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3" Leaves vs Metric Ton leaves


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Hello all.

 

 

I'm planning on getting some new leaves for the back of my 87 SporTruck. I use this MJ for light wheeling, camping, and it also does its fair share of towing/hauling.

 

I come to you guys for advice. What do you recommend for my use? Hells Creek makes a Metric Ton leaf set, as well as a 3" lift pack (for us SUA guys). General also makes two flavors of Metric Ton packs. The 4 leaf and the 5 leaf pack. I do have a 3" lift on the front along with 31" BFG AT/KO's and it is a relatively stripped out, 4 banger Jeep with a manual tranny.

 

Thanks in advance!

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Since you have a 3" lift in the front, I would recommend the 3" lift springs for the rear. Metric tone springs should restore the back of your truck to stock height, which will look like a California rake with a 3" lift in the front.

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If your asking if a 3" lift set will equal the specs of the factory stock standard spec spring set the answer is that they probably will with a quality spring. If you are asking if that set will offer the same capacity as a set spec'd specifically designed to increase cargo carrying capacity then the answer is no. The question is probably whether the stock springs have been adequate for your use in the past? Will the generally harsher ride with unladen HD springs be worth it for the times you do tow/haul? Personally the stock spec lift springs would be my choice. They would level the truck's stance and even with the metric tonne springs you are still missing all of the other pieces of either that or the towing package anyway.

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If your asking if a 3" lift set will equal the specs of the factory stock standard spec spring set the answer is that they probably will with a quality spring. If you are asking if that set will offer the same capacity as a set spec'd specifically designed to increase cargo carrying capacity then the answer is no. The question is probably whether the stock springs have been adequate for your use in the past? Will the generally harsher ride with unladen HD springs be worth it for the times you do tow/haul? Personally the stock spec lift springs would be my choice. They would level the truck's stance and even with the metric tonne springs you are still missing all of the other pieces of either that or the towing package anyway.

 

I'm in the process of throwing in an 8.8 with either 4.56's or 4.88's and am also going to upgrade the braking system. I realize this still won't make it a MT truck, but it should bring me closer. As far as the stock springs having worked for me, they have, but some added capacity would be a welcome thing. I guess I'm just trying to have my cake ans eat it too!

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How well do you think the 3" leaves would hold up to hauling? Do you think they'll be as durable and capable as the MT packs?

That all depends on who you get the lift springs from, and whether or not they are built to the same capacity as factory standard springs. Remember, even a stock MJ has (had) a load rating of 1475 pounds. That's basically a 3/4-ton truck. The metric ton springs and D44 axle raised it to 2200 pounds. Towing should not even be an issue, because the limiting factor is going to be the tongue weight on the hitch (typically 300 pounds or 500 pounds). Beyond that, what counts is the ability of the drive train to pull the weight, and the ability of the brakes (and truck) to stop it.

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well I can tell you with a total of 4" short arm lift that I have, you can kiss the nice comfy stock ride good by but overall the ride is not bad. mostly the rear rides about the same. I  did not notice much of a ride difference with the 800# in the back but my 4 squirls made it clear not to pull out in front of any body lol. I'm currently running the 8.8 with 4.56 gears on 32" tires. its a very usable combo in IMHO. I can still use 5th gear on the highway and off road she still climbs like a goat and it gets about 18 to 20 mpg.

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How well do you think the 3" leaves would hold up to hauling? Do you think they'll be as durable and capable as the MT packs?

 

Seriously, How much are you going to haul?  Meaning are you going to load 2200 lbs in the truck?

 

If you want your cake and eat it also - I would look at a set of air bags or air shocks to increase the payload capacity or to level the truck out with a load.  This would be in addition to the springs of your choice.  Those two things should work together nicely.

 

Previous owner of my truck added 2 overload leafs on each side and air shocks.  All to the full factory Bit Ton/Metric ton package.  He used the truck to haul drywall.  Me?  Biggest load was cement blockes - 2960 lbs worth of them.  Just once, and the truck did it!

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How well do you think the 3" leaves would hold up to hauling? Do you think they'll be as durable and capable as the MT packs?

Seriously, How much are you going to haul? Meaning are you going to load 2200 lbs in the truck?

 

If you want your cake and eat it also - I would look at a set of air bags or air shocks to increase the payload capacity or to level the truck out with a load. This would be in addition to the springs of your choice. Those two things should work together nicely.

 

Previous owner of my truck added 2 overload leafs on each side and air shocks. All to the full factory Bit Ton/Metric ton package. He used the truck to haul drywall. Me? Biggest load was cement blockes - 2960 lbs worth of them. Just once, and the truck did it!

With all the gear and tools I carry when on an outing, I figure I carry about 1000lbs. I also would like to hitch up a 1000-1500lbs trailer to the back of my MJ when going on truly extended outings. I've carried that much (in sand) with my stock springs, but I was hitting the overloads sometimes (felt it on bumps). I honestly hadn't thought of air shocks. How do they handle off road work? Not meg-ultra hardcore rock crawling, but trail rides and maybe some dune blasting (unloaded, of course).

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well I can tell you with a total of 4" short arm lift that I have, you can kiss the nice comfy stock ride good by but overall the ride is not bad. mostly the rear rides about the same. I did not notice much of a ride difference with the 800# in the back but my 4 squirls made it clear not to pull out in front of any body lol. I'm currently running the 8.8 with 4.56 gears on 32" tires. its a very usable combo in IMHO. I can still use 5th gear on the highway and off road she still climbs like a goat and it gets about 18 to 20 mpg.

How fast is your engine spinning at 60-70mph? Your set up seems very similar to what I want, save for the 32's. I'll probably stick to 31's for a while.

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in 5th at 65 to 70 its turning 3000 to 3500 on the factory tach. I don't like to run above 3000 for long periods of time. oh and it takes just a bit to get her wound up to that speed. as long as you can anticipate smaller hills and you can keep the rpms up it runs fine on the interstate. country roads are a bit harder to maintain speed but a down shift to 4th will usually keep you crusing

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