quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Your truck doesn’t need airbags and certainly doesn’t need any pressure in them when the bed is unloaded.

I’m still learning a lot about this but it’s my understanding that you never run airbags empty to prevent damage, so that’s what I’m doing.

As to your first assertion, I’m not sure how you are reaching that opinion so emphatically.

Airbags are great. Especially if you haul or tow heavy loads. If you do not. Just keep minimal air in them. Does yours have an on board compressor?

J, did you get my email? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Your truck doesn’t need airbags and certainly doesn’t need any pressure in them when the bed is unloaded.

I’m still learning a lot about this but it’s my understanding that you never run airbags empty to prevent damage, so that’s what I’m doing.

As to your first assertion, I’m not sure how you are reaching that opinion so emphatically.

The last thing your truck needs with an empty bed is more spring, but yes keep whatever minimum amount the air bags require if you plan to keep them.

That your truck doesn’t need them was explained in the last post of your thread here: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...410014705#3410014705

and as further evidence I give you my truck used to tow at or near its payload limits for tens of thousands of miles without air bags:



If you tow a travel trailer and load up the bed, properly adjusting your weight distributing hitch will level you truck and trailer.



Your F350 is an improvement over my F350. Yours has a stiffer box channel frame and the lighter aluminum body and bed increased the payload over mine. The lighter weight gas motor also gives you more payload as well. The redesigned larger hitch also allows you to tow trailers with higher tongue weights before needing a weight distributing hitch than my truck.

If my truck tows level with 3,500lbs of payload and kingpin weight, yours will too.

Same with my second picture with the travel trailer and Polaris 850 Touring in the truck bed. Airbags are not a substitute for a weight disturbing hitch. I have pictures of the truck scale weights somewhere that proved it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

Yeah they cost a little more, but for the average bloke, the Michelin LTX tire is a solid choice.

With ‘average’ I’m talking mostly driving on pavement, which covers most. They do fine with casual off-roading.

I've got 15k miles on the Falken AT3Ws on my 16 F350 DRW. They have been great in icy snowy conditions and mud. They are friggin awesome on our high dessert roads where it gets sandy (deep 10" plus) in the dry periods.

As others have said, with a 1 ton you have to load it properly when not hauling to get good traction. Mine tends to float on the dual rears in certain conditions. I've got around 500lbs of tools and misc in the bed and thats ok, but I also really minimize my driving in adverse conditions in the truck because.......

I've got a 2019 4Runner that I just replaced the shitto terra grapplers with the Falken AT4Ws. So far the Falkens are quieter and have given better dry loose dirt traction than the shittos ever did. I imagine they'll be great in the monsoon season.

I ran Michelin Ltx At great traction and great wear

trapper your truck needs air bags if I have ever seen one that does

^^^
I can’t tell if you’re serious or if you’re joking.

The truck is level in both pictures, no squatting for me. In fact, you’ll note in the second picture, the truck has 18” wheels vs the 20” wheels it came with. That allowed for smaller diameter tires while maintaining the required load rating for the rear axle. The smaller tires brings the 5th wheel’s nose down a bit. It’s still nose high, but lowering it anymore at the hitch won’t give me enough clearance between the 5th wheel’s overhang and the bed of the truck. The F350 dually’s bed rail height is two inches shorter than my F350 SRW. That’s a definite plus in the dually’s favor I didn’t know about when I bought the truck.

The truck rides great and handles fantastic. I get no push passing semis or being passed by semis. Crosswinds under 40mph don’t affect me. I did put a Hellwig anti-swaybar on the back and a larger than stock one on the front.

The only issue with the travel trailer is I bent the 1,500 bars that came with the hitch with that load. The 2,000lb bars solved that.

I spent a lot of time with a measuring tape, time at the CAT scales, and money getting it right. Not once have I thought airbags would do anything I needed done.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Wildpeak AT3W's are what came stock on my Gladiator. I've been really impressed with them in the snow and ice this winter. Can't comment on them the wet since I've only had it since November and it hasn't rained.

