Trailer Friendly F-150
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Hemet, California
Trailer Friendly F-150
Need to beef up the rear suspension on my 99 f-150. Truck has power(hyperteched 4.6) and the rearend is good (richmond 4.56's with an Eaton posi) but whenever I load a car on the trailer it's riding bumpstops. Was wondering best and safest way to beef up rear sus.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 0
From: Seneca, SC
Yeah the type of trailer you have and the way you load it might have more to do with this one. Try to get some load equalizing equipment, which is more than likely cheaper then new springs. If you can load the car farther back on the trailer that's gonna help as well, and is free to try.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Anything you do is going to ruin your ride unless you get airbags and inflate/deflate everytime you use the trailer.
Have you ever looked at the configuration of the trailer and or moved the load a little bit on the trailer? My 80 f150 has very weak rear springs that give me a good ride, and I have used it to haul cars on several occasions. I sinks down in the rear, but nothing unusual and not on the bumpstops.
Next time try moving the car back on the trailer a little bit. As I am driving up on the trailer, I watch the truck. When the rear of the truck settles down to a good ride height, I stop the car and latch it down to the trailer there.
Have you ever looked at the configuration of the trailer and or moved the load a little bit on the trailer? My 80 f150 has very weak rear springs that give me a good ride, and I have used it to haul cars on several occasions. I sinks down in the rear, but nothing unusual and not on the bumpstops.
Next time try moving the car back on the trailer a little bit. As I am driving up on the trailer, I watch the truck. When the rear of the truck settles down to a good ride height, I stop the car and latch it down to the trailer there.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 46
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I agree w/ the load leveling hitch, too. Equipped with an anti-sway package, it could also help stabilize your car trailer if you were to move the car back a bit, too.
Air Lift airbags from Summit were a great investment for me, ~$150 and two hours of time. I tow an enclosed trailer for my church that is WAY too heavy for a half ton (I also have a '99 F150), though I only have to go about two miles twice a month. The airbags were the answer for me.
My opinion, worth two pennies on the dollar...
Air Lift airbags from Summit were a great investment for me, ~$150 and two hours of time. I tow an enclosed trailer for my church that is WAY too heavy for a half ton (I also have a '99 F150), though I only have to go about two miles twice a month. The airbags were the answer for me.
My opinion, worth two pennies on the dollar...
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Helper springs do the trick, have them on mine. Hauled a pallet full of landscaping bricks today for my in-laws and the truck still looked perfectly level, the helper springs were flexing good but I could have easily put more of a load on it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 0
From: Seneca, SC
ok, so with 18 feet, hanging a bit back on the trailer is possible. Try Franlkin's method, and you'll probably be happier with the results. Helper springs can be found at JC whitney, and I'm not sure about the load equalizing gear. I'd go different loading first, then the helpers, then the equalizing gear. By the time you get to equalizing, you should have the problem licked.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 85
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i'd try loading the car further to the back of the trailer. if that doesn't work then you can start spending money on helper springs or airbags.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Wheatland, Mo
What everyone else has already said! I run an 18x8 flatbed, tandem axel for hauling heavy loads, (with the F150) including an 8000lb bobcat, (with a 3/4 ton truck). I have both trucks set up with a weight equalizing setup, (Sway bars to some). It helps distribute the weight across the truck AND trailer so there is alot less sag at the back of the truck. Makes for better pulling too.