its a popcicle intrusion

dont forget to adjust your headlights

 

I'm in the process of the same conversion, reading this thread has been very informative - thanks for taking us along.

If I may ask, what brand is your airbag setup?

And, +1 on the Daystar cradles. You get to keep all your travel, no worries on tearing the bags.

 

Firestone Riderite.

 

Many thanks.

 

nothing wrong with the firestone bags, in fact I would prefer their product however for the rear of the Ex i have to mention you should consider the Air Lift with the internal bump stop.

if you recall I am making my own mount because I want to use a air bump ? the whole point of that exercise is to incorporate a bump stop into the system which the Air lift does.

now granted, you will most likely never hit the bumps with these rear springs but if you were to compress them to where a bump should have been and it isnt there some severe damange is going to take place. i.e. broken leaf spring, bent axles but more imporantly you will likely loose control of the vehicle and crash as a result of the hit.

again, not likely and I feel like a flood insurance guy warning you of some improbable disaster looming but….it does happen and they do serve a purpose. there, I have said my what fors..
firestones bags are the industry leading quality product though.

 

I couldn't remember who had the internal bump, thanks for reminding me.

Do the AirLifts install in the correct position, so they will properly index with the airbag tang? I ask because I have seen one model that mounts the airbag slightly offset to the outside of the frame, in exactly the most unfortunate place - not to mention they would likely interfere with oversized tires.

 

good question and needs to be verified but I assume both companies mount them off the tang, pretty sure the f250 kits are the ones that mount them on top of the spring pack.

 

Where did you state you are making your own mount ?
Can the factory mount not work ?

I guess im missing something here

Kyle

 

I don't recall which thread I let the cat out of the bag but i did.

the "factory" mount is the stock bump stop tang which is part of the lift block. using the procomp 22415 rear spring we ditch the block and the bump stop tang so no, it will not work.
current and good solution is the PMF spring top plate with air bag tang. ( i am working on something totally different for m y own needs to run an air bump stop with the bags )

 

Been watching this thread, much appreciate all for this. Just curious about one thing with this setup, before the air bags, the tow/weight capacity is the same or better than stock? Might have to budget the build and add bags later since we’re picking up a TT sooner than planned.

 

this is a great question and when you start modifying your vehicle it is important to understand how your changes effect its function.

In the case of towing and capacity the first thing to understand is that what a vehicle can tow is largely a function of federal law and state laws and catorgized by drivers license classifications
The excursion is a non commercial vehicle built for the masses with a basic class C license so its towing capacity is a function of the license class C
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/de...dl648/dl648pt2


the whole premisis of a springs "weight rating". is a function of its spring rate and where the vehicle manufacture has set up the suspension to ride with various payloads.

The reason pickup trucks and the excursion have a *** high stance to them is so when a payload is being carried the vehicle sits level with about 1/2 of a capacity load and slightly *** low with a capacity payload.

ride height change and Your excursion.
factory tounge weigh rating was 1100 pounds so lets use that.

the factory rake was 1" high in the rear, with a single spring rate of 410 lbs inch so 2 springs 820 lbs inch.
so, simple math. 1100/820=1.34
and we can see with a max tounge weight on the ball a stock Ex would sag a total of 1.34". or about .34". inches *** low from level.

No we go and change our suspension to a level ride heigh and use a spring rate of 380 lbs inch in the rear.
same math. 1100/760=1.44"
obviously since we started out at level we are now *** low 1.4"

do the spring care if the vehicle isnt level ? No.
is it going to handle any diffrent being *** low ? not really,( at least for this conversation)
so whats the big deal you ask and the answer is mostly Your headlights are going to be shining in oncoming traffics eyes.

So if you intend to do more then the occasional run to the dump with a trailer it is best to either install a set of automatically adjusting headlights like the big luxury cars do to compensate for a fatass in the back seat or install air bags to level out the ride height when towing.

 

lets put a "weight Rating". on these springs to match the factory designed ride height of .34". *** low with a 1100 tounge weight with a 11,000 pound trailer
.

.34 x 760 = 258 pounds on the tounge would sag the rear .34 inches matching the factory tow stance.

we know the typical towing setup is to use between 10 and 15% of the trailers total weight as the tounge weight and ford specified 1100 pounds with a 11,000 pound trailer so they obviously used the 10% figure so we shall do the same.

258 pounds is 10% of 2580 therefore if we mimic the factory rating the procomps tow rating without Airags would be….

2580 trailer weight
258 tounge weigh

 

I've decided on not attaching the airbags to the PMF tangs. Reasons:
1. My RideRite airbags have no internal jounce bumpers, and Firestone recommends a minimum inflation of 10psi.
At 10psi the bags rest on the tangs with just enough pressure to maintain contact to the tangs under normal conditions.
2. At 10psi they should provide protection for severe compression and droop without damage (like an air bump stop).
3. I don't want to drill holes in those nice PMF pieces

 

not attaching them is fine but you MUST still capture the bottom of the bag so

how do you paln on capturing the bottom end and keeping it from squirting out to the side under load without a cradle ?

and I assume you do not plan on a craddle like the daystar since it requires being bolted on.

 

Well that's disconcerting. Guess I'll for sure need to add airbags to my list.