Astro tow vehicle suspension mods?

boss302 · 03-03-2012, 08:58 PM

I have a 2003 Astro conversion van and a Coleman popup. Does anyone have reccomendations on lowcost suspension mods to reduce the rear sag when the traler is hooked up? The van sits tevel without the trailer (I do cary a coupple of hand tool boxes and other gear in the asto everyday), but it drops several inches when I hook to the empty trailer. Already have a hitch installed that will not accept a weight distribution set up and should not need that anyway. My father-in-law used to tow a 28' travel trailer and a 20' Erie boat without issue and no mods or fancy hitches (older GMC Safari)

Looking at helper springs, shock packages (air or spring-over), or air bags.... What works and is low cost/low maintenance. I'm leaning to good replacment shocks (van has 80,000+ miles) and helper or add-a-leaf springs as I think weak/worn springs are the main issue.

freyedknot · 03-04-2012, 12:28 AM

just curious ,how much tongue weight does the trailer have? i have a 2000 safari with original equipment still from the factory in 2000. and haul my boatthat has 60/80 lbs of tongue weight. maybe move some stuff around forward in the van and back in the pop up.

da-animal · 03-04-2012, 01:28 AM

if you have rear leaf springs your best bet to stiffen rear suspention would be to add a block or add a leaf, both are cheapest for cost, air bags will be tooo pricy-hope this helps

stevenj · 03-04-2012, 07:50 AM

Does the astro have the single fiberglass spring. I thought they do. My boss loved astros as his personal service vehicle, He had custom springs made (steel) so heavy duty that the truck now loaded breaks axles,but does not sag when loaded to the hilt with tools and equipment.

I bet if you look at J.C. Whitney,they will sell some type of helper set up.

boss302 · 03-04-2012, 08:36 AM

Toung weight is 200-250 ish I'm guessing based on what I've read for the camper. It's a large pop-up weighs in at about 2,500 lbs empty. I haven"t even tried loading it up for camping yet. With 2 kids, 2 dogs, and a wife that can't leave home without the kitchen sink I'm thinking the van will be well loaded. Thus I've kept my work gear in when moving the camper around, can't see reducing van load weight as much of an option. I may take out the back seat, but camping gear will offset that weight.

It has steel leaf springs but not verry stout looking, thay are nearly straight as the van sits without trailer attached. I have been leaning to the helper leaf option as it seems to be the cheapest. I'm hoping somone who has used them will chime in.

My thought is that this is a conversion van, so It was made without the added weight of rear seats (2 captains chairs and a bench), trim, woodwork...Then I add a coupple hundred pounds of gear and the springs may just be worn a bit especialy since thay are not verry heavy to begin with.

Thanks for your help guys! anyone else tow with/ or load up one of these vans? I know ther are still quite a few of them out there and that they get used like a small full sized van a lot.

muskyhound · 03-04-2012, 10:05 AM

I own a 2003 7 passenger and had a 97 that was last van with 248k on it when sold last spring, I pull a 18 1/2 sylvan with it, If I had your problem I would take the springs to a spring shop and have a leaf added, I would not want to count on a air system wile towing, they have come a long way, but if you get a leak wile towing now what, just my 2 cents...

joshie126 · 03-04-2012, 07:53 PM

air bags
deflate when not using them.they work great

bountyhunter · 03-04-2012, 08:03 PM

I had one 2001 convr astro and had a leaf added made a world of diff ,cost was $150. at a spring shop took them couple hrs and back on the road.

bassattacker · 03-05-2012, 03:12 PM

You can add a leaf but it'll stiffen the ride, you can add helper spring and shackle kit, can go the air helper kits either way you go will work fine you just need to let the person installing them know what your intended use is so they can put the proper parts on for that use...

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boss302 · 03-07-2012, 01:08 PM

Thanks. I never even thought of having the work done......so used to being a DIY type I didn't even think of calling a spring shop. I'll definatly look into that. I was looking at a generic helper spring kit from J.C. Whitney or similar.

bassattacker · 03-07-2012, 05:54 PM

i also wouldnt be affraid of air bags, the kits are pretty sound, and yes you will have air leakage but if the kit has an auto inflate sensor or adjustment of some kind you wont have to worry. Things to worry about with air kits: if you dont have an onboard compressor and tank you will not have any way of maintaining the psi level needed to level the van if a leak occurs, also if it does have a compressor and tank a water trap i highly suggest to keep as much water out of the system as possible, will need a reverse flow preventor, and lastly if you do airbags or helpers they have to have a clear area to work in were nothing can hit or cut into them they are tough but can only take so much, pros: the ride is adjustable to your liking, better smoother ride, kits have came along way and are pretty sound and easy for diy.

i had air ride on my custom s-10 i had, roughly around 300 psi drove it daily in the summer with hardly any a problem for 5 years, and thats putting it through some abuse, hopping the front and rear of the truck 2 foot off the ground, dragging frame, the bags werent rated for 300 psi but handled it like a champ and didnt blow till i put compressed air to it at 500 psi.

boss302 · 03-27-2012, 09:50 PM

I bolted on a pair of helpers (1,500lb setting)and they seem to have worked prety well (and cheaply too ~$35). The did raise the rear end an inch or two and the ride is a bit stiffer, but I cam ilve with both. Best part is with the camper hooked up, the van sits about level.