Driving with payload

 Hook up the trailer or load your truck camper onto your vehicle. Climb into the driver’s seat. Pull out of the driveway and onto the road. Do you feel the load you are towing or hauling? Chances are the answer is yes. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel just as safe and stable as if driving an unloaded vehicle?

A vehicle is designed to respond to payload. There are many adverse effects to handling a vehicle if payload is significant. Even if the load is within the manufacturer’s maximum capacity, it’s typical to experience poor handling characteristics. Examples include severe side-to-side sway, front-to-back rocking or ‘porpoising’ and body roll.

Heavier payloads also cause rear end truck sag, where the front of the vehicle is lifting upward due to weight pressing the back end of the vehicle downward. This leads to a number of risks for both your vehicle and personal safety. Click here to see the negative effects of rear end sag on your vehicle.

To address poor handling characteristics, turn your attention to the suspension of your vehicle. If you have overload leaf springs, the StableLoad suspension upgrade is the first suspension modification you should turn to. Torklift International StableLoads are effective on any truck, van, SUV or small commercial vehicle with factory overload leaf springs.

Quick-disconnect StableLoads
installed on lower
overload leaf springIt’s almost too simple. The lower quick-disconnect StableLoad uses a precision laser-crafted series of adjustable wedges to fill the small gap between your leaf spring pack and overload leaf spring. By filling this void, the strength and support of the overloads are activated and put to work as the vehicle engineers intended. This simple but effective suspension mod has major benefits. When driving with StableLoads engaged, experience dramatic improvement in vehicle handling.

For more detail on how overload leaf springs work in conjunction with StableLoads, click here.

 For those who haul campers or tow trailers, the lower quick-disconnect StableLoad is the most versatile suspension
option.

Lower StableLoad wedge pack
with 3 wedgesAs the only suspension product in the industry that has the ability to be turned on and off based on your needs, the StableLoads are ideal for those who use their vehicle for a daily driver. By engaging and disengaging, enjoy extra suspension support when needed without having a permanent effect on the smooth ride quality unloaded factory suspension provides.

To gain real world perspective from those who tow or haul, we introduced the StableLoad Challenge at the KOA campground in Acton, California. The challenge required campers to test-drive two identical Ford F-150 trucks with 2,800 pounds loaded into the truck bed. The load in the truck bed simulated hauling or towing heavy payload.

The difference? One Ford truck had its factory suspension while the other Ford truck had the Torklift International StableLoad suspension stabilizer installed. Test-drivers were blown away by the results. When driving the truck with StableLoads several people mentioned they could no longer feel the load.

During his StableLoad Challenge test-drive David Copeland explains, “It doesn’t feel like you have anything back there!”

Watch the StableLoad Challenge here:

Now that’s what we like to call phantom cargo: the joy of towing or hauling safely with such control and stability that the driver doesn’t even feel the camper or trailer.

Click here for more information on the StableLoad Challenge and learn more about the Torklift International StableLoad suspension stabilizer.