How To Fix The Unloaded Ride On A 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually

Updated 07/13/2026 | Published 07/09/2026

Question:

I have a 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 DUALLY and I haul about 5,000 lbs in the bed truck camper. I am looking for shocks that will assist with ride quality as when the vehicle is empty it rides like a ton of bricks and when loaded I want extra support. What shock would assist with both loaded and unloaded ride quality for my truck? Please keep in mind I do haul 5,000 lbs through the summer and take it off for winter. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

asked by: Eric W

Expert Reply:

Welcome back, Eric!

If you do not have a Curt 5th wheel package or the OEM 5th wheel prep packages or a ZR2, you could go with something like the Pacbrake Air Bags # PB97SV. This has internal jounces in the air bags that allow you to run them at 0 psi, so they will not affect the unloaded ride (other brands require at least 5 psi at all times and will affect that). The included compressor also lets you adjust the pressure on the fly, which is a very big plus. At least in my opinion.

That said, if it's your stock suspension is what's stiff and not an upgrade doing it, none of the upgrades we have are going to help what you are experiencing, unfortunately. You could try lowering the air pressure in the tires as a quick test and this can actually do a lot more than you would expect. You will need to air them back up when you are loaded, of course.

Another thing you could try would be softer shocks. Again, we don't carry these currently, but they are out there. I would typically look at Bilstein or Fox for something like this. These kinds of things will help, but may not get you to where you want to be by themselves. It is an option though, and in conjunction with lowering the psi in your tires, it may very well get you closer to where you are wanting to be. Doing the shocks will affect the loaded feeling though, so I would absolutely get the air bag kit mentioned above to supplement the softer suspension. And with them being able to go down to 0 psi when not carrying anything, it still will not affect the unloaded, softer ride.

Some people have swapped out the 3500 leaf springs to the 2500 leaf springs, but I would not do this in your case. The 2500 has a payload capacity of 3,195 lbs and 4,081 lbs (depending on cab and bed length) and would not be enough to handle the 5,000 pounds you haul during the summer. So definitely go this route.

What kind of camper are you carrying? And where all have you taken it so far?

expert reply by: Lazer S