After a doe walked in front of me and thankfully only broke my tag holder, I decided to get a grill guard. I found what I wanted in Boerne, TX and had it installed. Now I'm wondering about the extra 125+ pounds on the front and have looked into "Firestone Air Bags 4160 Coil-Rite Air Spring Kit[Front]Ford F-Series Super Duty"... I'd like to get some 'real' feedback on these in my application or something similar.


2012 Ford F250 XLT super duty crew cab 4x4 6.7 diesel,

 

Tell us a little about your truck. F250, F350, 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive? I can't see 125lbs making that much difference myself. Guys have plows on their trucks that far exceed that weight and nothing added to the front end.

 

The Ranch Hand I put on my 2011 F250 was upwards of 200lbs.. It degraded the MPGs a bit but it settled the front end nicely and helped a lot with bump steer.

 

If you want to be 100% certain, get your real numbers from a scale at a truck stop. I use Black Cat, there are probably a dozen on I-10 or around 1604 and up 35 towards Austin. The scale receipt will tell you exactly how much weight your front axle is carrying, and you can be sure you aren't overloading the springs that are in the truck. Which is actually surprisingly easy on a Super Duty with a diesel, seems like they cut the front ratings close unless you get the +1 rate Heavy Service or +2 rate snow plow package springs.

Look at the Front GAWR on the VIN sticker on the driver's side door pillar. I have the plow package and a diesel, so mine is 6000#. Normal is more around the 5000# mark. When I weighed mine, the Front gross axle weight was a touch over 5300#. If I had the stock 5200# coils that came under a 6.0 4x4 without the plow package, I'd be overloading those springs and airbags wouldn't be the best solution to any sag. I'd upgrade 5400# Ford coils if I didn't already have a higher rated set. Higher rate stock coils will reduce sag at their rating, without adding appreciable amounts of lift. If you weigh it, come in under your FGAWR, and feel like it's squatted more than you'd prefer, then you can consider air bags or a leveling kit. But make sure you aren't going to bag out the springs because you're overloading them, all you'll do with airbags then is mask the coils slowly sagging until the axle is sitting on the stops.

 

I up-dated my thread to show what my truck is...

 

Don't worry about it, you and the truck will be find. Now go find that next baby bambi.

 

I have one of those on my truck, it came with it when I bought it used. Its bolted directly to my frame. It makes me wonder if I hit something in certain way would it do more damage to the frame than the front end. Its easier to fix the front end than the frame. I have no clue, just a thought. One thing for sure, my truck has a little rake stance to it because of the weight of it. Its cool to me.

 

Bambi!... I named that last one 'Tasty'... The truck seems to ride fine, I do notice the diff. now than before I had it put on... The thing about changing to a heavier weight spring is the other things I have to change. I'll think on this for a while.. thanks for the input..

 

I think you'll be fine. I bet the suspension barely even moves with the extra weight.

 

I think the difference you feel is much like that of installing a KN air filter or an aftermarket intake......it's all in your head and seat of your pants. Let's face it, if you invest money into your truck you want to feel something other than lighter in the wallet.........Right?

 

I have a 850 lb snow plow on my 2014 f250 and does not even require timbrens. You will be fine.

 

You know, after thinking about it. Is it only strange to me that you can hand a full replacement bumper off of the front of a F250 and notice no difference. But, put the same weight in the bed of the truck and it squats like a puppy in the grass.

Just thinking here out loud.

 

I put a 400 lb top gun bumper on the front of mine when new with a 100 lb winch and after two years had to replace the front springs the I beams were sitting on the bumpers underneath, but I do keep it loaded to about 10k

 

LOL I was thinking the same thing as I was ready through the thread.

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