Search for heavy duty springs (rear leafs and front coils)

[2wheelbob]

Anybody have any recommendations for a source of or experience with heavy duty springs for an early Bronco with a camper attached (approx. 1000lbs)? My truck has the stock springs with helpers on top and additional coils mounted where the rear bump stops are located. I would like to replace them with some that are newer and possibly gain a little height (2"). It looks like the traditional suppliers all have the same progressive 11 leaf packs. I am just starting the search and figured I'd seek out advice here first. Thanks in advance!

Bob

 

[matt w]

I had custom springs for my jeep and they were great! I recently requested a set for my bronco but have not pulled the trigger!

I promise you WILL NOT be disappointed because you give them ALL the information, weight of the truck and what kind of driving you do, they then custom make them for your ride!

http://www.alcanspring.com/index.htm

 

[bronconut73]

Might be worth it to contact National or Deaver directly.
With the 9 and 11 leaf packs costing so much a custom set may not be much more.

 

[Whoaa]

Air bags!

All commercial trucks use air bags just for this reason.

If you just use "heavier" springs what you're really doing is making it so stiff that something else will break/crack -such as the frame, and the ride quality will be terible.

I had an old Chevy 1 ton dully with a 12' dump bed. Because this truck was a factory long-chassis w/ the 12' bed when I loaded it heavy the front end became light so the steering and brakes wasn't safe. I welded some extra structure to the frame and then made some mounts for the air bags between the diff housing and the frame. I ran the filler hoses up to a handy location and then would choose to use them at 30psi for light loads, or up to 70psi for heavy loads.

Camper sales places sell overload airbags all of the time, its super common in the camper world and light/medium duty commercial trucks.

 

[carmi]

While I would agree that air bags are probably the best option, and custom springs would probably work pretty good, another option is to put full size Bronco / F150 springs in. Not sure if anyone still makes the kit but I did it over 10 years ago and consider it one of my best upgrades. Still using the original leafs that I pulled from a 1988 OJ Bronco. The springs are about 12" longer so they flex really good but don't sag like the 11 pack nationals did after a couple years of use. The best part is you can get the springs in a number of different capacity's for very cheap new or next to nothing from the local pick n pull. I think I paid $200 for the brackets with all new bushings and $50 for the springs.

 

[SteveL]

What about ranchos? They're really stiff.

 

[matt w]

I had custom springs for my jeep and they were great! I recently requested a set for my bronco but have not pulled the trigger!

I promise you WILL NOT be disappointed because you give them ALL the information, weight of the truck and what kind of driving you do, they then custom make them for your ride!

http://www.alcanspring.com/index.htm

I'm telling you at least call and talk to, I think his name is Mark. They are not as expensive as you might think and out of all the different lifts I have had on different 4x's over the years these were the best because of not only the craftsmanship but the custom manufacturing.

I will be purchasing a set of rears sometime before spring from them as my common "out of the box" sag way too much when loaded with camping gear AND I have had to slip in an add-a-leaf to the 3 1/2" rear springs anyway.

 

[77BRONKOTN]

When I bought my 11 pack 3.5 lift springs i had to take out two leafs so the back was level with the front. Most of the 11 packs ive seen sit too high anyway. Thats probably will be where you want them at.

 

[savage]

I agree air bags are the way to go, when it comes to pulling or carrying heavy loads. The adjustability is a great tool to have , and when your not hauling heavy loads, you can adjust it back for a nice ride.