72 with Leaf and Coils?!!?

[JesseSimon]

Anyone ever heard of or seen a truck with Leaf and Coil rear suspension? Im looking at a 72 for a parts truck and it seems to have some extra! Its got both! Anyone know why?

[nightmare]

overload springs were available as an option for the coil spring trucks, and will have a single leaf mounted at the rear of the frame, facing forward, and arching down to meet a pad on the trailing arms.

i had a pair on my 1st '69. have since sold the truck, but still have the overload springs.

[69GMCLonghorn]

Yep! That was what I was going to say. It is a GREAT set up. Once it hits that overload, you can load the heck out of it.

Not sure if this might also be what you're referring to, but on some trucks you can have a standard leaf spring rear end and have COIL overloads mounted inboard of the leaf's on the rear axle housing. Same as any other overload, the coils don't hit and take effect until the rear drops about 3". My dad had a '63 F**D F-100 with these. We put an 8' Lance camper on it and it sat about 1" below level and rode perfectly.

[capev86]

they are slick, but i'd prefer heavier duty springs. my dad's 72 burb 1/2 ton had the overload springs and after he replaced the worn out rear coils w/ 3/4 ton springs, the overloads never engaged again...even with our heavy 71 holiday hitched up. i plan to put 3/4 ton HD option rear coils on my 72 3/4 ton burb for super duty towing (thinking big toy hauler trailers and stuff over 30 foot)

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by capev86

they are slick, but i'd prefer heavier duty springs. my dad's 72 burb 1/2 ton had the overload springs and after he replaced the worn out rear coils w/ 3/4 ton springs, the overloads never engaged again...even with our heavy 71 holiday hitched up. i plan to put 3/4 ton HD option rear coils on my 72 3/4 ton burb for super duty towing (thinking big toy hauler trailers and stuff over 30 foot)

If you're going over 30' in length, I'd think about bagging the back end, rather than loading on stiffer springs that might ride like crap when empty. The bags are more $$$, but I understand the ride quality is greatly improved.

[capev86]

a stiff ride doesn't bother me and it will help in handling on corners. i'd be more worried about too hard in the front. that's one of many reasons i don't like 4x4's.....beam axles on the front make them ride like terrible. 2wd's ride sooo smooth with independent suspension and this era truck has a great suspension at both ends! i am not going to be using my truck as a daily driver and i don't want the extra complication of air springs. HD springs are a set it and forget it upgrade. i bought it mainly for taking to cars shows and to haul things with.....the kinds of things you do with a nice truck!

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by capev86

a stiff ride doesn't bother me and it will help in handling on corners. i'd be more worried about too hard in the front. that's one of many reasons i don't like 4x4's.....beam axles on the front make them ride like terrible. 2wd's ride sooo smooth with independent suspension and this era truck has a great suspension at both ends! i am not going to be using my truck as a daily driver and i don't want the extra complication of air springs. HD springs are a set it and forget it upgrade. i bought it mainly for taking to cars shows and to haul things with.....the kinds of things you do with a nice truck!

I can't argue one bit with that! Send pics of it loaded... For whatever reason, we like those things...

[capev86]

when i get a class IV/V hitch on it. i am thinking about having a really slick custom hitch made that will utilize the 6 factory holes in the frame. i don't like the ones that LMC and other companies carry. and most don't even take 10,000 pounds. i am thinking a 12,000 rated hitch would be awesome because that's what some big toy haulers and utility trailers get up to. the truck came with a frame mounted class 2 draw bar style hitch that will handle boats and small cars on a tow dolly, but i will look into someone serious by next year as money allows me. keep the faith, ladies and gents.....

[72HULK]

Any problems towing a 1700lb. trailer hauling a 3100lb. tractor with a 1972 K10. 350, SM465 and 3.73 rear axle. Taking it real easy on country roads for about 18 miles??????? Leafs only no coil springs.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by 72HULK

Any problems towing a 1700lb. trailer hauling a 3100lb. tractor with a 1972 K10. 350, SM465 and 3.73 rear axle. Taking it real easy on country roads for about 18 miles??????? Leafs only no coil springs.

Your trailer and tractor combined will total 4800 pounds. As a rule of thumb, tongue weight is about 10 percent of the total load, so tongue weight of 480 pounds. No worries about that weight.