3/4 ton rear spring ?

[robby]

I want to buy a 3/4 ton 71 or 72 soon and want your opinion on whether coil or leaf is better. To me I prefer leaf as you can add a leaf and they just seem to be tougher. Whats the scoop?

[MOTHERTRUCKERS]

I have 2 3/4 ton coil with factory overloads and pull a trailer with a truck on it and the bed loaded with parts with no problems, 1 is a leaf converted to coil truck we did.

[Longhorn Man]

ONless you plan on overloading it, the coils and leafs are rated the same, and the coils seem to hold up over time a bit better. I have seen many 67 - 72 trucks with a cracked leaf in the rear.

[Stocker]

No problems with my OEM leaf springs, but if you had coils and wanted to beef 'em up for the occasional heavy load, how about adding air bags?

[robby]

Thanks for the input. Is there a perceived value difference? If so would the leaf rear trucks be considered more valuable?

[Stocker]

I really don't know. But I think that possibly (and I know this will be corrected by fellow board members ) 2wd trucks generally have coils, and 4wd trucks have leaf springs. This may vary by year, though, we'll see what the experts here say!

[robby]

I thought the rule of thumb was GMC leafs and chevy coils with some exeptions.

[Longhorn Man]

robby, that is correct, GMC generally had leafs standard with optional coils, while it was the other way around on the Chevys.
However, there is some gray area in the GMC side. I have a 69 SWB 1/2 ton with coils, the numbers match cab to frame, no listing of the coils in the glove box, yet they are under there...same deal on an old friend's 69 GMC LWB 1/2 ton. I also ahve a pic of a GMC's option seet showing leaf springs...
So that rule of thumb is not always quite correct.