'06 Squating problem
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'06 Squating problem
I just took delivery of my new '06 F350 CC 4x4 w/Duals. I was head over heels in love with it until i hooked up my trailer today.
First off it squats horribly. Rear end is over 4" lower when hooked. I took it down the road and with every bump there was a horrible CLUNK coming from the rear of the truck. I turned around and came home until i can talk to the dealer tomorrow a.m.
My question is i hauled the same trailer (a 4 horse Merhow w/ bunk house LQ weighing about 12,000) with my "old faithful" an '01 F350 CC 4x4 w/duals for many many miles. No squating. No noise. No airbags .. the '01 was factory.
Where is the '06's increased payload/tow cap i was told so much about?? Is this an abnormality?
First off it squats horribly. Rear end is over 4" lower when hooked. I took it down the road and with every bump there was a horrible CLUNK coming from the rear of the truck. I turned around and came home until i can talk to the dealer tomorrow a.m.
My question is i hauled the same trailer (a 4 horse Merhow w/ bunk house LQ weighing about 12,000) with my "old faithful" an '01 F350 CC 4x4 w/duals for many many miles. No squating. No noise. No airbags .. the '01 was factory.
Where is the '06's increased payload/tow cap i was told so much about?? Is this an abnormality?
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I have a set of Timbrens on my truck and they work like a charm. Timbren load helpers sit between the axle and leaf springs just like airbags but they are an amazingly strong rubber spring. No working parts or air bladder or compressor to worry about. They sit about an inch over the axle so the empty ride is fairly unchanged but as soon as the truck squats 1 inch they really help support the load. If you are sagging 4 inches now you would probably only sag about 1 to 2 inches with the Timbren springs so the truck should be level front to rear while hauling. They are about $150.
I bet that clunk you heard was you truck axle slamming into the stopper bushings while bottoming out. I can't believe your truck is bottoming out. Are you sure that trailer is only 12,000 pounds? It takes alot to bottom out a daully. I would say at least 3500 pounds of pin weight to bottom that sucker out. I have put over 2,000 pounds of pin weight on my gooseneck in an F250 before the Timbrens and wasn't bottoming out. Must be some serious tongue weight on your trailer. The Timbrens will fix all of this but you still have to make sure you're not over your rear axle limit or your tire limits.
I bet that clunk you heard was you truck axle slamming into the stopper bushings while bottoming out. I can't believe your truck is bottoming out. Are you sure that trailer is only 12,000 pounds? It takes alot to bottom out a daully. I would say at least 3500 pounds of pin weight to bottom that sucker out. I have put over 2,000 pounds of pin weight on my gooseneck in an F250 before the Timbrens and wasn't bottoming out. Must be some serious tongue weight on your trailer. The Timbrens will fix all of this but you still have to make sure you're not over your rear axle limit or your tire limits.
Last edited by dhelm72; Aug 28, 2005 at 09:54 PM.
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Was the truck squating 4" past level or just 4" total? Either way it seems alot to me. I have an 05 F-350 SRW and I had a dump body trailer that weighs dry at 6k with a pallet of sod, another 2k, in the very front of the trailer, and my truck was sitting relitivly level, maybe a little lower in the back then the front.
I don't know much about the trailer that you are hauling, but how much tounge weight do you have? Also, if your 01 did fine, then the 06 should do even better.
-Kevin
I don't know much about the trailer that you are hauling, but how much tounge weight do you have? Also, if your 01 did fine, then the 06 should do even better.
-Kevin
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I had an 03 which Ford bought back, hauled 14,000, 5 wheel, pin weight 3,100, got an 05 with the larger weight factor, 13,000. 03 didn't squat but 05 does quite a bit, 03 was 11,500 weight factor. The 05 sits on the overloads all the time pretty hard, the 03 just touched the overloads. Talked to a spring dealer and he told me that Ford was having some spring problems, this was a large place that does any kind of spring work, also a very busy place.
05 350 drw, 6.0
05 350 drw, 6.0
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From: Melbourne, Aus
KarenLynnAQHA,
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Originally Posted by levi'sford
Can you use these with a B&W Turn over Ball, What are the pros and cons of the Timberens compared to Air bags, thanks, Levi
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This is a heavy trailer. We are guessing 12,000. The way it is set up the LQ is in front of the axels so im sure the tongue weight is pretty high.
But my '01 never grunted. There has to be a difference from the '01 to the new truck. They are the exact same truck.
Ive been told that they have softened the springs to improve the ride? I can see doing that in a SRW vehicle. But no one buys a Dually unless you are doing some serious towing. Why compromise productivity for a smoother ride?? Creature comforts are meaningless unless that truck is on the road with someone in it.
Ill look into those Timbrens.
Where do i start looking for airbags? This is not cool.
But my '01 never grunted. There has to be a difference from the '01 to the new truck. They are the exact same truck.
