I have an 02 Supercrew w/ 4.6L I have an XCAL II on order, I run 20's on it and was wondering what shocks would be the best for towing. I would like to pull my 7,000# boat with it, and was hoping that a good set of shocks would help beef up my suspension without having to change the leafs out. I tow my boat about 75 to 125 miles round trip about 3 to 4 times a month in the summer. I know it sounds like excessive expectations for a 4.6L, but I also have an 04 Tahoe that pulls the heck outta that same boat for the past 2 years. I have been afraid to even hook the boat up to the Screw fearing the worst, but some people on here have given me some hope. I just want to beef up the suspension a little. Thanks.

 

Shocks won't do anything to 'beef up' your suspension if you are looking to keep the rear end from sagging when you drop the tongue weight of the trailer on the hitch.

It'll sag the same if you have brand new shocks or no shocks at all. All the shocks do is dampen the bumps and keeps the bouncing to a minimum depending on the damping rate of the shock.

IMO, any decent aftermarket shock is going to be better then the OEM shocks. I've got some shocks called "Mountain Rider 4x4" and they are sold thru a local tire store chain (Les Schwab) and are supposed to be a 'road sensing' type of shock that have varying damping rates depending on the type of bump it hits...

Good luck with the tow! That's a lot for a 4.6, but a boat is going to cut thru the wind better then a travel trailer would, so you won't be fighting the wind as much. The ramps might be interesting if you don't have 4x4 to be able to shift into 4lo while pulling it out of the water....

Mitch

 

I appreciate the input on the shocks not helping the sag, that was my exact objective. I suppose the only way to help the "sag" would be to install some stiffer leaf springs?

I feel ya when you talk about the ramps. I am a little leary about that, but I am hoping that the XCAL II can help my lower RPM Torque for that. Nevertheless it will be interesting. Thanks Again..

 

Screwed02,

I think the official tow rating for your truck (4.6 2wd Screw) is 6600 lbs. I wouldn't try pulling 7000 lbs for more than a very short distance. And let me ask this...does just the boat weigh 7000, or does that figure include the trailer also? If it does not, then I would guess a trailer that would carry a 7000 lb boat would add another 1500 to 2000 lbs minimum, and then you are at 8500 to 9000 lbs. At those weights, you will have a dog of a truck as far as performance, and you will be asking for trouble with the 4R70W transmission.

Even if your boat /trailer combo is 7000 lbs, you are still over FoMoCo's recomended tow limit for the truck. And as was mentioned, getting 7000 lbs up a ramp without 4lo will be interesting, both from a traction standpoint and again from a transmission standpoint.

Do you have the factory tow package?