Thuren front leveling coils and payload/towing capacity

[anderson0172]

On my 2015 Cummins I added Thuren 2" coils which were way softer feeling than stock. When I hooked up my 8000lb travel trailer it squatted very noticeably and it drove me crazy so I added airbags which fixed it. In all honesty with the Thurens on the front and stock rear it felt a little unbalanced.

I'm starting to worry about the front being too soft compared to the rear as I am keeping the stock coils on the rear. I have been looking at the Bilstein coils and I'm trying to find out if they are as soft as the Thurens

 

[Razzman]

Have you actually installed them yet? Too soft is a relative term since everybody has different opinions, that said I'm wondering the same and I'm calling Thuren this morning to try and get a definite answer before installing on Sunday. When I conversed via email w/ Chris at Thuren he said they do a lot of fronts only for towing. I know it's going to be softer, that's one reason I did it and I'm adding the Fox shocks all the way around, that will make a difference as well. Now if I don't like the front to rear difference I'll probably add Thuren rear coils and air bags since I want the softer ride. This truck will never do more than tow my 6500lb trailer, never do serious off-road and not haul much ever so I have no issues softening up the ride especially since I have a bad back and some of the jolts do get to me.

 

[anderson0172]

Have you actually installed them yet? Too soft is a relative term since everybody has different opinions, that said I'm wondering the same and I'm calling Thuren this morning to try and get a definite answer before installing on Sunday. When I conversed via email w/ Chris at Thuren he said they do a lot of fronts only for towing. I know it's going to be softer, that's one reason I did it and I'm adding the Fox shocks all the way around, that will make a difference as well. Now if I don't like the front to rear difference I'll probably add Thuren rear coils and air bags since I want the softer ride. This truck will never do more than tow my 6500lb trailer, never do serious off-road and not haul much ever so I have no issues softening up the ride especially since I have a bad back and some of the jolts do get to me.

I have not ordered anything yet, still deciding on which way to go. I'm very happy with my stock ride so spacers are an option I am thinking about although I am still leaning towards the coils. I will be upgrading all shocks at the same time as well. I tow pretty regularly and usually about 8500 lbs. I know alot about motorcycle suspension setup as that's what I do for a living and on motorcycles balance is key, and matched spring rates front to rear is important. Maybe on a truck that is not as crucial and I am worrying about nothing, lol

 

[Motoman501]

I would have to agree. I liked how the front felt with the new coils and the Thuren shocks so I probably should have worked on the rear. On things like speed bumps the front soaked up the bump and the rear was much more harsh.

 

[anderson0172]

I would have to agree. I liked how the front felt with the new coils and the Thuren shocks so I probably should have worked on the rear. On things like speed bumps the front soaked up the bump and the rear was much more harsh.

That's what I'm afraid of, I tow regularly and haul some heavy cargo in the bed so I don't want to decrease payload capacity with softer springs in the rear

 

[Razzman]

So got it done last weekend, all I can say it's a big difference! The truck no longer hammers me going over speed bumps and into driveways and very smooth on the street. The Fox shocks are fantastic and made a big difference on the rear with stock springs, which I didn't really a difference to be so big. It's actually smoother in the back, you can still feel it but it more subtle now. I had asked Thuren if it was exactly a 1" lift and they said yes. Nope, I got 1 1/2" lift so now I have exactly a 1" difference front to back.

 

[Xflight29]

So got it done last weekend, all I can say it's a big difference! The truck no longer hammers me going over speed bumps and into driveways and very smooth on the street. The Fox shocks are fantastic and made a big difference on the rear with stock springs, which I didn't really a difference to be so big. It's actually smoother in the back, you can still feel it but it more subtle now. I had asked Thuren if it was exactly a 1" lift and they said yes. Nope, I got 1 1/2" lift so now I have exactly a 1" difference front to back.

View attachment 12070View attachment 12071

truck looks great.

 

[Razzman]

truck looks great.

Thanks I'm really happy with it.

 

[Mat_HD]

Do you have the factory air ride?
I talked to CJC Offroad yesterday and they recommended the Thuren 1.75 springs, Fox 2.0s all around, and the Carli drag link for 3500s with factory air to get a softer ride but maintain the "most stock possible" look. They also added that either the Thuren or Carli sway bar would significantly help out with the ride in addition to the springs up front and shocks all around.

