Air Bag Determination
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Air Bag Determination
I am curious what metrics folks use to determine if they add air bags. I tow a 9500 lb TT with about 1250 lb tongue weight with my '17 F 350 SRW, 6.7 4x4, CC. The rear does sag a little but the overloads are about 1 1/2"+ from hitting the stop toward the front of the vehicle.
With that said, I am level if not still slightly rear high but not at stock height with nothing loaded. Do you add air bags to get back to 100% stock where the rear is 3" higher than the front or only when the rear sits lower than the front end or another metric like just to improve the ride to keep from ever hitting the bump stops or overlaods? tks
With that said, I am level if not still slightly rear high but not at stock height with nothing loaded. Do you add air bags to get back to 100% stock where the rear is 3" higher than the front or only when the rear sits lower than the front end or another metric like just to improve the ride to keep from ever hitting the bump stops or overlaods? tks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Finger Lakes, NY
I use the Air-Lift 5000 to get my F350 DRW back to being level.
With my prior 34' (14K) 5er, no need to inflate past 5lbs. Truck is fine.
With my new 45' (21K) I need to pump up the bags to 30-40lbs. It stays low (30-40) like this as long as I'm NOT loaded/geared up to the gills plus 158gals of fresh on board.
With my prior 34' (14K) 5er, no need to inflate past 5lbs. Truck is fine.
With my new 45' (21K) I need to pump up the bags to 30-40lbs. It stays low (30-40) like this as long as I'm NOT loaded/geared up to the gills plus 158gals of fresh on board.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2016
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The air bags are there to level your truck when the TT is connected. Typically people either run 5#s of pressure when not carrying a load or some even run zero pressure. The purpose of the bags is to level your truck and improve the handling of the weight.
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Elder User
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My point is the truck is not level to begin with. It is a$$ high from the factory. Are you saying that when you are loaded your rear sits lower than the front and that is why you add bags or are you saying the rear sits lower than non-loaded but still slightly higher than the front but you WANT to be back to being factory a$$ high. tks
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Florida
I am curious what metrics folks use to determine if they add air bags. I tow a 9500 lb TT with about 1250 lb tongue weight with my '17 F 350 SRW, 6.7 4x4, CC. The rear does sag a little but the overloads are about 1 1/2"+ from hitting the stop toward the front of the vehicle.
With that said, I am level if not still slightly rear high but not at stock height with nothing loaded. Do you add air bags to get back to 100% stock where the rear is 3" higher than the front or only when the rear sits lower than the front end or another metric like just to improve the ride to keep from ever hitting the bump stops or overlaods? tks
With that said, I am level if not still slightly rear high but not at stock height with nothing loaded. Do you add air bags to get back to 100% stock where the rear is 3" higher than the front or only when the rear sits lower than the front end or another metric like just to improve the ride to keep from ever hitting the bump stops or overlaods? tks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Finger Lakes, NY
[In this pic] I'm at 45lbs in the rear bags; I'm loaded and a full 158gal of fresh water on board. It sagged the truck a tad @45psi. After this pic, I went up to 55lbs with near perfect levelness Having the 72000 wire-less controller is pretty handy for this, and I would highly recommend this when purchasing your Air-Lift 5000 kit.
[@55lbs] A bit more level, both truck and coach. Could actually go up to 60 or even 65 when I'm fully loaded up.
So, I'm still playing around with the pressure. I can tell ya one thang... I ALWAYS forget to air-down (5psi) after I unhook, just not use to it enough yet I guess.
[@55lbs] A bit more level, both truck and coach. Could actually go up to 60 or even 65 when I'm fully loaded up.
So, I'm still playing around with the pressure. I can tell ya one thang... I ALWAYS forget to air-down (5psi) after I unhook, just not use to it enough yet I guess.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2016
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My truck handled the pin weight just fine, but had two major issues. Although the truck was designed to handle the weight, the headlights would be aimed up high when fully loaded angering many people around me. Otherwise, hitting expansion joints and bumps on the freeway would cycle the suspension down until it contacted the bump stops occasionally, and I did not like that at all.
Airbags are a good value and a short amount of time to install. If you think you may benefit from them, buy a set and try it out.
Airbags are a good value and a short amount of time to install. If you think you may benefit from them, buy a set and try it out.
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Elder User
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Loaded the electric golf cart in bed, beach stuff and 10x10' canopy(all in probably a good 1200 lbs) and then hooked up TT( tongue weight around 1300) and attached WDH. Payload on my F 350 KR 6.7 is just over 3300.
My rear overloads hit the rear block but do not touch the front overload stop. Took measurements to see if I was higher, level or lower than front and I'm about 1/2" to 3/4" lower in rear vs. front.
WDH is adjusted to specs. Is this enough to consider bags or some other remedy or well within reasonable for my load. tks
My rear overloads hit the rear block but do not touch the front overload stop. Took measurements to see if I was higher, level or lower than front and I'm about 1/2" to 3/4" lower in rear vs. front.
WDH is adjusted to specs. Is this enough to consider bags or some other remedy or well within reasonable for my load. tks
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,339
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From: Florida
Loaded the electric golf cart in bed, beach stuff and 10x10' canopy(all in probably a good 1200 lbs) and then hooked up TT( tongue weight around 1300) and attached WDH. Payload on my F 350 KR 6.7 is just over 3300.
My rear overloads hit the rear block but do not touch the front overload stop. Took measurements to see if I was higher, level or lower than front and I'm about 1/2" to 3/4" lower in rear vs. front.
WDH is adjusted to specs. Is this enough to consider bags or some other remedy or well within reasonable for my load. tks
My rear overloads hit the rear block but do not touch the front overload stop. Took measurements to see if I was higher, level or lower than front and I'm about 1/2" to 3/4" lower in rear vs. front.
WDH is adjusted to specs. Is this enough to consider bags or some other remedy or well within reasonable for my load. tks
My F-350 rear drops 2.0"-2.5" at bed rails when my 5th wheel is loaded. I don't have air bags and this doesn't cause any issues with headlights at night being too high or any issues with steering or handling.
Take it for a drive at night and then decide if you want or need to install airbags.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,694
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From: Wyoming
My tongue weight with just the ATV in the garage is about 920 lbs. With a full tank of water it's going to be higher, especially on a return trip since the black and gray tanks are forward of the axles. Without the ATV in the garage my tongue weight is 1,400 lbs. So the current spring bars aren't enough for that.
I have a new WDH on order that is a 3" shank and has a rating of 16K. Once I get that I'll load up the toy hauler and see how the truck sits.
I get a bit of porpoising with the current set up. It's not bad, but enough that my wife noticed it and said she didn't like it. My spring bars can't go much tighter. I'm hoping the new setup will reduce the porpoising. If not, I'll look into air bags.
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