Spring Question

[Tony2Co]

What is the difference between a stock rear spring on a 2x4x vs a 4x4x? I have a 4x4 and a friend has a 2x4. He and I have pulled the same trailer. His sinks about 3 times lower than mine when we hook up the trailer.

[Bruce1954]

By spec nothing other than the 4X4 has the anti-wrap half leaf with the bumper on the end that does not work to well.

Hence the Radius Rods for the X were invented.

Bruce

[DOC4444]

It's all in the details, of which you have supplied almost none. Let's assume that the trailer configuation really is identical, same load, same tongue weight, same ball height. Let's assume same WD hitch with equalizer bars set to same tension on both rigs.

Now, let's assume you have a dead stock 2001 7.3 4WD PSD Ex. Your friend has a dead stock 2WD 2001 PSD Ex.

The front suspension of your truck is probably no more than 1/2" off the bump stops, unladen. Once you start to crank up the equalizer bars, your front end bottoms on the stops. It can't go down any more. That limits how much the rear goes down as well.

Your friend's 2WD with "twin I beam" independent front suspension has more travel and a lower wheel rate. Under otherwise identical circumstances, it sinks a lot more than your 4WD.

Obviously, all sorts of other variables like your trucks being different models/years, stiffer/softer springs, different hitches, unequal loads, no WD hitch so you are actually talking about rear sinking and nose rising, etc., etc., could come into play. I just highlighted the one situation that might not be obvious to you.

DC

[Tony2Co]

They are the same year model. His is a V-10, 2x4. That is the only difference. The load is exactly the same. No WD hitch set up.