Jefe's post convinced me to give these a try when I saw a set on sale. '23 F250 CCSB 7.3 gasser with camper package carrying a '17 Northstar 8.5 ArrowU. Previous modifications consisted of Sumo Super Sway Stop overload spring blocks and Timbren SES axle bump stops. There is a detailed post from last year regarding that and my riser setup. Those alone were a vast handling improvement over the factory setup. The Helwig helpers have improved on that. I picked up a little height in the rear with the fully loaded rig. It is now pretty much level at all four corners. The headlights are aimed where they belong. The previous setup fully engaged the Timbrens, which really improved the body roll, but could be a bit harsh over railroad tracks and the like. The Timbrens are now just slightly engaged and the ride has noticeably improved. It really feels dialed in. I have the same complaint regarding the U-bolts and the splaying. On my recently completed seasonal 4500 mile New England to Florida round trip, I had to straighten out both sides. They still made contact with the Sumos and worked as intended, but looking at them on there slightly crooked drove me nuts. I'm funny like that. I wonder if there is a way to take up that slack so they stay put. I also had an issue with one of the rear Sumo stops loosening up and sliding sideways in its mount. I may try to fabricate something to wedge in there to eliminate any possible side to side movement. I remove the Sumos when the camper is off so the helper springs don't engage. I give the easily installed Helwigs a thumbs up.

 

Got mine mounted today. Test drive without a load was fine. The Torque Lift Overload Stop was engaged without a load but barely. I did want it this way because I plan on using most of my 4,900 pound payload with my truck camper and a trailer I will tow.

 

Just mounted the Hellwig contact helper springs. Only went with one helper spring leaf per side (in addition to the OEM leaf) after speaking with a tech at Hellwig. My small Hallmark camper is not that heavy, but the truck needed a bit more help. Will try it this for our May trip and see how we like it.

Truck camper will go back on the truck in two weeks and wow, I do not want to run the Hellwig contact helper spring/Torklift upper stable load combo with no load for very long. With the truck windows down, every bump sounded like the rear end was falling apart as the OEM and Hellwig helper springs slapped each other. The ride was noticeably worse, too. I did pick up a bunch of granite rip rap from the gravel yard and that smoothed things out nicely.

 

I did install the upper stable loads a few days ago. The helper springs were already on the truck for around 2K miles. With the stable loads on, the truck is much rougher. Unloaded they are sort of engaged all the time, not a big deal but it's a different drive. With the camper on the truck drives much better.

 

CT Hiker,
Are you still planning on that AK trip this year?
If so, what are the bracket dates.
We've been to AK in 2003, but my brother John wants to go when his wife retires in August. See the pic of both of our rigs above the intro.
That would be Jeanie and I plus John and Krys leaving for AK around August 15th.
Return date TBD.
Also, if the gas prices stay high all summer, we may rethink the whole thing.
jefe de nada

 

Jefe-
We are planning to leave our house on May 1 and return June 30 with a bit over a month actually in AK.
The rest of that time is on a ferry one-way, playing in the Canadian Rockies, visiting friends in ID, and 7,500 miles of driving.
You have definitely hit on the decision that follows me around like a cloud the past week.
I'd still do the trip if the average cost was $0.50/mile (call that $6/gallon gas). I hear you're already there in CA. Somewhere closer to $1/mile cost is a change in plans.
$7,500 for fuel plus $3,000 for a ferry ride would not be chump change.
But with my wife still working and us having jumped through hoops to line this up, it's tough to push it back to this fall or even try to replicate next year.
Also, we spent most of the COVID-craziness years camping and traveling around the west and had a blast. Things usually work out.
I'm a bit jealous you have the summer to look for some clarity and possibly gas prices settling. Perhaps the next few weeks will provide enough clarity for us.
Anyway, plans are a go but with a WY, ID, MT backup plan. It's going to be a game-time call.
-hiker

 

Any driving in BC will mean even higher fuel prices, it's brutal here right now.

 

CT Hiker,
Yes, we're already over $5 a gallon here. I found a station yesterday at $5.15, and thought I'd won the lottery.
We actually planned to go to AK with my brother 4 years ago, but the price of gas had ballooned up and over $5 stateside so we bailed and spent the allotted time in CO and NM where the gas prices (and diesel) were much lower.There's nothing like the San Juans in CO.
We're still preparing like we're going to go.
I have a new (moved) backup camera for the camper. New 285-75R18 AT tires (35's)
jefe de nada

 

Thanks for the warning, AMXDREAMER. I see maybe $2.10/liter CAD in Vancouver today. If my math still works, maybe around $5.60/gallon USD?
Painful, but not yet beyond my tolerance. Please let me know what you see in mid-April.

Jefe- Thanks for the "won the lottery" laugh. At $5.15. It's all relative, isn't it?
I'm with you on the San Juans. We try to get out there every year. Have a camper-supported backpacking trip planned in those mountains this August (I should be able to afford that).
I feel the same way about the eastern Sierra, BTW.
Just really don't want to put off AK again, if at all possible. Attempted twice in the past 30 years and never made it all the way. Now my wife has a new knee, the truck has new tires, we have no pets at the moment, I'm not getting any younger, and the future isn't guaranteed to be less expensive.
We are looking at ferrying both ways. High gas prices make ferry prices seem less outrageous. I would miss the Canadian Rockies, though.
And if we have to spend the early summer in the lower 48 instead, life will still be amazing.
-hiker