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Vrtical --- I have pretty much the same set-up as you (about 900 lb payload with the Fastway-E2 WDH) and although everything is level and tows very well, I'm also considering airbags just for a little more stability. I have plenty of payload, just looking a a little more stability. Thanks
For stability, tires, struts, sway bar. E-rated tires if you don't have them, Bilstein 5100 if you're on oem shock, or maybe the firmer 4xxx series, and a rear swaybar if you don't have one.
Air bags do not provide stability (reduce motion). The spring rate can be set beyond the useful dampening of the oem shock with air bags.
For stability, tires, struts, sway bar. E-rated tires if you don't have them, Bilstein 5100 if you're on oem shock, or maybe the firmer 4xxx series, and a rear swaybar if you don't have one.
Air bags do not provide stability (reduce motion). The spring rate can be set beyond the useful dampening of the oem shock with air bags.
everyone has their own opinion, but what I did is a very well established proven practice, specially amongst the auto racing community. I set my truck up to be about 1/8" off the helper springs. As far as stability, there are several factors, but since I was using mostly a brand new truck, this was to reduce 3 issues: not riding on the helper springs, reduce motion on potential excessive dipping, reduce side to side motion at the leaf spring, not sway. My next change will be the tires, the 116t tires on 18s is "squishy for my level of towing" I ran them at 49 psi, not to my liking.
Not sure what you mean by "proven practice", a lot of people using air bags does not mean it's an correct or incorrect solution.
Your mention of racing is a good example of... what to do first. Anyone that races vehicles eventually learns there is an order to modifications... the simplified answer is brakes and tires before power. In modifying a truck to handle a load better, you should first improve upon what you have before adding non-standard components. You can add any air bag you want, but if you don't replace those 116T tires with something that has a heavier load rating, it's like adding a supercharger but not upgrading the brake and tires... you can't use the boost because you can't bring the speed back down in time for the turns.
Air bags increase load handling, but they do not reduce the wallowing of load range C tires, porpoising of inadequate struts, or body roll of inadequate sway bars. Adding bags and running heavy loads without addressing the other issues is a band-aid that masks the true problems and places stress on components that will increase the rate of their declining performance.
I just set mine up with WDH and airbags . running about 1100 tongue weight. Took a bit of time as I set it up both ways to verify weight transfer and measurements, but on my setup. I ended up 6-7 pounds in the bags just for stability and the WDH did the rest and put my front is within 1/2" to less of stock and I am not on the helper rear springs. trailer is within 1/2 level I will recheck everything it once I drive some and on flat ground. FYI with this psi in the bags,its about 1" of less rear ride height vs not using the airbags if you hook up without the WDH. I did get it setup within spec without the airbags, but wanted them for some stability. If I tried to run a bunch more air like 15-20 pounds, it would just counter act the WDH big time. 40lbs per 1 psi doesnt take much. I plan on a maiden voyage this week covering about 1200 miles and will see how it is.
I have a very similar setup, and I'm trying to decide on air lift 2k bags, or bilstein shocks, with a sway bar. Are you saying, that for every 1 psi of air you add to the bags, it adds 40 lbs to the rear axle? What size air bags do you have? At 6-7 psi is enough to keep the bags stable?
I have a very similar setup, and I'm trying to decide on air lift 2k bags, or bilstein shocks, with a sway bar. Are you saying, that for every 1 psi of air you add to the bags, it adds 40 lbs to the rear axle? What size air bags do you have? At 6-7 psi is enough to keep the bags stable?
i wouldn’t just do air bags. As mentioned in this thread, the air bag will increase the effective spring rate and that will make the crappy, underdamped stock shocks feel even crappier. I’d get bags and shocks together.
If i am towing I usually put ~20psi in my airlift 2000 lb bags. This is the point where the bags just start to lift the back of the truck. So it helps stiffen the rear axle a bit but doesnt cause the wdh to get thrown out of whack by lifting the rear of the truck way up.
unless you have a lot of stuff in the bed in addition to the trailer, I domt think you should rely heavily on air bags.
And the 2000 lb bags should be ~20 lbs of load support per 1 psi. They have a 2000 lb capacity and can be inflated to 100 psi. 2000/100=20. I dont think its totally linear though because, as I said, I don’t think mine do much until 15-20psi.
Air bags are not really intended to be used for trailering. The air bags are to keep the truck from sagging from a heavy load in the bed.
The WDH is to be used to raise the rear end when hitching up a trailer. 2 inches of squat is recommended when hitched up. If there is more, either way to to much tounge weight and you're over loaded or the WDH is improperly set.
In reality, if you "need" air bags for trailering then you are way overloaded.
Had airbags on my 09 and have them on my 2016. Firestone ride-rights both times. They helped with the weight of The topper on my 09 as it had very soft stock springs. I generally use them to get back to stock height once I load the bikes and kayaks, before hooking up the trailer and it’s wdh.
F150 suspension is too soft. I watch everyone else hit bridges and "see-saw" daily, the amount of bounce in the rear end is incredible. I use airbags and don't bounce down the road.
07-22-2019, 11:38 AM