Prior to that I had run E rated BFG All Terrain KO2's on my 2 previous F-150's

With a 1 ton you're probably looking at E load rated tires. They are rated for higher pressures and you may want to check what the manufacturer's recommendations are as well as what your TPMS sensors are set for.I ran mine at 48PSI on my F-150's and never had an issue.

I’ve been running the stock sized F-350 tires on my F-150 as well. The Wildpeaks to be exact. I started at at 36psi worked up to 50 and settled at 40 in the rears and 42 up front.

Wear has been excellent handling is good traction is good in winter. But, it’s easy enough to break the rearend loose. I attribute it to the 3.5 Ecoboost torque, as the same setup in a 5.0 Coyote was not noticeably loose.

Seriously Trap, you need them. But hey, your truck and trailer.

That truck could easily be raised 4-6" in the rear.

Not going to argue with you. but you seem to think just because its level with the trailer on it you are good to go. . Measure how much the truck is raised once you unhook it from the trailer. That is closer to where it should be than were it is in that first pix.

obviously ymwv

I’ve had Falken Wildpeak AT3’s on my 3/4 ton GMC for at least 2 sets, including the current set. They handle rain and snow great. Dry ride is very good also. I got over 60k miles on the last set and just replaced a few months ago. They did just come out with the AT4, which if I read right, is an improved AT3. Can’t go wrong with the Falken offering.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Seriously Trap, you need them. But hey, your truck and trailer.

That truck could easily be raised 4-6" in the rear.

Not going to argue with you. but you seem to think just because its level with the trailer on it you are good to go. . Measure how much the truck is raised once you unhook it from the trailer. That is closer to where it should be than were it is in that first pix.

obviously ymwv

It’s not me that thinks level is the way to go. Ford thinks that because they designed it that way:


The rear is supposed to drop when loaded. That’s how that extra leaf starts getting used. Raising the back up will cause problems with ride and handling as that leaf gets loaded and unloaded going over bumps while driving down the road. Keeping it loaded solves that. I figured that out while setting up the WD hitch for the travel trailer.

The weight distributing hitch manufacturers think the truck should be level as well because that’s what their instructions call for.

My experience driving my truck 70,000 miles while towing those trailers and my 10,000lb boat and trailer has given me no indication that Ford and Blue Ox were wrong.

My understanding is the only differences between an F250 and F350 SRW that give the F350 SRW an additional 1,000lbs of payload is the extra leaf in the picture and taller spacer blocks between the spring packs and axle. The axles are the same and if the F250 is equipped with the same tires available on the F350 SRW, then from a tire and axle standpoint, there’s no reason the F250 can’t carry the same payload as the F350 SRW. An F250 could benefit from airbags when towing a 5th wheel.

Raising the rear 4”-6” while towing the 5th wheel wouldn’t make sense. I don’t think you’ll fond a sine 5th wheel manufacturer that would suggest towing their trailer more than a few inches from level would be acceptable. That would put more load on the 5th wheels rear tires and axle. Being block from air flow from the front tired already causes them to heat up more. It would also screw with the 5th wheel’s braking as well as the truck’s handling.

I’ll bow out though. My truck tows, handles, and rides really well. It doesn’t loose traction at stop lights and signs or fishtail around corners when the roads are wet.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Airbags are great. Especially if you haul or tow heavy loads. If you do not. Just keep minimal air in them. Does yours have an on board compressor?

J, did you get my email? Thanks.

ORC,

I did, responded a bit ago as well.

The truck came with an aftermarket airbag system with onboard air. Pretty slick set-up to be honest. Just a few lbs makes a considerable difference in ride quality.

Trap, the last thing I will say is looking at where your hitch stringer is setting in the pix. I am guessing it is 6"-8" lower than where it would be with out the trailer on. To me that is to much compression on the rear of the truck. Too much weight on the ass end of the truck for my liking. That is where air bags would really help out. Sounds like it works for you though.