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I'm not sure how close my situation is to yours. I am within all the weight limits on my truck when towing the loaded camper. My question would be: How much rear end squat is too much? My wheel well is down 1-3/4" from the unloaded height, but still has 2-1/8" of suspension travel remaining.
Is that a Cooper HT3?
Looks like a good heavy duty tire. I'm sure they would change the effective spring rate and the natural frequency of the truck suspension. I would rather stay with the P tires if I can. How is the unloaded ride and gas mileage compared to your stock P tires?
I'm getting 26 mpg hwy and 17 mpg local and I like it.
Yes those are the tires, I like the rims but I think my wife would say no. The ride is a bit stiffer without towing. Towing is actually just as smooth. I only have about 2500 miles on my Ecoboost and being from the Buffalo NY area, my gas mileage is 14 local. I was getting 18 towing in the fall on the highway.
I had to do these 2 upgrades to basically make it a safer tow with the weight. Me and the wife travel light, and we are barely within the weight limits. Prior to putting the airbags on with the 5th wheel attached the truck was still at level, so I did have a warm comfy that it was good. Belonging to the forestriver forums, I read a lot of posts about chucking and the pogo effect and decided that tires and airbags should fix it.
. My question would be: How much rear end squat is too much?
Easy answer. When towing at night, if oncoming traffic flashes their lights at you, they're asking you to dim your headlights. If your headlights are already on dim, then you need to do something to raise the rear end of the tow vehicle. Air bags are the easiest solution for most overloaded pickups.
And yes, if your headlights are aiming at the stars and blinding oncoming traffic, then you're overloaded.
Easy answer. When towing at night, if oncoming traffic flashes their lights at you, they're asking you to dim your headlights. If your headlights are already on dim, then you need to do something to raise the rear end of the tow vehicle. Air bags are the easiest solution for most overloaded pickups.
And yes, if your headlights are aiming at the stars and blinding oncoming traffic, then you're overloaded.
To this point, I have not towed at night, so I haven't checked the headlight aiming at night. That may not be a good indicator for me since I don't intend to tow at night.
The scales say it is not overloaded, but the suspension is compressed some.
Last edited by atwowheelguy; 02-01-2015 at 04:13 PM.
The scales say it is not overloaded, but the suspension is compressed some.
My F-150 SuperCrew EcoBoost with 7,100 pounds GVWR is overloaded with my TT that weighs only 4,870 (4,220 on the trailer axles plus 650 tongue weight) when wet and loaded on the road. If your trailer grosses 6,700 pounds, it's hrd to believe that you don't exceed 7,100 pounds on your two pickup axles.
Look at your scale ticket again. Add the weights on the front and rear axles, and compare the total to the 7,100 pound GVWR.
Last edited by smokeywren; 02-01-2015 at 05:15 PM.
My F-150 SuperCrew EcoBoost with 7,100 pounds GVWR is overloaded with my TT that weighs only 4,870 (4,220 on the trailer axles plus 650 tongue weight) when wet and loaded on the road. If your trailer grosses 6,700 pounds, it's hrd to believe that you don't exceed 7,100 pounds on your two pickup axles.
Look at your scale ticket again. Add the weights on the front and rear axles, and compare the total to the 7,100 pound GVWR.
As built truck 5493#, 1607# payload, '13 XLT 145" Supercrew
As loaded without trailer 6200#, 707# of people and stuff in the truck.
Subsequently I now load more stuff in the trailer and less in the truck.
As built trailer 5025#, as loaded 6740#, 780# tongue wt.
On the scales with WD engaged, 3120# front axle, 3800# rear axle, total 6920#.
Without WD, it weighed 6980#.
From my experience,
Airbags will help the most with leveling out a slightly overloaded rear end,
The feeling of being pushed sideways at the back can be reduced by stiffer walled tires or as I'm about to try, a rear sway bar since my truck does not come with one.
For resonant bouncing, I would think stiffer shocks would do more to change the natural frequency would help more than anything other than change your speed on the cyclic road undulations.
Last edited by frieed; 02-02-2015 at 10:07 AM.
Reason: typos
From my experience,
Airbags will help the most with leveling out a slightly overloaded rear end,
The feeling of being pushed sideways at the back can be reduced by stiffer walled tires or as I'm about to try, a rear sway bar since my truck does not come with one.
For resonant bouncing, I would think stiffer shocks would do more to change the natural frequency more than anything other than change your your speed on the cyclic road undulations.
By the scales, it is not overloaded. I have not experienced being pushed sideways. When a truck goes by, I get one little oscillation, but it's nothing alarming. I still have 2-1/8" suspension travel remaining in the rear. Air bags could lift the rear 1-1/8" to make it level, but what benefit would that be? I'm having a hard time convincing myself that air bags would do anything for me.
Maybe just slowing down a little is all I need to resolve my issue.
Adding air springs will do a few things which you will benefit from. Number one, it will allow you to correct your head lights. Number two, you will be able to tune the spring rate of your rear suspension, which is where your problem is. Our Ride Control product is the perfect solution for your complaint. You are able to adjust the air pressure in the air springs depending on the load. When you are not loaded you are able to let pressure out which will return to the original ride. There is little risk involved as well, the product for your truck bolts on. Then we have a 60 day ride guarantee, if it doesn't work or you don't like it you are able to return it.
Last edited by Air Lift Company; 02-02-2015 at 10:40 AM.
Adding air springs will do a few things which you will benefit from. Number one, it will allow you to correct your head lights. Number two, you will be able to tune the spring rate of your rear suspension, which is where your problem is. Our Ride Control product is the perfect solution for your complaint. You are able to adjust the air pressure in the air springs depending on the load. When you are not loaded you are able to let pressure out which will return to the original ride. There is little risk involved as well, the product for your truck bolts on. Then we have a 60 day ride guarantee, if it doesn't work or you don't like it you are able to return it.
Thanks for your interest. Correcting the head lights is not an issue for me because I don't tow at night.
Thanks for your interest. Correcting the head lights is not an issue for me because I don't tow at night.
I'll consider it.
If your trucks rearend is sagging that bad to where your headlights are blinding on coming traffic.....you might be a red nec... No seriously, ...air suspension is amazing and will definitely help you out . I've done shocks, helper springs, better tires, rear sway bar...I can honestly tell you Loadlifters made a Huge difference. If you still think it's all hype ....then pull a lighter, smaller trailer =simple as that.
01-31-2015, 08:31 AM
If you still think it's all hype ....then pull a lighter, smaller trailer =simple as that. 