Ive been told that they have softened the springs to improve the ride? I can see doing that in a SRW vehicle. But no one buys a Dually unless you are doing some serious towing. Why compromise productivity for a smoother ride?? Creature comforts are meaningless unless that truck is on the road with someone in it.
Ill look into those Timbrens.
Where do i start looking for airbags? This is not cool.
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Just talked to the dealer again.
I asked him about the Timbrens and he laughed at me. He said if i would like to drive a rig that rode like a lumber wagon go ahead and buy them.
Dhelm .. how is your loaded ride? I dont see how they can be as bad as he was making them sound.
Now i have a new dilemma. I have a hidden turnover hitch also. (Like the B&W but a Valley brand "STOW-A-BALL"). Someone told me i cannot install air springs with that hitch?
GREAT. Dealer is going to install whatever i want for free.
Just days ago i was under the impression that when my new truck arrived i could just hook and haul. How Naive i was. LOL
I asked him about the Timbrens and he laughed at me. He said if i would like to drive a rig that rode like a lumber wagon go ahead and buy them.
Dhelm .. how is your loaded ride? I dont see how they can be as bad as he was making them sound.
Now i have a new dilemma. I have a hidden turnover hitch also. (Like the B&W but a Valley brand "STOW-A-BALL"). Someone told me i cannot install air springs with that hitch?
GREAT. Dealer is going to install whatever i want for free.
Just days ago i was under the impression that when my new truck arrived i could just hook and haul. How Naive i was. LOL
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I've had 3500 lbs. of slide in truck camper in the back of my '05 SRW F350 and it just barely touches the overload springs. That's maybe 2" of squat? I've also since added Timbrens and they engage just before the overloads for added stability and load carrying ability.
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Timbren question also...
I have a '03 F-350 DRW PSD that I use with a Lance truck camper (around 3500 lbs., wet) and I tow a 12' stock trailer with about 350 lbs. of tongue weight.
I've got a little settling towards the rear, but nothing like what Karen is experiencing.
Timbrens only come into play when the suspension is sigificantly lowered, correct? I've been looking at air suspension for the benefit of leveling the suspension while under load... the Timbrens have no such benefit, correct?
Thanks-
2Gordons
I've got a little settling towards the rear, but nothing like what Karen is experiencing.
Timbrens only come into play when the suspension is sigificantly lowered, correct? I've been looking at air suspension for the benefit of leveling the suspension while under load... the Timbrens have no such benefit, correct?
Thanks-
2Gordons
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I am thinking the same way you are, if your '01 could handle it so should you '06. I would do a little more inquiring before going to an airbag or such. may want to get the trailer weighed to find out actual tounge. may want to try a differant dealer. sort of strange the dealer wil install any aftermarket suspension helper you want for free???
as far as airbags go:
http://www.truckspring.com/
http://www.airliftcompany.com/
as far as airbags go:
http://www.truckspring.com/
http://www.airliftcompany.com/
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They are softer springs on the new truck the big 3 are all going to a lighter spring I bounced on a 05 F350 DRW and it dropped 4+" and I wiegh 160lbs The 01 only dropped 1.5-2" Can you say ride quality! My F250 with 5k in the bed it STILL 1" from the overloads but hey with 16 leaf springs on each side it rides like a square wheeled wagon- at the COMPROMISE of HUGE HUGE amounts of hauling ability
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Originally Posted by 2Gordons
I have a '03 F-350 DRW PSD that I use with a Lance truck camper (around 3500 lbs., wet) and I tow a 12' stock trailer with about 350 lbs. of tongue weight.
I've got a little settling towards the rear, but nothing like what Karen is experiencing.
Timbrens only come into play when the suspension is sigificantly lowered, correct? I've been looking at air suspension for the benefit of leveling the suspension while under load... the Timbrens have no such benefit, correct?
Thanks-
2Gordons
I've got a little settling towards the rear, but nothing like what Karen is experiencing.
Timbrens only come into play when the suspension is sigificantly lowered, correct? I've been looking at air suspension for the benefit of leveling the suspension while under load... the Timbrens have no such benefit, correct?
Thanks-
2Gordons
The ride is slightly stiffer in the rear but nothing too harsh in my opinion. When the truck is loaded the ride is actually better...again in my opinion. Yes, You can use these with a turnover gooseneck hitch. I have one. You remove the bushings and these bolt right into the same hole as the stopper bushings so they don't interfere with the gooseneck at all. It made a huge difference in the amount of sag. I can haul all the way up to my rear axle rated capacity now with no sag (which will exceed my GVWR). I'm not advocating hauling above your GVWR but I certainly advise that you don't exceed your front or rear axle ratings because then you are really endangering people's lives.
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I have an '05 F-350 SRW, and I pull a 37.5 foot fifth wheel with a gross weight of 15,000 lbs. I have no air bags, and I measured the distance from the bumper to the ground before and after hooking up the trailer. My truck drops two inches.