That much squat...

[Last2Die]

well, where do I begin. As you can see I have a 2018 3920fb, my old truck 2015 2500 Duramax towed this trailer for just about 2 years with VERY little squat. Once the trailer was hooked up to the truck it was level, the trailer was just a smidge high but not noticeable unless you checked.

Now I have a 2020 GMC 3500 Denali same bed length as the 2500 but the SQUAT....! WOW.. Maybe im being hyper critical so you guys tell me. With the new truck up to the same trailer loaded out the same way nothing has changed the trailer itself is level but the truck is squatting 2.5-3 inches and the truck is bare nothing in bed at all just the trailer.

I was under the assumption that the 3500 would be able to carry the weight better or at least just as well as my 2500 did. Am I being too critical..? is this type of squat normal on a 3500 in comparison to a 2500..?

Im not trying to accept the fact that I need airbags with this truck but it seems I need to open the wallet again to fix something I thought this truck would not have a problem with. again maybe im being to critical.....?

Rear tires at 80psi per manufacturer.

Tony

[Jamesb]

We did the same swap, and the 3500 squatted more. I’m a little OCD, and I couldn’t stand it not being level. So, I opened the wallet again for the airbags. I bought them without the air compressor. About a couple months of adding/releasing air, which is aggravating in the rain. I opened the wallet again for the onboard air compressor. Now, it’s great. And riding down the road you can adjust your ride comfort. Installation only took me one evening for everything. Good luck.

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by Last2Die

well, where do I begin. As you can see I have a 2018 3920fb, my old truck 2015 2500 Duramax towed this trailer for just about 2 years with VERY little squat. Once the trailer was hooked up to the truck it was level, the trailer was just a smidge high but not noticeable unless you checked.

Now I have a 2020 GMC 3500 Denali same bed length as the 2500 but the SQUAT....! WOW.. Maybe im being hyper critical so you guys tell me. With the new truck up to the same trailer loaded out the same way nothing has changed the trailer itself is level but the truck is squatting 2.5-3 inches and the truck is bare nothing in bed at all just the trailer.

I was under the assumption that the 3500 would be able to carry the weight better or at least just as well as my 2500 did. Am I being too critical..? is this type of squat normal on a 3500 in comparison to a 2500..?

Im not trying to accept the fact that I need airbags with this truck but it seems I need to open the wallet again to fix something I thought this truck would not have a problem with. again maybe im being to critical.....?

Rear tires at 80psi per manufacturer.

Tony

I have a funny story. I did the same that you did, went into a 3500 from a 2500 and it id the same think. The squat was really bad about 4 to 5 inches and it was driving me crazy until our camping group went on a camping trip and my buddy said i needed air in my air bags. He showed me the switch and that was the end to my squatting problems.

Do you have air bags or an air ride system in your 3500? Look at your options list on your widow stickers or may be in your guide book.

If thats not the trouble then I would either ask your dealer (Truck) to find out why she is squatting as much as she is. Good Luck...

Charlie

[mhs4771]

I don't know about the newest 3500's, but I know for a fact that some 3500's did not have the overload springs that other 3500 SRW and Duallies have.
My unit is just under 20K and just settles the rear down on the overloads.

[Last2Die]

It does have the overload springs. My thoughts are for a better ride they make contact later causing the truck to have more squat. It holds the weight but I don’t like the front end up even a few inches.

[Last2Die]

I went ahead and ordered some airlift springs for the rear, also got the onboard compressor, wireless function. Guess I’ll be busy installing in a few days when it arrives.

Tony

[1retired06]

Same problem when I went from a F350 SRW to a F350 dually. Same solution, air bags

[Bob and Jeannette]

My Ram 3500DRW does not squat but a couple of inches and nether did my 3500SRW but I added the Airlift anyway, I like it with about 35 PSI trailering.

[KJDP2448]

Air bags is the best way to solve problem.

