Advice please
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
Advice please
Hello...thanks for having a look at my post!
I recently purchased a 2000 F250 7.3l 4x4 with 146k miles. While I drove several heavy trucks in the Army, this is my first 3/4 ton diesel. I purchased this truck, for less than 20k, to pull my travel trailer; few trailer specs - GVWR 5,630lbs, tongue weight 546lbs and total length 24.25.
The truck has a few problems that I have started addressing. So far the upper and lower ball joints, a tie rod end, front brake pads, caliper service, muffler and tail pipe, oil change and fuel filter replacement.
The suspension needs more work. I believe I need front shocks. It has Lift Loader air bags on the rear. One of the bags is torn on top. And there is steering slop, which may be attributed to the rough suspension or steering gear...not sure.
The truck has a fifth wheel bed bracket installed so the setup the previous owner ran would have been in support of that duty / load. A thought crossed my mind, considering the GVWR of my trailer, should I replace or remove the air bags? I want to maintain the ride height / stance. But am I unnecessarily sacrificing ride comfort for under used heavier suspension. Or maybe the air bags are the way to go?
Thanks in advance for advice!
I recently purchased a 2000 F250 7.3l 4x4 with 146k miles. While I drove several heavy trucks in the Army, this is my first 3/4 ton diesel. I purchased this truck, for less than 20k, to pull my travel trailer; few trailer specs - GVWR 5,630lbs, tongue weight 546lbs and total length 24.25.
The truck has a few problems that I have started addressing. So far the upper and lower ball joints, a tie rod end, front brake pads, caliper service, muffler and tail pipe, oil change and fuel filter replacement.
The suspension needs more work. I believe I need front shocks. It has Lift Loader air bags on the rear. One of the bags is torn on top. And there is steering slop, which may be attributed to the rough suspension or steering gear...not sure.
The truck has a fifth wheel bed bracket installed so the setup the previous owner ran would have been in support of that duty / load. A thought crossed my mind, considering the GVWR of my trailer, should I replace or remove the air bags? I want to maintain the ride height / stance. But am I unnecessarily sacrificing ride comfort for under used heavier suspension. Or maybe the air bags are the way to go?
Thanks in advance for advice!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 678
From: DeMotte, IN
Agree with the other posts. Fix what is needed, address the air bags last. On my 2016 I installed airbags and felt it improved the quality of the ride. I plan on putting them on my 2023. All of my Superduties had (have) the overload springs. I did have the sway stops on my 2000. They take up the gap between the overload spring and stops. Thus any load will ride in the overload springs. Unloaded ride was a little more stiff, but nothing to write home about.
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TxSmallFry
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Sep 13, 2017 07:11 PM
