Air bags needed?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Air bags needed?
I ordered a 2012 FX4 super crew with Max tow and 6.5 ft box. I normally always tow my camper with a grizzly 700 in the bed, my camper has a dry tounge weight of 630lbs. I always use a weight distribution and anti-sway bars and hitch. I was just curious if anyone has had a similar set up and how bad it sagged the suspension. Also would it be a good idea to get air bags, or does the new 150's have a stiffer rear suspension. I know I had to have them on my 03 Chevy 1500. Thanks for the info!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
With a 650lb Grizzly and 630lb+ tongue weight trailer, you're talking about over 1300lbs of payload not including passengers. Add four ~150lb people, that's about 1,900lbs before you start loading any other cargo.
According to Ford's payload selector, your truck has a 7,700lbs GVWR, leaving about 1840lbs of payload. If that's the case, than it sounds like you're going to be overweight or darn close to it.
When you get your truck, I would definitely take the time to weigh everything out on the scales and see where you stand vs. your trucks GVWR. It's never a good idea to exceed your trucks GVWR, even with airbags.
According to Ford's payload selector, your truck has a 7,700lbs GVWR, leaving about 1840lbs of payload. If that's the case, than it sounds like you're going to be overweight or darn close to it.
When you get your truck, I would definitely take the time to weigh everything out on the scales and see where you stand vs. your trucks GVWR. It's never a good idea to exceed your trucks GVWR, even with airbags.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Ok, from what I understood I thought the equalizer system distributed that tounge weight so you really couldnt count all that weight to your GVWR. Also we will have only two people in the vehicle (275lbs) and all our gear will be mostly behind or on the campers axles, we normally camp within 50 miles. The camper only weighs 5740 dry. The Ecoboost shouldnt even skip a beat, it won't even be close to the 11,100 max towing cap.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
My truck had the supposed 1840 lb's payload as well, however when you add all the options etc it leaves it with approx 1500 lb's of payload.
I am in the same boat as you only with a heavier trailer, I will be making a trip to the scales to see just how much of the trailers tounge weight ends up on the rear axle with the weight distributing hitch. I put airbags in my truck, not so that I could overload it, but just to keep the weight off of the vehicles springs.
My truck is also my work truck so I have about 400 lb's that is on the rear end 24/7.
I am in the same boat as you only with a heavier trailer, I will be making a trip to the scales to see just how much of the trailers tounge weight ends up on the rear axle with the weight distributing hitch. I put airbags in my truck, not so that I could overload it, but just to keep the weight off of the vehicles springs.
My truck is also my work truck so I have about 400 lb's that is on the rear end 24/7.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
To be honest I forgot to measure my stock truck height, I plan on making a trip to the dealer to measure a new truck but just by eye balling it (not accurate I realize) I would say about 3/4 - 1" when I have all of my stuff in it. I put 30psi of air in the bags and the ride seems about the same and the truck looks normal.
I bought the air lift bags, they were only about $200 and did the install myself, wasn't that difficult.
I bought the air lift bags, they were only about $200 and did the install myself, wasn't that difficult.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Ok cool! Well I was looking at the Firestone bags, around $250-300 and they were a custom fit and no drilling required. I installed some on a buddy's Chevy that required drilling... Not too hard but still didn't like the idea of drilling into a frame. Thanks for the help!
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
Ok, from what I understood I thought the equalizer system distributed that tounge weight so you really couldnt count all that weight to your GVWR. Also we will have only two people in the vehicle (275lbs) and all our gear will be mostly behind or on the campers axles, we normally camp within 50 miles. The camper only weighs 5740 dry. The Ecoboost shouldnt even skip a beat, it won't even be close to the 11,100 max towing cap.
A Weight Distributing hitch is limited to 1,130lbs of tongue weight max for the F150. However, just because you have a WD hitch DOES NOT mean you don't include your tongue weight as part of your payload/GVWR.
As I said, you are close enough that you will need to take your truck to the scales and make sure you aren't exceeding your rated payload/GVWR. 650lbs + 630lbs dry + 275lbs adds up to 1,550lbs+ payload. It wouldn't surprise me if that's close to your max, if not exceeding it, depending on how your truck is optioned.
Remember....an overloaded truck is an overloaded truck whether you have airbags or not. Airbags only solve the problem of overloaded springs. They do nothing to help overloaded brakes, transmission, cooling system, ect (which are all designed to work within the specified GVWR limit).
Sorry if I sound like a broken record with this, but as I mentioned before, being overloaded is both unsafe (for you and for others on the road) and typically illegal. I hate seeing people do it because they misunderstand their truck's capabilities.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
How does that work? A class IV hitch is good for 1000lbs tounge weight, and 10,000lbs max trailer weight without w/d setup and 1,400 tounge weight and 14,000 max. Where are you getting 500 and 5,000? Having the max trailer tow package upgrades your tranny cooler/ cooling system. The dealer let me test the Ecoboost with a 9,000 lb load and around 850lbs of tounge weight w/o a w/d system. So that makes no sense. Not trying to argue but it doesnt add up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,049
Likes: 1
Good question. What does the sticker on your hitch say? Should be on the underneath on the passenger side. I have the regular trailer tow with the 500lb, 5,000lb hitch.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
I'm going by Ford's Towing guide for the F150 (I'm going by the 2011 guide, but I don't think it changed for 2012).
When using a weight carrying hitch, you are limited to 500/5,000lbs.
When using a weight distributing hitch, limit is 1,130/11,300.
Those are the maximum limits assuming one has an appropriately optioned truck. Like option 60P (Max Trailer Tow).
When using a weight carrying hitch, you are limited to 500/5,000lbs.
When using a weight distributing hitch, limit is 1,130/11,300.
Those are the maximum limits assuming one has an appropriately optioned truck. Like option 60P (Max Trailer Tow).
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Is that the bumper pull only? I wish I had mine to look at but unfortunately it's still in pieces, ordered it 3 weeks ago... Looking on Reese's website they rate the class IV at the numbers I listed. Can't anyone look at their 2012 fx4 with max tow Ecoboost hitch?