I'm looking to upgrade the rear springs in my 97 4x4. It's got the lightest duty spring package...standard equipment I assume. Not the factory trailering package. It has three leafs...if I remember right, my folks' old 98 with the trailer package had 4 or 5 leafs out back.

The previous owner added a set of those gawd-forsaken coil-over helper shocks to pull his travel trailer but this thing just wallers around with my 20' flatbed on the back. Those shocks are coming off but I still need to beef up the rear end.

What options would I have to upgrade the rear capacity a bit and possibly gain an inch or so of lift? (Lift not important, but I won't mind an extra inch of clearance during hunting season!)
The truck still sits level now.
Would it be best to go for a set of factory replacement tow-package leafs or would adding a single long add-a-leaf to the existing springs add the same capacity?

I don't think I want to beef it up this much, but would a set of leafs from a light-duty F250 (same body style as the 150) fit?

 

Anyone trailer with their rig? Still looking for suggestions.

 

look up some spring codes (found on the drivers side door jam). i cant remember what the highest capacity is. i think its K (unless thats torsion bars im thinking of).

anyway, look up the spring code for the stiffest spring and go to a junkyard. find an f150 with that code on the sticker and pull the leafs. thats what id do and its probably the cheapest route.