Notices
6.2L V8 Discuss the 6.2L V8

Do I need airbags?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 06:26 AM
  #1  
brickman's Avatar
brickman
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 13
From: Southern Ontario Canada
Do I need airbags?

Hi guys I ve been debating on weather I need airbags for my current setup , what do you think?
 
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 07:22 AM
  #2  
Slowpoke Slim's Avatar
Slowpoke Slim
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 29
From: Bismarck, ND
I assume that's loaded up the way you take it camping? Do you know your pin weight? And you have an aux gas tank, is it full in that pic? How does it ride going down the road, is it soft in the rear, get a lot of porpoising?

Mine was a pretty obvious need with my rig. This is loaded up with the stock suspension, 2500 lbs on the pin:




I definitely needed bags. Rides very nice and level with 40 lbs in the bags:

 
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 08:00 AM
  #3  
brickman's Avatar
brickman
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 13
From: Southern Ontario Canada
That's pretty much loaded up but before I installed the aux tank, pin weight is 1500 lbs dry weight. The aux tank holds 65 gallons so aprx 400 lbs? But it's midship so not all of that is on the rear
 
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 09:13 AM
  #4  
ATP Pilot's Avatar
ATP Pilot
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 566
Likes: 4
looks ok to me...how does it ride? and do you bottom out much?
 
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 10:26 AM
  #5  
brickman's Avatar
brickman
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 13
From: Southern Ontario Canada
Seems to ride fine no bottoming out or porpoising, just that sometimes when it's parked it seems to squat down more than other times.
 
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2016 | 04:28 PM
  #6  
Ron94150's Avatar
Ron94150
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
These 250's sit practically level from the factory, unlike previous years that had some rake. This was my load to the outer banks of nc, 1600 miles round trip.Name:  photo602.jpg
Views: 855
Size:  477.7 KB
30' travel trailer loaded up with a golf cart in the bed, plus firewood, tools and other odds and ends. Air bags would have been nice for looks, and if I had been traveling at night, I'm sure oncoming traffic would have appreciated them, but the truck handled, drove, and rode like a champ. If you will be pulling it often, then yes, they are probably worth it. But for me, I will do a long haul like this maybe once a year, so it's not a big deal to me.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:31 AM
  #7  
Tarster's Avatar
Tarster
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
Boy either you guys have super soft springs on those 250's... or i have some monster springs on mine 350.. I rolled across the scales at 14,000 for the full pickup.. something like 7k in the bed and I was sitting level.. obviously not a trailer so I didn't have to worry about the trailer swaying and playing funny.

 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:52 AM
  #8  
Ron94150's Avatar
Ron94150
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
The 350's have taller rear blocks, so you are getting into your overloads about the time you get level. You also have a flatbed that doesn't show it as badly. You can thank the aftermarket and everyone wanting to sit level for the f250s sitting the way they do. But no, we have the same springs.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:55 AM
  #9  
Ron94150's Avatar
Ron94150
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
A trailer hanging on off the back of the truck has more leverage than a load spread all over the bed as well.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:57 AM
  #10  
Tarster's Avatar
Tarster
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
Yah I was sitting on the overloads with that particular load.. probably quite a bit more than I should have been.. but yah my pickup sits really close to level when its unloaded, I was just surprised how well it sad when loaded..

I dont really tow large trailers very often unless its a car trailer but those are normally bumper pulls and really have not had the chance with this pickup yet, towed them a number of times with my old pickup.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 12:53 PM
  #11  
Slowpoke Slim's Avatar
Slowpoke Slim
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 29
From: Bismarck, ND
There's a difference in spring packs. The standard F-250 rear springs do not have an overload spring in the stack. That is why there's a difference. You are comparing apples to zebras.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 01:01 PM
  #12  
Tarster's Avatar
Tarster
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by Slowpoke Slim
There's a difference in spring packs. The standard F-250 rear springs do not have an overload spring in the stack. That is why there's a difference. You are comparing apples to zebras.
Didnt want to start a fight over spring packs.. I knew you could get different weights, I didnt know they varied that much in the newer pickups.. I came from older pickups were you didnt have so many options.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 04:31 PM
  #13  
brickman's Avatar
brickman
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 13
From: Southern Ontario Canada
Mine has the snow plow prep and camper package and therefore the same spring pack and sway bar as the f350 but the spring blocks are only 2"
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:49 PM
  #14  
RainDesert's Avatar
RainDesert
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
And that camper package gives you the overload springs, which is probably why your trucks sits pretty good the way it is. I can say while it doesn't appear that you need the airbags for ride height, I have added them in the past and like the way the truck tows with them. It tows better once they are installed. When the factory springs aren't loaded down so much by the help of the airbags, the load always felt more stable with my toy hauler bumper pulls.

If you don't want airbags, and are looking for 1.25" of rear lift, you can pick up a set of 2017 F250 blocks. I have a set in the garage now that I swapped out for some 2016 F250 blocks. I lowered the rear of my extremely factory raked F250.
 
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2016 | 11:50 PM
  #15  
RainDesert's Avatar
RainDesert
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
Originally Posted by Tarster

I'm jealous of that firewood haul. Where do you cut around here?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:28 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE