Adding Air Bags?
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Adding Air Bags?
I have 2008 250 6.4. Pulling 34' 5er that weighs around 13k loaded. When I add around 2200 pounds of 5th wheel pin weight to a truck that is already 8,800 pounds loaded it puts me at 11,000 lbs GVW. Truck is rated at 10,000 lbs. I love the truck and don't want to trade for something with greater GVWR if I don't have to. I believe the axle rating is 3.73? Don't know about the springs. Will air bags help me? If so, any suggestions on what to buy. Thanks
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From: Frederick, MD
3.73 is the gear ratio if you look at your door cert under axle and see 3L.
Also on the door cert is each axle rating along with the 10K GVWR.
Your truck should not weight 8800 lbs. Mine comes in a hare over 8200 lbs. empty.
Have you taken the truck to a catscale or over scale that can tell you each axle and the combined wt?
Airbags will help to keep it level but I beleive your pin wt should be closer to 2600 lbs, which is still 2K lower than mine.
Should have no problems.
Also on the door cert is each axle rating along with the 10K GVWR.
Your truck should not weight 8800 lbs. Mine comes in a hare over 8200 lbs. empty.
Have you taken the truck to a catscale or over scale that can tell you each axle and the combined wt?
Airbags will help to keep it level but I beleive your pin wt should be closer to 2600 lbs, which is still 2K lower than mine.
Should have no problems.
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Don't know what my axle rating is. Don't have door certi. Where would I find that out. Also, did I understand you to say your pin weight is over 4K and your GVWR is 12K? How? Is you 08 GVWR 10K? I want to be able to do that too. What do I need to do to my truck?
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Sorry, but I am as my name implies a "novice". You went to the DMV to change your GVWR so you would be legal. Is that correct? However, that did not change your axle rating, springs, etc... that gave you an original GVWR of 10K. What did you do to your truck to enable it to handle the additional weight? I am running over my GVWR by 800 pounds and I don't want to hurt the truck or myself. I think I am confused. Sorry.
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From: Frederick, MD
Lets start at the basics. First report back with your numbers from the door certification.
Front axle:
Rear axle:
Axle code:
We already know the 10K GVWR- Ford has this 10K package because some states and insurance companies will rate anything over 10K as commercial thereby costing more.
After we have your numbers then you need to take a trip to the scales, empty with all the gear you normally carry and full tank of fuel.
So lets start there with where you really stand.
CAT Scale
Front axle:
Rear axle:
Axle code:
We already know the 10K GVWR- Ford has this 10K package because some states and insurance companies will rate anything over 10K as commercial thereby costing more.
After we have your numbers then you need to take a trip to the scales, empty with all the gear you normally carry and full tank of fuel.
So lets start there with where you really stand.
CAT Scale
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Senix, thanks for your patience and being willing to help
me understand. I want to be fully educated before deciding what to do with my truck. Here are my truck ratings:
Front axle: 5,600 lbs
Rear axle: 6,100 lbs
Axle Code: 3L
I have been to the scales and here are my numbers:
Truck GVW: 8,680 lbs (Two passengers, full tank, tool box, fifth wheel hitch)
5th Wheel Loaded: 12,600
Pin Weight: 2440
GCVW: 21,280
Also, my tires are Goodyear LT 265/60R20 and have a load range "E". Not sure what any of that means either. (The ratings on my door certification for tires is LT 275/R18E)
Again thank you for your help. Looking forward to hearing back from you.
me understand. I want to be fully educated before deciding what to do with my truck. Here are my truck ratings:
Front axle: 5,600 lbs
Rear axle: 6,100 lbs
Axle Code: 3L
I have been to the scales and here are my numbers:
Truck GVW: 8,680 lbs (Two passengers, full tank, tool box, fifth wheel hitch)
5th Wheel Loaded: 12,600
Pin Weight: 2440
GCVW: 21,280
Also, my tires are Goodyear LT 265/60R20 and have a load range "E". Not sure what any of that means either. (The ratings on my door certification for tires is LT 275/R18E)
Again thank you for your help. Looking forward to hearing back from you.
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From: Frederick, MD
unknown's here are what the unloaded weights per axle are.
You list the 8680 but not each axle individually do you have that?
Also you list the wet wt of 12,600 but what about each axle with the 5er?
All in all I think you are fine.
For the tires there must have been a change before your purchase of the truck. E rated is a load rating. LT stands for light truck (vs P for passenger car).
Look at the sidewall for max load (at max psi) what do you see.
You list the 8680 but not each axle individually do you have that?
Also you list the wet wt of 12,600 but what about each axle with the 5er?
All in all I think you are fine.
For the tires there must have been a change before your purchase of the truck. E rated is a load rating. LT stands for light truck (vs P for passenger car).
Look at the sidewall for max load (at max psi) what do you see.
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From: Frederick, MD
what we are zeroing in on that is important to me is the axle ratings, tire ratings and overall GCWVR.
We know the GCWR is good.
As long as you are with in that loaded then you are fine.
Know the empty wts will let you know how far you can go loaded.
We know the GCWR is good.
As long as you are with in that loaded then you are fine.
Know the empty wts will let you know how far you can go loaded.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Georgia
That is correct! But they also help smooth out the ride that is caused by some of the heavier fifth wheels as well. The air bags and Viair system are mods that I will do to every truck of mine from now on.
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