2023 Tahoe Premier towing issues, no air ride

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

15burban

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Posts
152
Reaction score
267
Location
Wisconsin
What's wrong with a little over an inch of sag? There could be more options but the only 2 I see are get a weight distribution hitch or stiffer rear springs. Stiffer springs will obviously make it ride harsher when unloaded.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless you're always towing.
 
OP
OP
C

Capt Ed

TYF Newbie
Joined
Feb 26, 2024
Posts
22
Reaction score
11
What's wrong with a little over an inch of sag? There could be more options but the only 2 I see are get a weight distribution hitch or stiffer rear springs. Stiffer springs will obviously make it ride harsher when unloaded.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless you're always towing.
I do tow my boat a lot 9 months of the year to fish. In my original post, I remarked my Tahoe suspension seemed too soft and asked for recommendations on stiffening it up. To me, the fact it drops over an inch when connected to trailer is a symptom of a soft suspension.

Since my original post, I've not found anything that will work with the IRS. I do not want a weight distribution hitch nor do I think it should be necessary for an suv with over 8,000lbs towing capacity that's only towing a mere 3400lbs.

It's my bad that I did not research enough and bought one without air suspension.
 
Last edited:

dbphillips

Full Access Member
Joined
May 4, 2022
Posts
145
Reaction score
62

olyelr

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Posts
1,699
Reaction score
835
Location
Elk Rapids, MI
No, it's totally GM's bad for releasing a tow vehicle to the market with a Max Tow option and not designing the IRS geometry right. Must be one of those cheap recent graduates they hired...

Try these: https://kingshocks.com/i-30503082-25001-391-2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-2-5-rear-shocks.html?q=
Its not the geometry. Its simple physics (using that term loosely lmao). If they want it to ride all nice and fluffy…well it aint gonna tow diddly.

A simple air shock setup like they have used for the last several decades woulda solved the issue.
 

dbphillips

Full Access Member
Joined
May 4, 2022
Posts
145
Reaction score
62
Sag
Its not the geometry. Its simple physics (using that term loosely lmao). If they want it to ride all nice and fluffy…well it aint gonna tow diddly.

A simple air shock setup like they have used for the last several decades woulda solved the issue.
Sag isn't a problem if you design the linkage correctly to keep everything in line...
 

Chud85

TYF Newbie
Joined
Mar 17, 2024
Posts
8
Reaction score
1
Thanks for your reply. My Tahoe has the max trailering package and magnetic ride. It does not have air ride.

Even at my original 480lb. tongue weight, I'm below the 15% upper limit. I've done everything I can to lower tongue weight. I moved boat back on trailer as far as I can and removed what weight I could from the front. I still get about 1 1/4" sag.

As far as I can tell, there are no practical solutions available for the IRR. https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/thr...rket-airbags-for-towing-do-they-exist.132925/
I guess I didn't realize the air ride was not included with the max trailering and max towing package. Why they wouldn't automatically include that when the truck is rated to tow 8800lbs is beyond me but then again I'm not an engineer. However with the air ride i've noticed when I disconnect my dump trailer i have to put an extra block under the tongue to get it unhooked because the truck rises so high...I've always towed with either a 2500 series GMC van, 2500 series or 1500 series pickup so never had these issues. Once the truck is shut off it slowly lowers back to normal height but kindof a pain. Learning curve on my part I suppose...All things considered mine tows well. Good luck and let us know what route you decide to go.
 

Stbentoak

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Posts
1,658
Reaction score
1,885
No, it's totally GM's bad for releasing a tow vehicle to the market with a Max Tow option and not designing the IRS geometry right. Must be one of those cheap recent graduates they hired...

Try these: https://kingshocks.com/i-30503082-25001-391-2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-2-5-rear-shocks.html?q=
It will tow it....it just ain't gonna look pretty. You can spend a bunch of extra money on hitch enhancers, WD and the like. But having air ride solves this neatly and perfectly every time. If you tow, it's at least a nice to have if not a need to have. Levels my 5K TriToon out perfectly.
 

dbphillips

Full Access Member
Joined
May 4, 2022
Posts
145
Reaction score
62
It will tow it....it just ain't gonna look pretty. You can spend a bunch of extra money on hitch enhancers, WD and the like. But having air ride solves this neatly and perfectly every time. If you tow, it's at least a nice to have if not a need to have. Levels my 5K TriToon out perfectly.
Yeah, I'm sure the air ride is great until you have to repair it. If they had been transparent about the shortcomings of a tow vehicle rated to 8000# and offering a max tow package, I would have ordered it. IF they offered it on RST. Ridiculous that it is High Country only. It's just really poor execution.
 

WalleyeMikeIII

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2022
Posts
2,255
Reaction score
1,842
Location
Sunny and Snowy Minnesota
I guess I didn't realize the air ride was not included with the max trailering and max towing package. Why they wouldn't automatically include that when the truck is rated to tow 8800lbs is beyond me but then again I'm not an engineer. However with the air ride i've noticed when I disconnect my dump trailer i have to put an extra block under the tongue to get it unhooked because the truck rises so high...I've always towed with either a 2500 series GMC van, 2500 series or 1500 series pickup so never had these issues. Once the truck is shut off it slowly lowers back to normal height but kindof a pain. Learning curve on my part I suppose...All things considered mine tows well. Good luck and let us know what route you decide to go.
You could manually lower the vehicle when you park to disconnect…
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,253
Posts
1,864,797
Members
96,804
Latest member
Bigjohnny
Top