Torsion bars?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 751
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Torsion bars?
Been looking into maybe replacing my torsion bars, not that they're worn out by any means.
just wondering if I can get a little more carrying capacity.
Came across a site talking about #7 t-bars for the F-150 7700. Is there anything to these aor just hype to sell more stuff we don't need?
Thanks
Mickey
just wondering if I can get a little more carrying capacity.
Came across a site talking about #7 t-bars for the F-150 7700. Is there anything to these aor just hype to sell more stuff we don't need?
Thanks
Mickey
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 751
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Maybe more of a rhetorical question than what I'm asking.
my truck being 17 yo and 200 k I would guess there might be some tension loss on the t-bars, however, I have not noticed any sagging but then again I did not and have not taken and probably won't take measurements.
I am carrying a small off-road camper full time,
Weight sticker reads 895 lbs dry.
I have Ride rites air bagson the rear.
Truck handling is great even when towing two ATVs over Wolf Creek pass@ 10k' in Colorado.
So, probably more curious if the t-bars wear out, get loose, break etc etc.
Looking at the pricing and installation, until and unless there is failure, I won't be doing much.
Thanks,
Mickey
my truck being 17 yo and 200 k I would guess there might be some tension loss on the t-bars, however, I have not noticed any sagging but then again I did not and have not taken and probably won't take measurements.
I am carrying a small off-road camper full time,
Weight sticker reads 895 lbs dry.
I have Ride rites air bagson the rear.
Truck handling is great even when towing two ATVs over Wolf Creek pass@ 10k' in Colorado.
So, probably more curious if the t-bars wear out, get loose, break etc etc.
Looking at the pricing and installation, until and unless there is failure, I won't be doing much.
Thanks,
Mickey
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
On this board and others I have never saw any issues with Torsion bars breaking or a loss of ride height tension attributed to the bars.
Not to say is can't happen but its a part that you address when there is a failure.
Most of your added weight is on the rear springs and axle bearings.
I would think the axle bearings would give out long before the front bars.
The added weight on the front bars is dictated by the front to rear distribution spread of the weight on a percentage basis.
To find this out, weigh the truck front and rear separate with a full load of fuel, driver and any normally carried items in the truck.
Then put camper on and repeat.
This way you see the extra weight in each end.
The door jamb sticker should give the total weight for each end as a reference.
Good shocks are a great help to keep the suspension from excess deflection rates limiting spring/bar movements.
Good luck.
Not to say is can't happen but its a part that you address when there is a failure.
Most of your added weight is on the rear springs and axle bearings.
I would think the axle bearings would give out long before the front bars.
The added weight on the front bars is dictated by the front to rear distribution spread of the weight on a percentage basis.
To find this out, weigh the truck front and rear separate with a full load of fuel, driver and any normally carried items in the truck.
Then put camper on and repeat.
This way you see the extra weight in each end.
The door jamb sticker should give the total weight for each end as a reference.
Good shocks are a great help to keep the suspension from excess deflection rates limiting spring/bar movements.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 751
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
I weighed the truck, me and my pooch and a full tank ,5700 and change, but not axles individually.
wieighed the truck with camper with 10 gallons of water, me, pooch and full tank, 6800+/-
My gvw is 6500
Thanks
Mickey
wieighed the truck with camper with 10 gallons of water, me, pooch and full tank, 6800+/-
My gvw is 6500
Thanks
Mickey
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Well there ya go.
It pays to look deeper into these things and find out the trucks don't have much spare capacity.
At a loading of 875 +/-, your already over the limit by a small amount.
You would be better off pulling a small trailer.
Your spec legal gross combined weight rating is abut 11,600 lbs
11,600 - 5700= leaves you with 5900 lbs max to tow with.
The tonge weight would not be near the load weight on the truck you have now.
I'm sure that you could find a small trailer that would do as well as what you have and not have to run with it when you don't need it.
Just my way of thinking without knowing what you do with it.
Adding heavier parts doesn't increase the base truck's rating because there are too many other items and equipage that goes into the rating.
One example is equipping for heavier loading by increasing the spring rate.
It does not address the total swept braking area, axle bearing size, Trans cooler etc.
Towing in the mountains needs at least attention to braking with the best pads you can buy and trans cooling.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do..
It pays to look deeper into these things and find out the trucks don't have much spare capacity.
At a loading of 875 +/-, your already over the limit by a small amount.
You would be better off pulling a small trailer.
Your spec legal gross combined weight rating is abut 11,600 lbs
11,600 - 5700= leaves you with 5900 lbs max to tow with.
The tonge weight would not be near the load weight on the truck you have now.
I'm sure that you could find a small trailer that would do as well as what you have and not have to run with it when you don't need it.
Just my way of thinking without knowing what you do with it.
Adding heavier parts doesn't increase the base truck's rating because there are too many other items and equipage that goes into the rating.
One example is equipping for heavier loading by increasing the spring rate.
It does not address the total swept braking area, axle bearing size, Trans cooler etc.
Towing in the mountains needs at least attention to braking with the best pads you can buy and trans cooling.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do..
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 751
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Ha ha.. I have a 17' 2 axle camp trailer too, this small truck camper is for weekend fishing/hunting trips. I have the factory hd tow pkg 4 wheel discs, so not really concerned about overheating. It's all good.
thank you for your input though. I notice a lot of people have no idea about weight capacities of their vehicles judging by what I see them towing/hauling.
Thanks again,
Mickey
thank you for your input though. I notice a lot of people have no idea about weight capacities of their vehicles judging by what I see them towing/hauling.
Thanks again,
Mickey
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