Hey im sure this has probably been covered but through my searching i was unable to find what i was looking for so here goes. I have an 88 E-150 conversion and stock i am getting fairly close to the max weight i can put on the chassis. Now this will be my camping/towing rig and i was looking at beefing up the suspension. I have been looking at air lift bags and firestone bags, but wanted to know what the similarities or differences between the f series trucks and the e series vans suspension setups. there are a lot more f250's and 350's out here then there are e series vans. Any input would be appreciated

 

You can always find something like this





But it's alot harder finding overload springs for half tons. And you can't use leafs off a 3/4 or 1 ton as they are wider.

Heres what would be a good thing for your setup. I have this on my F250. They're called Timbren Springs. I'm sure you can find more info on 'em if you google it. There empty rubber boots, so no air lines to leak, pretty cheap to get 'em and they work great!

I used these to carry my old 1977 Shamrock Slide-In camper I use to have, 12ft. long, big old heavy pig. The truck would side about level with a 4000 pound camper in the box and stock F250 leaf springs.

 

Air Ride has a similar thing called Air Cells. They are sealed.

I would just get a real air bag kit though. Get the biggest diameter bags you can fit. Don't get the skinny cylinder tube air bags. Bigger bags need less air pressure to do the same amount of lifting. Less air pressure means a softer ride. Small bags = lots of pressure to lift which = a firmer ride.

 

Air Ride has a similar thing called Air Cells. They are sealed.

I would just get a real air bag kit though. Get the biggest diameter bags you can fit. Don't get the skinny cylinder tube air bags. Bigger bags need less air pressure to do the same amount of lifting. Less air pressure means a softer ride. Small bags = lots of pressure to lift which = a firmer ride.

 

Alright so you cant take the springs from an e350 and put them on the e150, what about stuff from the trucks. There is a much bigger aftermarket for the f trucks then there are the vans.

 

Just go to your local Independent Spring Shop. They have likely helped hundreds of guys with vans like yours.

 

regarding the airbags (in their various forms), i once worked on a truck that had them installed, and the frame was severely cracked around the airbag mounting,