86 k10 Long Bed, rear springs, long or short? does it matter?

[Grit dog]

Thats a k20. I cant even tell im pulling a trailer with this truck. Smooth as glass when pulling a trailer. I love this truck. The k20 does have the longer springs.

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Then my statement above doesn’t matter. Sounds like you need to hook and load the trailer and see for yourself how well they hold the tongue weight.

 

[Nasty-LSX]

All other things being equal, a longer spring WILL ride better than a shorter spring. That's why springs keep getting longer and longer on newer trucks.

Thats why I was asking. I plan on making this my daily driver. I love the K20, but the K10 does ride smoother then the K20. I heard many years ago a longer spring would give a better ride.

 

[bucket]

True, 100%. But how much? Worth the $ and work for 4 more inches? Lol. I can think of things that would be night and day difference 4” longer and springs don’t make that list for me! Lol

Well I know that my '88 Burb came stock with 5-leaf 52's and I swapped them out for 8-leaf 56's and it rides just the same as before. But you can now put a lot more trailer behind it without the rear sagging.

 

[Phipp]

I recently did a rough country 4" lift on my 1985 K-10 SWB. The rear springs are 49" I opted for the heavy 1/2 ton 52"(3/4 ton} rear springs. I had to move my rear spring perches back 3". It's a bit of work drilling the rivets out lining it all back up. I welded my perches back in. I also have a Shop @ home, lift, welders, air, and Plenty of tools. I would have gone w/ 49" Springs 1/2 ton springs doing it in the driveway.My old suspension had tapped out before i bought the truck. If you're towing i'd opt for the heavier springs in the rear.Truck rides much better than it did.

 

[BadBowtie]

I did a frame swap on my 1983 C10 LWB truck years back. I used a 1985 C20 LWB frame.

My 1983 had the short leaf springs and the 1985 had the longer springs. I took both leaf spring packs apart and transferred the top 1985 longer spring onto my shorter leaf spring pack. Worked just fine and I could not tell any ride characteristic change...