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Just wondering if it's possible to add a second layer of overload leafs to my 2006 F250? Truck has the camper/tow package so there's front/rear sway bars plus a set of traction bars(lift)so it currently handles the 2500ish lbs rather well, but I'm going to be living in the camper all summer and travelling quite a bit and I'll be at the 2900lb max payload after I add more solar, lithium battery bank, full water and gear/supplies so I'd like to beef up the rear suspension a bit without using airbags. From everything I've researched thus far my 2006 F250 SRW XL CCSB 4x4 3.73 gears with camper/tow package is no different than a stock 2006 F350 SRW XL CCSB 4x4 3.73 gears so in theory my F250 can handle the F350's 4200lb payload, but to stay legal I'll keep it to the F250's 2900lb payload.
Already have 2'' bump stops installed, but I'll be swapping the amazon rubber out for a set of Super Springs Super Stops.
What's your total weight now with the camper on and ready to go ? MY 06 F 350 has a 3725 # payload , total weight 11,200 to 11,500 # in the pic. with your type bump stops.
That weight adds up fast GVWR for truck is 11400# , Loaded Weight on front axle 4530# , Rear 6470# , Lance 845 is 3 to 3500# loaded , Get Close to those #s and it will be a great driver.
@hotvet67 , camper is currently around 2300-2500lbs. It's almost 2100lbs dry and it's got 2x lead acid batteries, 5kw diesel heater, 5 gallons diesel, some tools, 2x solar panels and not much else at the moment. Come spring I'll be adding a few more solar panels, upgrading to 400ah of Lifepo4 batteries and other small things and come summer I'll most likely be travelling at the max 2900lb payload or slightly under, but the truck has an 8'' lift so I'd just like to beef op the rear leafs a bit is all just for piece of mind.
If my truck was an F350 it would have a 4200lb payload given it's configuration so without the lift it would most likely have zero issues with the 2900lbs payload and it handles just fine now, but I'd just like to stiffen up the back end a bit is all.
The local spring shop adds springs for the Border Patrol trucks to handle the illegal alien transport box. The weight of the boxes are heavier than normal to keep them secure.
I would use a spring shop but some people are handy enough to do it on their own.
It's been done before. This is on my 2001 Dodge 2500 CTD-HO adding a pair of RAM 3500 upper overloads to the single "Camper Package" overload. The next thing was to install Stable Loads. I also added a long "helper spring" to the main pack for a total of 8 leaf springs per side. The tall spring pack and new U-bolts for a 3" lift which was needed for 35 inch tires on a RAM..
It worked pretty well carrying our campers keeping the rig very stable. If you can get a pair of single FORD upper overload springs from a junkyard, they are easy to remove from the carcass. I inquired as to getting just another pari of overloads from Ford and they are only available if you buy the entire spring pack- both sides. That's not going to work. I also have a pair of 1700 pound rated (each) overload springs that are NOS from a 20 year old Ford. I was going to add them to the upper pack. They are very thick. I"m dialed in with the suspension now so I don't need them. I tried getting a very thick anti sway bar for the F-350, but they sent the wrong one: it wouldn't fit and they had no other option. That was 5 years ago when the 7.3 and new rear axle were introduced.
After checking out RockAuto I just might go with higher rated leaf stacks. First I need to figure out what my OEM stacks are rated for then find the same fit with higher rating from RA. I figure I might as well replace the old one's as they look aged and I want a beefier back end so why the heck not right!
What's your total weight now with the camper on and ready to go ? MY 06 F 350 has a 3725 # payload , total weight 11,200 to 11,500 # in the pic. with your type bump stops.
That weight adds up fast GVWR for truck is 11400# , Loaded Weight on front axle 4530# , Rear 6470# , Lance 845 is 3 to 3500# loaded , Get Close to those #s and it will be a great driver.
SpeakerFritz, can you supply a photo of your setup?
How much weight do you carry?
when I 1st installed the helwig overleafs it was on my previous truck I needed to haul 2 pallets of cement bags. weight was close to 7000lbs. the pallets when on and the truck dropped about an inch. the load was drivent 50 miles on pavement with no problems. the setup at the time was the helwig overleafs with both leafs installed (1 is plus 1500lb, 2 is plus 2800lb), I had summo springs with yellow summos at the rear (+2500lb) and blue summos at the front (+1000lb), I had fox 2.5 resivor shocks all around with nitrogen added for +500lb spring force each.
I have them on my current truck becuase they are so inexpensive and by their nature only kick in when you have a load so they do not effect ride quality. I might go artic fox 1150 soon or if not a bumper full. if I go artic fox 1150 Im going to pull the bed and double up on the under bed cross members. iif I go bumper pull im setup now. my truck is a 2019 f-450 . it has the 3" hitch and the 5th wheel prep with goose *****. but, truth be told, if I go on the road for a year, Im leaning more towards the bumper tow so I can my deck drawers and truck top for tools and toys.
I have the same setup today on my f-450, the helwig over leafs, the summo springs and the fox 2.5's. if I had to hual 2 pallets of cemment today ...it would be easier for me to rent a trailer or flat bed truck vs pulling my bed cap and decked drawers.....but if I had to do it....the 6700lbs for both pallets would not concern me.
note..the set I have…if you use only one, you use the longer one…if you use two, you put the shorter one under the long one.
I had to double nut them and lock tight the nuts becuase they would get loose no matter how much I torqued them. With the double nuts and lock tight, they never came loose.
when I 1st installed the helwig overleafs it was on my previous truck I needed to haul 2 pallets of cement bags. weight was close to 7000lbs. the pallets when on and the truck dropped about an inch. the load was drivent 50 miles on pavement with no problems. the setup at the time was the helwig overleafs with both leafs installed (1 is plus 1500lb, 2 is plus 2800lb), I had summo springs with yellow summos at the rear (+2500lb) and blue summos at the front (+1000lb), I had fox 2.5 resivor shocks all around with nitrogen added for +500lb spring force each.
I have them on my current truck becuase they are so inexpensive and by their nature only kick in when you have a load so they do not effect ride quality. I might go artic fox 1150 soon or if not a bumper full. if I go artic fox 1150 Im going to pull the bed and double up on the under bed cross members. iif I go bumper pull im setup now. my truck is a 2019 f-450 . it has the 3" hitch and the 5th wheel prep with goose *****. but, truth be told, if I go on the road for a year, Im leaning more towards the bumper tow so I can my deck drawers and truck top for tools and toys.
I have the same setup today on my f-450, the helwig over leafs, the summo springs and the fox 2.5's. if I had to hual 2 pallets of cemment today ...it would be easier for me to rent a trailer or flat bed truck vs pulling my bed cap and decked drawers.....but if I had to do it....the 6700lbs for both pallets would not concern me.
note..the set I have…if you use only one, you use the longer one…if you use two, you put the shorter one under the long one.
I had to double nut them and lock tight the nuts becuase they would get loose no matter how much I torqued them. With the double nuts and lock tight, they never came loose.
Speakerfritz, With your AF1150 have you noticed any bouncing when you hit bridge expansion joints or other bumps? I have AF1140 on 2018 F450 with 1 healwig overload and 2" rubber block to make sure spring is engaged. Fully loaded, I cross scale at 16,000 lbs. I've installed Bilstein 5100 shocks.
Thanks,
