Pleasure Way seeking suspension upgrades

[PleasureWay2003]

I've got a 2003 Pleasure way built on a Ford E350 super duty van. Not a cutaway but a van. Currently the van weighs 8500 with minimal gear/water and 2 passengers. Rear axle scaled 5300 front 3200. I suspect with full gear it would easily be 9000lbs and close to 6000 on the rear. Its rated for 9500gvwr and 6084 rear.

The 3+1 leaf spring (2775lb rating) and air bags aren't cutting it. It bobbles way too much for my comfort. I'm looking at either the 6+1 or 10 leaf stock options. Ratings are 3750lbs and 4000lbs. Looking for suggestions for which would make the van ride more solidly with less sway/bobble. Feels like a boat now.

Also, the semi float Dana 60 is marginally sufficient or not? as far as weight rating. the 3" narrower track also bugs me and there is no rear sway bar! I heard about the dana 70-2u axle that came in the SRW cutaway vans that is 4" wider. I'm wondering if an axle upgrade is warranted and also which years I should look for for such axle. Sounds like 99-07? Not sure

If anyone has any experience with my situation I'd love to hear you thoughts. I did install new bilstein rv shocks and added castor to about 5 degrees. Helped but rear springs I think are definitely needed.

 

[loper]

Our van weighs 9100, 4300/4800 F/R.

I had handling issues a lot like what you're describing.

I had Alcan springs build a set of 5500# rear leaf packs (helped a LOT) and added front and rear sway bars from an F350. The sway bars made it just about perfect. I have CC880S coils with airbags in them for the front suspension. Fox 2.0s on both axles.

Our van is a 4x4 conversion using 2005 and up F350 axles, so we have a 10.5 Sterling rear axle/Dana 60 front axle. I'm not concerned about the axles being strong enough.

Bottom line, correct springs and sway bars should make a big improvement.

 

[PleasureWay2003]

Our van weighs 9100, 4300/4800 F/R.

I had handling issues a lot like what you're describing.

I had Alcan springs build a set of 5500# rear leaf packs (helped a LOT) and added front and rear sway bars from an F350. The sway bars made it just about perfect. I have CC880S coils with airbags in them for the front suspension. Fox 2.0s on both axles.

Our van is a 4x4 conversion using 2005 and up F350 axles, so we have a 10.5 Sterling rear axle/Dana 60 front axle. I'm not concerned about the axles being strong enough.

Bottom line, correct springs and sway bars should make a big improvement.

I assume that 5500lb is per leaf? If so that's more than I would have guessed. Is the 9100 lb with an empty van or loaded? Right now I am leaning toward the 4000lb springs and I didn't even consider the 5000lb ones as I thought they would be too much.

I recently got an estimate from Alcan by chance for my mostly empty 5300lb weight and they suggested adding 1200lb of capacity.

 

[loper]

No, it's 5500# for the entire rear axle (rear axle weighs 4800#).

The 9100 is trip ready (fuel, water, food, etc.). Sometimes I pull a trailer with a side by side, with about a 400# tongue weight.

I suggest getting a loaded weight for both axles and spec-ing the springs for that weight.

 

[PleasureWay2003]

Got my van weighed again. 8620 lbs with a tank of water and a few odds and ends. I'm sure it will be 9000 lbs fully loaded. 64% of the weight was on the rear axle so at 9000lbs that's 5,763 lbs on the rear axle. My springs are over loaded (5550 rating). I decided to go with 4,000 lb springs for the upgrade. Local shop recommended the same. What off the shelf brands do people recommend? Dayton? Dorman? ATS?

 

[marret]

I am not a Ford guy, but I haven’t seen anyone talking off the shelf options like you mention. May well be some though.
Deaver, Alcan Spring in Grand Junction, CO, Pohl Springworks in Spokane WA, etc.

Maybe someone will come along with better information. Personally, Dorman would be my last choice.

Search this forum for “springs”, couple to get you started:
Replacing leaf springs
Leaf Spring Replacement