride rough when empty. If you modify it to ride like a sissy C10 (lol) why bother having a 3/4 or one ton?

vectorit · 09-02-2009, 08:16 PM

I'm with CG on his standing.

My burb rides very nice, firm but not too firm.
But then I have a 4x4 with leafs all around, and I'm runnin 33" tall tires so it feels great to me on the open road.

**leddzepp** · 09-02-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

I always figured thats part of owning a 3/4 ton. You have it to haul, and heavy duty haulers ride rough when empty. If you modify it to ride like a sissy C10 (lol) why bother having a 3/4 or one ton?

If you like back problems and pi$$ing blood, a 3/4 ton is the way to go

**special-K** · 09-02-2009, 08:44 PM

The ride never bothered me.If I wanted a car like ride I`d drive a car.It did ride better with the camper on the back,though.Without the camper it rode like a Chevelle with air shocks.I guess I came up with these and have just always liked them.

**WorkinLonghorn** · 09-02-2009, 09:02 PM

Yeah I agree (with Special-K). I never even notice. Maybe your shocks are shot? Cab-mounts gone? Etc.

Elephanthead · 09-02-2009, 09:09 PM

As soon as I can find enough 1/4 steel, I am replacing my flatbeds floor with that just for the improved ride.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 09:11 PM

Im considering on just adding weight but i can barely afford to drive it now

sleepertruck72 · 09-02-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

I always figured thats part of owning a 3/4 ton. You have it to haul, and heavy duty haulers ride rough when empty. If you modify it to ride like a sissy C10 (lol) why bother having a 3/4 or one ton?

Quote:

Originally Posted by vectorit

I'm with CG on his standing.

My burb rides very nice, firm but not too firm.
But then I have a 4x4 with leafs all around, and I'm runnin 33" tall tires so it feels great to me on the open road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

The ride never bothered me.If I wanted a car like ride I`d drive a car.It did ride better with the camper on the back,though.Without the camper it rode like a Chevelle with air shocks.I guess I came up with these and have just always liked them.

All of the above
I don't know about anyone else, but my C-20 feels great and solid like a truck should. I would say get an extra cushion for your seat for extra comfort, or carry 800 lbs. in the bed all the time

jeffspower · 09-02-2009, 09:32 PM

I switched from the original 52" 6 leaf stack to a 56" 8 leaf stack out of an early '80s one ton. It rides much better due to the longer leafs added flex.

I suspect that a 56" 6 leaf setup would ride even better.

NORMSCOLORADO · 09-02-2009, 09:36 PM

my 30 has 12 leafs 7 standard and 5 overloads i havnt had it on the road yet but i expect the worst! lol

CG · 09-02-2009, 09:50 PM

When my four year old granddaughter is with me some times we will be taking a short cut through the Safeway parking lot and Ill call out BUMP! and we bounce over the speed bumps...she just laughs and says do it again grandpa...I think she likes the K20 =)

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 10:04 PM

Haha CG atleast you have someone who appreciates a rough ride. In my truck me and my friends call out bump! and thats followed by groans and stuff bouncing around

capev86 · 09-02-2009, 10:14 PM

my 72 burb 3/4 ton 2wd drives pretty firm. i think some fresh, modern shocks will smooth things out. but i still plan to replace the rear coil springs with the HD option units because this is a truck that will be used for hauling trailers as well as going to car shows. i have my smooth riding 97 sable wagon to use as a daily driver. as long as i don't go firmer on the front it will be fine......the weight only changes at the back. i also have installed a big 1-1/4 front sway bar from CPP and the matching 1-1/8 waiting to go on the back so that firms things up a little.

Wideopenracing15 · 09-02-2009, 10:22 PM

I guess some shocks could do some good. I doubt their been replaced for atleast 30 years

**special-K** · 09-02-2009, 10:24 PM

My wife never complained about the ride in my Custom Camper/20 with leaf springs.She loved driving it.I`m just saying...

70gmcjimmy · 09-03-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

My wife never complained about the ride in my Custom Camper/20 with leaf springs.She loved driving it.I`m just saying...

Hey Special-K my wife loved driving the C2500 as much as possible too and still hints she would like to drive it every day. 25 years ago she was probably driving it more than I was. Now she has a 60 mile round trip to work and back every day up into the hills from our flatland home. My drive to work is 1.7 miles on a little paved county road, so out of practicality, I WIN!

A 3/4 ton is gonna shake yer guts a little with no load. If it don't it aint a 3/4 ton! The 800 lbs mentioned by other folks is real accurate to make them smooth out. During the winter I have a bunch of 25 lb. concrete "test cylinders" to add wieght with a redwood framework so I can still throw stuff up to a 4'x8' dimension in the box.