 

[Razzman]

I do not have air ride. I would talk directly with Andrew @ Thuren on this. The front sway bar makes a huge difference, in essence it acts like a giant shock. Along with the springs and Fox shocks the front end is super compliant now. But since you have air ride they may make a different recommendation.

 

[Mat_HD]

Thanks for the response. I reached out to CJC to see what their thoughts are on adding a 1" spacer to the rear bags and rear leafs incase I feel the truck is front high. I like a little bit of a rake and but also don't want the truck to look ridiculous with the stock wheels.

 

[Razzman]

Thanks for the response. I reached out to CJC to see what their thoughts are on adding a 1" spacer to the rear bags and rear leafs incase I feel the truck is front high. I like a little bit of a rake and but also don't want the truck to look ridiculous with the stock wheels.

I would definitely talk with Thuren then. My coils were supposed to raise it 1" but actually raised it 1 1/2". If that is the case the 1.75" coils might raise yours more than you want. Luckily on mine the extra 1/2" is fine bit i'll have to adjust the WD hitch a bit more as the rear drops 1 1/2" when the trailer is attached.

 

[LateToTheParty]

I would definitely talk with Thuren then. My coils were supposed to raise it 1" but actually raised it 1 1/2". If that is the case the 1.75" coils might raise yours more than you want. Luckily on mine the extra 1/2" is fine bit i'll have to adjust the WD hitch a bit more as the rear drops 1 1/2" when the trailer is attached.

Is that after settling?

My 3" front was close to 4 the day I installed it, but after the first tank of gas (600ish miles) it settled and is now almost exactly 3".

 

[Razzman]

Is that after settling?

My 3" front was close to 4 the day I installed it, but after the first tank of gas (600ish miles) it settled and is now almost exactly 3".

There's been no settling so far, we'll see

 

[RamGuy84]

I had Thuren coils and their track bar and fox shocks installed in my 3500. I had a 1" block installed in the rear. It rode great with 20s on Nitto ridge grapplers, but Ive been running 55 psi front and 65 psi rear with the cold temps in MN and I tow, so now the ride doesn't feel any different than stock. When I got the tires on the rims they had 45 psi in them and truck rode like a Cadillac

 

[wpgram]

I had Thuren coils and their track bar and fox shocks installed in my 3500. I had a 1" block installed in the rear. It rode great with 20s on Nitto ridge grapplers, but Ive been running 55 psi front and 65 psi rear with the cold temps in MN and I tow, so now the ride doesn't feel any different than stock. When I got the tires on the rims they had 45 psi in them and truck rode like a Cadillac

Which size front coils did you use? im thinking the same setup. Is there and rake left?

 

[Razzman]

Which size front coils did you use? im thinking the same setup. Is there and rake left?

I did the 1" diesel coils. Right now if measuring center of hub to bottom of flare it's 26" front and 27" rear, definitely still has a small rake which I wanted since I tow. See picture above and you can see the rake is still there a bit. Now here's the disclaimer, I actually got 1 1/2" of lift but as someone said above it may settle but since i haven't driven it much I can't say if it will or won't

 

[wpgram]

I did the 1" diesel coils. Right now if measuring center of hub to bottom of flare it's 26" front and 27" rear, definitely still has a small rake which I wanted since I tow. See picture above and you can see the rake is still there a bit. Now here's the disclaimer, I actually got 1 1/2" of lift but as someone said above it may settle but since i haven't driven it much I can't say if it will or won't

I tow a 5th with a hitch weight around 1600 LBS so i too want some rake.
I was thinking the 1.75" diesel coils but now im rethinking that...

 

[Razzman]

Well this might help you decide. My truck does not have air ride and my trailer weighs 6,520 lbs. give or take a few. When I drop it on the ball the truck settles 1 1/2". Now for me I can pull that back up with my weight distribution hitch without worry. You have leaf springs so I don't know what happens there.

 

[wpgram]

I sit a little rear high with my 5th on. slight rake.
So if i do that same as yours i should be dead nuts level when loaded...