Towing Setup- SumoSprings or not?

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Hi All!

My setup is a 2019 XLT with HD tow, 4x4 and I recently added load E tires on 18" F-150 wheels.

Camping season is on the horizon and we bought this truck specifically to tow our travel trailer around the mountains of UT. Trailer weight fully loaded is about 4,200, it's single axle so tongue weight is pretty high despite the relatively light weight of the trailer- 600 lbs+. I have no worries about the Expy's ability to tow the TT- we used to tow with a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee with no problems- but I'd like it to be as balanced as possible. We will use an Anderson WDH which will help with leveling for sure but should I also be considering SumoSprings? I see them mentioned a lot on the forum (@BLUWAGN @sjwhiteley) and in this thread about adaptive suspension (which I do not have) https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/adaptive-suspension-and-towing.44591/page-3#post-417917

How do they impact normal driving or light offroading (we spend a lot of time on nasty desert forest roads)? Any other considerations?
 

MattB9418

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I tow a 8k+ TT and was stock until, now. I have bilstein 5100 on order and with those I am going with LT E rated tires. But I have a few more months of backorder time. I just put on the sumo springs last week before a 200 mile haul to go camping. They are well worth it for the rebound damping. The back of the truck doesn't oscillate like it used to after large bumps. I don't know how much it will help with the lighter TT but I am sure it will help some.
 

Fozzy

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Normal day to day driving you will not know the Sumo’s are there. Off roading they do limit up travel. When you hit a big bump that fully compresses the suspension you will feel them. They are worth it even if you have a well set up WDH. No trailer and full of gear in the rear the ass will sag.


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BLUWAGN

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Agreed with @Fozzy that I couldn't tell any difference without a load on it but the rebound is very much reduced especially on bridge approaches and rollers with a load attached. I don't take mine offroad because every place that's offroad in Iowa is a cornfield
 

Randy Schmidt

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Normal day to day driving you will not know the Sumo’s are there. Off roading they do limit up travel. When you hit a big bump that fully compresses the suspension you will feel them. They are worth it even if you have a well set up WDH. No trailer and full of gear in the rear the ass will sag.


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I hate to disagree. But I could tell a MAJOR difference in normal day to day driving. The back of the truck was extremely rigid and could feel every bump. During the summer, I left them on and dealt the the harsh ride, but during the winter when I didn't tow, I took them off. Just couldn't handle the harsh ride with them on during everyday driving. Each has their own opinions about comfort and ride quality. Just wanted to give my 2 cents.
 

Fozzy

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I hate to disagree. But I could tell a MAJOR difference in normal day to day driving. The back of the truck was extremely rigid and could feel every bump. During the summer, I left them on and dealt the the harsh ride, but during the winter when I didn't tow, I took them off. Just couldn't handle the harsh ride with them on during everyday driving. Each has their own opinions about comfort and ride quality. Just wanted to give my 2 cents.

That’s very interesting and sucks. What’s your set up? I have a Max with Max tow and CCD’s. That could be a difference as well. Did you make sure they don’t over lap? That would cause them to hit each other and significantly reduce spring movement. You would have to constantly be using more than 2/3 your spring travel to feel them. I never do that day to day. But off roading I can feel them. So driving conditions would also be a factor.


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Randy Schmidt

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I had a Platinum Max Tow with CCD's. I had a local guy install them. Just too stiff for me. Sumos and truck are now gone... Replaced it with a Navigator.
 
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