Later---DAC

vectorit · 09-03-2009, 01:45 AM

My howling transmission will make you more uncomfortable, before the suspension will on a long sustained highway speed drive

09-02-2009, 07:26 PM	#1
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers What has anyone done about the backbreaking ride of these things? Ive thought about taking some springs out of the back but im not sure if that would work. Anyone else done anything like this? Last edited by Wideopenracing15; 09-02-2009 at 11:19 PM.

09-02-2009, 07:33 PM	#2
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,119	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers You can try pulling a few leafs out (I assume you have leafs instead of coils). Didn't do much for mine. That's why I am converting over to half ton with coil springs. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul

09-02-2009, 07:36 PM	#3
ironhead342001 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: id Posts: 23	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers Drop about 800 pounds in the bed and they ride great. __________________ 67 C50 dump truck 69 C10 LWB 70 C30 72 K5 Blazer

09-02-2009, 07:36 PM	#4
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers Do you have a build post? if not you should make one im definitely interested in doing that. I have a spare 1/2 ton in my back yard. Unless your just swapping frames.

09-02-2009, 07:38 PM	#5
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers I've had i think it was 2.3 or maybe 1.3 tons in the back or something like that and it rode like a Cadillac

09-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#8
Gumby'sC20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Binghamton, N.Y. Posts: 116	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers my coils ride like a Caddy! - even with no weight in the back, you get a little bounce...but shes rides superb.

09-02-2009, 07:58 PM	#9
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,149	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers I always figured thats part of owning a 3/4 ton. You have it to haul, and heavy duty haulers ride rough when empty. If you modify it to ride like a sissy C10 (lol) why bother having a 3/4 or one ton? Last edited by CG; 09-02-2009 at 07:59 PM.

09-02-2009, 08:16 PM	#10
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers I'm with CG on his standing. My burb rides very nice, firm but not too firm. But then I have a 4x4 with leafs all around, and I'm runnin 33" tall tires so it feels great to me on the open road. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

09-02-2009, 08:44 PM	#12
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers The ride never bothered me.If I wanted a car like ride I`d drive a car.It did ride better with the camper on the back,though.Without the camper it rode like a Chevelle with air shocks.I guess I came up with these and have just always liked them. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-02-2009, 09:02 PM	#13
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,887	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers Yeah I agree (with Special-K). I never even notice. Maybe your shocks are shot? Cab-mounts gone? Etc. __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme.

09-02-2009, 09:09 PM	#14
Elephanthead Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 187	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers As soon as I can find enough 1/4 steel, I am replacing my flatbeds floor with that just for the improved ride.

09-02-2009, 09:11 PM	#15
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers Im considering on just adding weight but i can barely afford to drive it now

09-02-2009, 09:32 PM	#17
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers I switched from the original 52" 6 leaf stack to a 56" 8 leaf stack out of an early '80s one ton. It rides much better due to the longer leafs added flex. I suspect that a 56" 6 leaf setup would ride even better. __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

09-02-2009, 09:36 PM	#18
NORMSCOLORADO Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: JAY, NY Posts: 176	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers my 30 has 12 leafs 7 standard and 5 overloads i havnt had it on the road yet but i expect the worst! lol __________________ 04 Chevy Colorado Z71 4X4 76 Chevy C-10 Custom Deluxe (sold) 67 Chevy C-30 1 Ton 9' stepper 6.5 Turbo Diesel

09-02-2009, 09:50 PM	#19
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,149	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers When my four year old granddaughter is with me some times we will be taking a short cut through the Safeway parking lot and Ill call out BUMP! and we bounce over the speed bumps...she just laughs and says do it again grandpa...I think she likes the K20 =)



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09-02-2009, 10:04 PM	#20
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers Haha CG atleast you have someone who appreciates a rough ride. In my truck me and my friends call out bump! and thats followed by groans and stuff bouncing around

09-02-2009, 10:14 PM	#21
capev86 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eliot, Maine Posts: 1,314	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers my 72 burb 3/4 ton 2wd drives pretty firm. i think some fresh, modern shocks will smooth things out. but i still plan to replace the rear coil springs with the HD option units because this is a truck that will be used for hauling trailers as well as going to car shows. i have my smooth riding 97 sable wagon to use as a daily driver. as long as i don't go firmer on the front it will be fine......the weight only changes at the back. i also have installed a big 1-1/4 front sway bar from CPP and the matching 1-1/8 waiting to go on the back so that firms things up a little.

09-02-2009, 10:22 PM	#22
Wideopenracing15 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 299	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers I guess some shocks could do some good. I doubt their been replaced for atleast 30 years

09-02-2009, 10:24 PM	#23
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers My wife never complained about the ride in my Custom Camper/20 with leaf springs.She loved driving it.I`m just saying... __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-03-2009, 01:45 AM	#25
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Calling all you 3/4 ton and 1 ton-ers My howling transmission will make you more uncomfortable, before the suspension will on a long sustained highway speed drive __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

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