I have a E350 2005 V10 and am very happy with it towing. I am interested in putting some spring helpers on the back. Not to increase my load but to level it a bit better to where I am not putting my lights in folks eyes.
Has anyone tried the 2181FV Firestone for the van which is 3,000 lbs max?
How do they effect the ride? I don't want it to stiffen up the ride a lot.

I also looked at the 3500 to 5000 lbs bags, does anyone know anything about those? I am not going to increase my load so I am thinking the heavier ones will make it ride hard.
Another issue is that I am sure when activated while towing it increases the weight on the back axle and tires and I am within 500 lbs of the back axle rating now.
Any input would be appreciated. I run GCWR of 17,000 lbs, van rated for 18,500lbs.

Andrew.

 

What type of trailer are you towing and do you use an equalizing hitch?

An EQ hitch will transfer weight forward and level the vehicle without compromising the ride quality. I had a set of air spring helpers installed on a motorhome years ago and while they improved the handling, it came at the expense of ride quality. If I were to have to choose - I'd go with a high quality equalizing hitch before I went for air bags.

Here's a picture of my current set-up. While not as heavy as yours, the EQ hitch does help keep the road manners as good as without the trailer.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have a Hensley Arrow with 1200 lb bars and it does sit very well but if I could easily bring it back up to level completely and help my ride quality I was thinking I would put the air helpers on. It seems that ride quality is compromised with the air spring helpers and so I probably won't put them on. I have heard this from several sources so you have helped me. Nice rig you have. I have the Sunnybrook 3310 bunkhouse trailer and the van tows great with the Hensley.
Andrew.

 

I'm not familiar with the Hensley, but am aware that they are a trickier to set up. Is it possible to tighten up the bars a bit more which should lift the rear and lower the front?

 

The bars are as tight as Hensley wants them to be. I have my motorcycle in the van plus some sound equipment, and other stuff when I travel so I am running my back full float axle which is rated at 6042 lbs at 5600lbs.
The tires are the limiting factor here.
The rig tows great, I really like the Hensley and once you get it set up and used to how it works, for hook up it is simple, and it stays on the trailer.
I have had mine for eight years. I do not have a lot of sag considering the tongue weight of this trailer. Empty it is 1300 lbs and the bars probably move 1/2 of this from the hitch from what I understand.
I saw some firestone bags and was looking for someone who had used them in this application to see if the ride which is very reasonable could be improved on and have a little lift to take out a little sag.
But I will probably leave them off. You are the second econoline owner who has said they made it ride hard and my wife and son will not like that. we live in Louisiana and the roads are not good. Right now they like the ride and the tow. I think the E350 does well, I have 200,000 on one V10 that I have towed with and I just bought another one with the five speed tranny used. Older one is 2002, newer is 2005.
Really appreciate you responding.
Andrew.

 

> 5000 lbs bags, does anyone know anything about those?

I used the 5K Firestone bags on my 4x4 truck. It actually improved the ride and did not make it as harsh. I was pleased. I used my truck for firewood and to tow cars and trailers. I imagine a keyword search would turn up my original post

 

i put helper bags from Air Lift in my '95 E350 extended van about two years ago as i tow a 24' boat on a 3 axle trailer. towing with the bags was fine and the bags did level out the van just fine which was my intent. but, any driving w/o the trailer was no longer as smooth nor as comfortable a ride esp for the folks in the back. the manufacturer does recommend removing at least one leaf in each spring pack. because you are not supposed to run a bag w/o some air pressure, each bag continues to act like a spring which then adds to your existing springs. i ended up taking them out after one year in the van. so now they are just sitting in a box in the garage.

if i wanted to solve the ride height issue, i would install a four link and remove the leaf springs for a pair of bags. killer ride and infinitely adj ride height.

note: not long after purchasing the van one yr old used, i realized the rear springs were not stock. someone had replaced one of the leafs with a piece of flat steel. so i had the springs rebuilt. i don't believe this was responsible for the ride, esp considering the manufacturer does indicate that removing a leaf or two is best. i did want to mention this one fact, tho'.

just my two cents
neil

 

I'd love bags for my van, I'd toss a few leaves and use the bags for the suspension and remaining leaves for axle placement, but your ride was the poor leaf setup, not the bags when empty. I would get the larger Firestone bags since you have maxed out your suspension, if it weren't for the bars, you'd notice how overloaded you really are, get the bags.

 

i think you missed the line where i said i had the springs rebuilt; ie i had a custom set made to suit the van and its particular uses. adding the bags made it choppy - & i do run bilsteins on all 4 corners. now, even if the rebuilt spring packs were extra heavy duty, the point was that as the mfr insists that a minimum of 10 psi remain in the bag at all times, consequently they indicate/recommend removing a leaf or two will provide a better all round ride.

as always your mileage may vary

neil

 

I was talking about the bags and flat steel for a spring.
Second sentence was directed at Andrew, the one who put this topic out there.

 

maples01 my van is not overloaded