[knapper42]

just posted a note today about the same problem. My 2020 3500SRW squatted about 2.5 inches and that caused the squat to come within .5inches of the overload springs which was probably OK. that squat actually let my truck bed be level using a 3' long level to measure.
Probably because I was unsure if that .5 inch was to close to the overloads I ordered air bags today hoping that will be to keep me feeling comfortable.
since the truck showed to be level with the rig hooked up I will have to lower the hitch height to bring the RV down a little in the front but that shouldn't be a problem since I have about 9 inches of clearance between bed and RV front.
knapper

[KJDP2448]

You should be good with air bags. 8-9 is good clearance from bed to camper. I have 8 inches know problems. Air the air bags down when not towing. Maybe 10-15 psi. Try to leave little air in bags at all times. Little harder ride. It's a truck not going to get Cadillac ride lol

[skypilot]

One thing no one mentioned above is that with the squat your headlights are now spotting low flying aircraft or worse, blinding on-coming drivers.

[Jeff & Gail]

Does not make sense, my 2017'chevy 3500"w/ SRW does not squat at all. It does go down to the overloads but stops there. I had put airbags on the truck New but now I run with 10 lbs while towing anything more starts to make the ride hard. Wonder what changed from 2017 to 2020?

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by 1retired06

Same problem when I went from a F350 SRW to a F350 dually. Same solution, air bags

WoW! I went from a 2016 SB F350 srw to a 2019 F350 dually. A few items in the LB besides B&W hitch including 32 gallon aux tank, same in the srw. Always trade every 2 - 3 years, went dually as srw though level was too close to overload blocks. The dually drops about an inch to level with FW (forward of axels) at least half full. Never considered bags on either truck.

[Rod Spohn]

Kind of along the same line. I just went from a 2017 HMC 2500 Duramax to a 3500 Dually. I took the airbags off the 2500 since they were less than a year old. You guys seem to know more about the airbags than I. Anyone know if they will fit the 3500 Dually? I would like to put the airbags on it if possible- not really wanting to buy another set. Our 5er has been in the shop for a while so we haven’t been able to hook up and pull it yet.

[Last2Die]

Originally Posted by Rod Spohn

Kind of along the same line. I just went from a 2017 HMC 2500 Duramax to a 3500 Dually. I took the airbags off the 2500 since they were less than a year old. You guys seem to know more about the airbags than I. Anyone know if they will fit the 3500 Dually? I would like to put the airbags on it if possible- not really wanting to buy another set. Our 5er has been in the shop for a while so we haven’t been able to hook up and pull it yet.

check with the manufacturer.

[Montana Man]

FWIW, I put airbags on a 2500 GMC to level the load. It was quite stiff loaded and unloaded using the minimum pressures possible.

[432bartman]

Being that I had airbags on my 2007.5 LMM 2500 Duramax, I went ahead and put them on my 2020 2500 Chevy prior to getting the new trailer. Glad I did, cause 2600 lbs. from the new Montana trailer did drop the rear pretty good. Running my bags at 50 psi leveled the ride out. For $400.00, the bags really are the way to go.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by 432bartman

Being that I had airbags on my 2007.5 LMM 2500 Duramax, I went ahead and put them on my 2020 2500 Chevy prior to getting the new trailer. Glad I did, cause 2600 lbs. from the new Montana trailer did drop the rear pretty good. Running my bags at 50 psi leveled the ride out. For $400.00, the bags really are the way to go.

Ford has a towing section on the dash info center. One item shown is the degree from level side/side and front/rear. With a PW near 3400# and a full 32 gallon six tank plus 200# hitch both my 2016 F350 and 2019 F350 dually point to 1 degree nose high. Verified with a 4’ level. No need for bags at any cost.

[BiggarView]

The OPs 3920FB is already close to maxing out the 3500 GMC SRW (4365 LBS PAYLOAD RATING) when loaded out for full timing.

Crude numbers...

Empty pin 2850 lbs, hitch 50~ lbs, two 3500 watt gennies 200~ lbs, passengers and other cargo in the truck 300~ lbs. airbags and compressor in the truck 100~ lbs and trailer cargo(including a portion of any dealer or owner installed options plus any water carried) on the pin 700~ lbs...

Total 4300 lbs. Just sayin'. Yeah it's gonna squat. Can't explain why it seems to squat more than the 2500 you replaced.