Anyone install the Hellwig 981 with tow pkg?

I'm going to be buying a bigger camper and I'm wanting to beef up the cheesy rear springs.

My question is do the 981's go on with the spring keepers of the 4 leaf tow pkg springs or are they in the way? Anyone have to cut/remove the keepers?

 

I used the 550s and initially thought the keepers would be a problem but they were not.

 

I talked with Kevin at Hellwig Tech as I installed 550's and he recommended cutting off the rear keepers and tightening the 550 u-bolts to leave 1/4" clearance from the stock spring for self-adjustment.. I did need to knife off the end of the plastic buffer pad, but I opted not to cut off the keepers (even though the Hellwig u-bolts would do the same thing) and tightened to about 1/8" above the keepers.

Did you leave a gap there or tighten solid?

 

Anyone with the 981? Anyone???

 

I left a little gap so I probably do not have a full 550 in added capacity. I also called Helwig and they were unfamiliar with the problem. Inititally I thought about bending the tabs up.

 

Actually I also have a set of 980s, but box not yet opened until I give the 550s a good workout with my new car trailer. Kevin said there would be no interference issue, but I would need to remove stock u-bolts, slip in the 980 then re-torque u-bolts. Did you acquire new u-bolts rather than re-torque? There is a lot on here about that.

 

I haven't ordered yet. I just want to know if the 981's will hit the spring keepers on my '13 with the 4 leaf tow package.