Hey everyone, new F-350 owner here and I'm looking for suggestion as to what suspension setup is the best for towing on my 2010 Ford F-350 King Ranch Dually. I'll be towing a Gooseneck trailer with a GVWR of 20,000lbs (about 1,500lbs over what my my truck's rated for but my trailer won't be close to it's maximum weight capacity). Stock suspension might be able to handle the trailer weight fine, but I would like something that is stronger and can tow more weight with less stress and squat.
Thanks in advance

 

Air bags. Inexpensive and makes a big difference.

 

Honestly? With a dually? I wouldn't really make any changes. I wouldn't even add air bags. You've already got the single most stable setup for pulling.

I used to pull a 42' toy hauler with my '04, GVW on the trailer was about 24k, empty it was about 17k, I forget what the pin weight was but the truck never hit the helper springs. Handled it just fine.

 

Any specific companies you'd recommend?

 

I ordered a set called Firestone Ride-Rite. Cost about 400, and installed myself in about 2 hours. The only downside, and it never bothered me, is I need to fill them manually from an air source source.

Every manufacturer has kits with an onboard compact compressor that you can fill automatically, with gauges in the cab, and you can change air pressure as you are driving, but cost considerably more.

 

These are from Etrailer, but you can find them on Amazon or a dozen other online sites.

Not hitting your helper springs and riding level with a heavy pin weight are two different things.

 

My suggestion to you would be to try the truck/trailer combination before you start buying stuff. It might be OK as is, no mods required. Solve the issues as you encounter them and don't anticipate having issues. Your wallet will thank you.

 

20,000 probably won’t squat it too much.

It needs a little squat when loaded anyway.

I would go through the front suspension with a fine tooth comb, then do quality shocks all around like Bilstein 4600 or Rancho 9000.

 

They are. But with the rake most trucks have, like my '04 did, it sat level with a heavy pin weight while not hitting the helper springs. Without bags.

What I'm going to say below is personal opinion with a lot of thought and experience behind it. Yes, I know big rigs use complete air suspensions. They are also big rigs and not light duty trucks, so there is no comparison.

Adding bags really just mask problems that should be addressed. If it's squatting too much, your rear axle is likely overloaded, or your springs are getting weak and should be replaced (happened to my FIL once). If it's swaying on a bumper-pull, your sway control isn't set up right or you're running too fast, or you're not loaded right. If it's swaying on a fifth wheel or gooseneck, you likely need to upgrade your rear sway bar. Tires can also be the issue in both situations. If the truck is leaning when loaded, then your sway bar isn't up to the task or again, a weak spring.

All of these problems can be masked with bags. But masking the problem doesn't necessarily fix it. Personally, I would only use bags if it was an occasional tow, of just a few times a year. If you're doing it all the time, it's best to have all of your equipment fixed up properly.

 

My 01 Pulled some loads with with heavy tongue weights and it carried it great, it had a real heavy spring pack in the back and rode like a board because of it. My 14 came to me with Ride Rite bags in the back. They are nice if you are going to load on a camper that is always loaded the same and has the same tongue weight. For me running the flatbed around loaded one way it was just beating my back to a pulp. I pulled the schrader valves out of them on one particularly rough road and they're never gone back in. I've been meaning to pull them out of there and put them on the shelf for a future build but just haven't done it yet. These trucks have got pretty stiff springs in them to start. Also a squatting truck is under no more stress than a truck that is riding level due to airbags. That rear axle has the same load sitting on it.