I got the black Sumo's installed today. I wasn't able to tow our fifth wheel but maybe will do a short test tow next week. I did hook up so I could see where it sits before and after the install. Without the Sumo's my deflection is right at 3 inches. With it I'm at 2 1/4 inches so I only gained 3/4 of an inch. At first I was disappointed but the more I looked at it I could see it did make a difference in how the truck sits. From a visual it appears level. Without the Sumo's the back end of the overload spring was firmly against the stop. With them I could get my finger in between the stop and the spring. I finally decided it is just right.

My first try was with all 3 spacers which gave me about a half inch between the springs and the bump stop. I did a test drive to see if it affected the ride. I really couldn't feel any difference but decided to take one of the half inch spacers out to give a little more clearance. I hooked up again and surprisingly the deflection didn't change so I'm leaving them where they are.

The first picture is unloaded, the second hooked up without the Sumo's and the third with them installed. Forgot to say my hitch weight is right at 3200 pounds.

 

Here's my truck pulling about 22k with probably 4500-5000lb tongue weight. Don't notice it unloaded. Yes I'm way overloaded, I was only on small county roads and didn't go very far. I was still under my tire capacities.

 

Wow, that really squished the yellow ones. I really hope this works for me. I've had air bags on 2 different trucks in the past 10 years and while good I just didn't want to mess with them. The Sumo's are much simpler.

 

Thank you for all your input and details. Helps tremendously.

 

They are rated to 2800 lbs @ 50%, he said he has around 5k on the ball so not surprising to me. Would be neat to attach a GoPro and watch it going down the road.

 

Yeah I was happy in how it handled, I also have the snow plow camper package so I have rear overloads as well. I have mine setup to about an 1" of clearance when empty.

 

I finally got to do a test tow with our fifth wheel today. I knew immediately the ride was way too harsh. I could really feel the bumps. The springs come with 2 half inch spacers and a one inch. I had already removed one of the half inch spacers so I removed the other one. Much, much better ride wise. In fact, it was smoother than it was with my previous 17 F350 dually.

 

Sounds like you are a happy fella, enjoy. I’m running just two half inch spacers. The instructions state to run a minimum of a half as the base plate is angled and the 1 inch is just a bit larger than the angle. I would take the 1 inch off and put the two ½ inch

 

Pay a little extra for a few spacers and different size bolts .

the summosprings works best if you can do compression preload vs having a gap between the top of the summosprings and the frames top.

talk to customer support and get their input.

 

You're supposed to have a gap, that way you aren't changing your unloaded ride quality.

 

The Superduty spring doesn’t need additional bolts like the one in the F150. Due to how they mount on the frame the SD version had a threaded rod attached already and you can adjust the spacers with the length provided.

They don’t have to touch empty as the post above mentioned as you he stated. Not only you can select the spring color (density) to obtain your desired effect but you can also adjust when it engages and how much compresión you have empty vs loaded.

I run two of the ½ inch spacers.

 

I think what Speakerftriz is alluding to is when you are ready to tow or haul heavy, then increase the number of spacers so as to eliminate the gap and pre-load the Sumo Spring. This is what I plan to do when I load our Lance camper. Jack the truck up from the bottom of the rear box hitch, take the load off the Sumo Springs, and then add another spacer. Then lower it back down and off you go. Just like using my upper Torklift stableloads - they go on with the camper and come off with it.

 

That defeats the purpose of the idea behind the Summospring. The idea is you set it and forget it. I understand that some people switch trailer, but most will have the SP set up for the heaviest trailer or the one they tow the most.

if you are going to add spacers when towing and removing when not, might as well go with airbags.

I’ll give you my example, I tow a 35 ft TT that is close to 9k loaded and a TW of 1,400 lbs. if I add all 3 spacers, that is two inches worth of spacers my truck will ride rougher even with the trailer connected and the hitch with just a few washers. The truck will also tend to oversteer. I can also feel them while empty.

with two ½ inch spacers the truck rides the best when hitched to the trailer and I don’t feel them when empty.

i have an equalizer 14k, I run 6 washers and 1 inch worth of spacers. This provides the best ride for me. I don’t tinker with the SP. they are set and forgotten about. Hitch up and go!

 

That defeats the purpose of the idea behind the Summospring. The idea is you set it and forget it. I understand that some people switch trailer, but most will have the SP set up for the heaviest trailer or the one they tow the most.

if you are going to add spacers when towing and removing when not, might as well go with airbags.

I’ll give you my example, I tow a 35 ft TT that is close to 9k loaded and a TW of 1,400 lbs. if I add all 3 spacers, that is two inches worth of spacers my truck will ride rougher even with the trailer connected and the hitch with just a few washers. The truck will also tend to oversteer. I can also feel them while empty.

with two ½ inch spacers the truck rides the best when hitched to the trailer and I don’t feel them when empty.

i have an equalizer 14k, I run 6 washers and 1 inch worth of spacers. This provides the best ride for me. I don’t tinker with the SP. they are set and forgotten about. Hitch up and go!

 

I had air bags previously (on my 2006 F250) and did not like them with a truck camper. They lasted 2 years and then became heavily cracked, at which point I was always concerned about a bag springing a leak or blowing-out with the camper loaded - meaning a certain wreck. I guess air bags, a top heavy load, and lots of forrest service dirt roads and trails (i.e., lots of side to side rocking) is not a good combination. I switched to steel (leafs) and never looked-bag at air bags.

My 2016 F350 came with oem upper auxiliary springs. I added a second leaf up top and a 1” add-a-leaf to the main spring pack. With upper stabeloads it’s pretty good with the camper, but could still use a bit more support. Hence the yellow Sumo Springs.

With truck campers there really is no such thing as ‘set it and forget it’. The truck needs to be transformed to properly and safely accommodate the camper. Remove the tailgate, inflate tires to 80 psi, attached frame tiedowns, adjust compression dampening on the shocks to ‘full’, install upper stable loads, and add Sumo Spring spacers. Afterward it needs to be transformed back, otherwise it would ride like a lumber wagon and the ‘normal’ driving experience would be unpleasant.

I can see how with travel trailers this kind of “prep” may not be needed, or at least not needed to the same degree. With truck campers 100% of the load is carried by the truck, and there are no trailer axles, springs, and tires to help share the load. The truck has to safely carry the weight as well as start and stop it.