Rear suspension
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2011
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Rear suspension
Hello all. Always appreciative of the wisdom from the sages on this forum. I have a 2017 F-150 XLT 2.7 EB with the 302A package and the standard tow package. I had my hitch height perfect for towing my small camper but then had to raise my camper a little to solve rubbing on the wheel well issues, thus causing my hitch to now be too low. I guess one option would be raising my rear some or stiffening it so it doesn’t drop as much when I load the trailer. I used some sumo springs on my camper - has anybody used these on the F150. The other would be raising my hitch height. Any thoughts welcome.Thanks. Raleigh.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 229
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If you're not having any issues with your current suspension, I would raise the hitch. It will be less expensive and easier. Unless you really want to start turning wrenches and changing parts, why reinvent the wheel?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 65
If you are going to go for suspension mods how about Air Bags? I run Air Lift 5000's to raise the back of my truck to closer to level. I add Air before I setup my Weight Distributing Hitch. If you want the easier way to go just raise the hitch.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
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I had Sumo Springs on my '13 F150 and really liked them. I left the spacer out so, unloaded, the springs never made contact with the axle and the ride was nice and smooth. Loaded, the springs engaged and helped out with rear end sag. I didn't want to deal with air bags and didn't really need them for the weight I was towing. Sounds like you just need an adjustable ball mount though to get the ball up a little bit.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,718
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From: Wyoming
If the trailer is slightly nose down and it still pulls well, I wouldn't change anything. Otherwise, I would go with raising the hitch. Is this a WDH or a simple ball mount that isn't adjustable?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks for the replies. The camper is 16 foot and has a dry weight of 2500 pounds so no WDH and it tows great with a simple ball mount. I was able to get a slightly extended hitch length that allows me to just barely open my tailgate with the camper attached. My concern is finding one that length with the rise I now need. It did seem to tow ok with the trailer only slightly nose down so maybe I can just go with that. One more question then. I plan to install a front receiver on my truck and have a small light rack to carry my 100 pound generator since there is no other good place for it. Will adding weight on the front like this change the amount of rear drop. It seems to me it may lower front relative to rear but the nose down aspect of the camper would remain more or less the same.
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