When it comes to commercial vehicles like crane and boom trucks, handling uneven weight distribution is a significant challenge. Heavy, asymmetrical loads often lead to suspension sag, uneven tire wear, poor handling, and driver fatigue. Thankfully, there’s a specialized solution designed exactly for these situations: SuperSprings Half Kits.
Today, we’ll dive into exactly what these half kits are, how they work, and why they’re a game changer for crane trucks, boom trucks, and other vehicles dealing with side-specific loads.
What Are SuperSprings Half Kits?
SuperSprings Half Kits provide targeted, side-specific suspension support to trucks with uneven weight distribution. Rather than adding a spring to both sides equally, half kits reinforce only the heavier-loaded side of your vehicle.
Capable of supporting up to 2,400 pounds of additional load on one side, these specialized suspension solutions level your truck, improve ride stability, and enhance overall performance. They’re ideal for commercial trucks like crane trucks, boom trucks, and other upfitted vehicles with unbalanced equipment configurations.
Why Crane Trucks Need Half Kits
If you’re operating a crane truck, you know exactly how the weight imbalance happens. Cranes are often installed on the curb side of the truck, creating a substantial offset load. This uneven weight distribution leads to a noticeable sag on that side, affecting ride quality, handling, and stability.
SuperSprings Half Kits directly address this issue by reinforcing only the overloaded side. By countering that curb-side sag, these half kits restore even weight distribution, improving vehicle handling, reducing tire wear, and greatly enhancing driver comfort.
Choosing the Right SuperSprings for Your Crane Truck
Getting the right fit is straightforward with our specialized tools: the Crane Application Guide. These resources help you identify the correct spring based on key factors such as your truck chassis, crane weight, and additional onboard equipment like generators or compressors.
Once you’ve identified the baseline needs using our application guide, our experienced engineering team works closely with you to fine-tune the exact spring rate and ensure your SuperSprings solution perfectly matches your vehicle’s unique requirements.
Boom Trucks: A Different Kind of Imbalance
While crane trucks often sag on the curb side, boom trucks experience a different imbalance. Although the boom may be centrally mounted, its extended arms often rest over the driver’s side when not in use. This positioning creates a driver-side lean opposite to crane trucks.
It’s important to note: the Crane Application Guide does not apply to boom trucks due to their unique load distribution. Instead, our engineers will collaborate directly with you to determine the perfect SuperSprings solution. We’ll take into account your truck chassis, boom weight, vehicle outfitting, and any other equipment or accessories that contribute to uneven loading.
Partnering Early with Upfitters
The ideal time to add SuperSprings Half Kits is during the initial build-out process. At SuperSprings International, we frequently partner with upfitters right from the chassis-cab stage, before the truck body is even installed. Installing your suspension upgrades early streamlines the process, saving time and labor and ensuring your truck leaves the upfitter ready for work.
Tools for Easier and Safer Installation
We also provide specialized installation tools to help technicians quickly, safely, and accurately install SuperSprings:
- ITL-1 SuperClamp: Provides secure clamping during installation.
- ITL-2 AcmeClamp: Offers a reliable, controlled tightening mechanism.
- ITL-8 Hydraulic Clamp: Heavy-duty option for large installations, enhancing safety and precision.
Having the right tools significantly speeds up installation and ensures consistent, reliable results every time.
Measuring the Difference: Visible Leveling Results
One of the best ways to measure the success of a SuperSprings Half Kit installation is by checking the level of your truck’s rear bed rails. After installing a properly spec’d half kit, most vehicles show a remarkable improvement—leveling within three-quarters of an inch side-to-side, dramatically reducing lean and restoring even handling and tire wear.
Don’t Forget Front-End Support with SumoSprings
If your truck also carries heavy gear in front—such as additional equipment over the cab—adding SumoSprings to the front suspension can further enhance your driving experience. Front-end SumoSprings help absorb road shock, reduce front-end sag, and improve overall driver comfort.
Choosing the Right SuperSprings Half Kit
To summarize, SuperSprings Half Kits are your go-to solution when dealing with uneven vehicle loading:
- For Crane Trucks: Start by using the Crane Application Guide and Crane Matrix. Then reach out directly to our engineering team for a precise recommendation tailored to your truck.
- For Boom Trucks and Other Vehicles: The best approach is to contact us directly from the start, as the Crane Matrix won’t apply. We’ll work closely with you to customize a solution specifically for your vehicle’s unique load characteristics.
Whether you’re outfitting a crane truck, boom truck, or another commercial vehicle with unbalanced loads, SuperSprings Half Kits offer a specialized, targeted solution that ensures a safer, smoother, and more controlled ride.
Ready to find your ideal suspension setup? Reach out via our built-in chat, online contact form, or call our expert team directly—we’re here to help you every step of the way.
