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I just bought a 26' camping trailer (4,850 pounds ) that's very tounge heavy for my 2006 Ford F150. I have been told I could add some adjustable air shocks to the rear leaf springs to help bear the load and make the trailer ride level. I've looked all over the internet for these with not really much luck.
Hauling this much weight is new to me. I could as much advice that can be offered to help solve the problem compensating for the weight. The soution has to be shade tree mechanic friendly. I want to do the work myself. I have the tools,floor jack,jack stands ...etc to be able to remove the rear shocks and install something else.

Here's a better solution:



http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/firestone ... -2004-2008

Todd "N-N-N-N-Napa know-how" S. Malicoate

Thanks Todd. I have seen those and have been considering those as well . I was hoping for a less expensive alternative to that system but there just aren't a lot of choices out there so I may go with those.
The other 2 alternatives is either helper springs or spring over shocks. Do you think either of those would work as well ?

oldbandnerd wrote:Thanks Todd. I have seen those and have been considering those as well . I was hoping for a less expensive alternative to that system but there just aren't a lot of choices out there so I may go with those.
The other 2 alternatives is either helper springs or spring over shocks. Do you think either of those would work as well ?

Those "load-adjusting" shocks are ok, cheaper, and easy enough to install. The drawback is they don't work as well as the bags and don't last nearly as long.

I don't know a thing about helper springs as we don't sell them. My impression from hearing people talk about them over the years is that they're pretty worthless, but I don't know that firsthand.

I can speak to all three options from direct experience. Air bags are the way to go. You inflate them to the desired ride height (loaded) and they maintain the geometry of the suspension and prevent "bottoming out" on bumps. Just be sure not to run them without at least 10 psi ...ever. They will get into suspension components and get worn into. I would also strongly recommend a load leveling hitch and anti sway attachment on the hitch/tongue. I installed these on my Dodge Dakota and handle my 24' enclosed trailer without problems.

Air shocks are great for jacking up your seventies vintage hot rod, but not so much for load handling. I installed these on my '70 American Motors AMX.

Coil over and helper springs stiffen the suspension when you are loaded, and when you are not. They completely alter the ride and handling of your vehicle. I installed these, at his insistence, on a buddy's 3/4 ton van.

I dunno whether this would work with a modern F150 but I used to add extra leaf springs to 1960's and 70's model Australian cars.

These cars came with four leaf rear springs which would sag after a few years and were never really that good anyway.

We used to go to the wreckers and get another complete set of four leaf springs, cut the mounting points off the longest ones, get some overlength U bolts and make up a set of eight leaf springs.

The trick was to use the oldest, most worn out, sagging leaves you could find. Even so the car would still sit too high and would need lowering blocks to bring it back down to normal ride height.

This worked MUCH better than an extra overleaf spring or getting the original springs reset to their original stiffness.

I used this system in a number of cars of different size and weight over many years in all sorts of driving conditions. The ride-handling compromise compared very favourably to much newer vehicles with coil sprung rear ends.

Load carrying was incredible - you'd burst the tyres before making any impact on the ride height. Handling was like a slot car - it was just glued to the road.

When I first heard this whole thing described I thought it would be undriveable on anything but a smooth race track but in practice compliance on rough roads was excellent. (We have the worst roads in the world in Australia - not just wild outback roads - MOST of our damn roads). It combined coil like handling and compliance with a very positive sporty feel (but not hot rod style bumpiness), with truck like load carrying.

I think the friction of all those leaves slowing the movement down may have been a factor in how the whole thing worked. I repeat - it's vital to use old, worn out sagging leaves for this.

Reading this thread has brought back a whole flood of memories from my petrol head days.

Regards

Gerard

termite wrote: Reading this thread has brought back a whole flood of memories from my petrol head days.

I'm with you there, brother!

Thanks for all the help here . Looks like air bags are the way too go. I need something that will last because I will expect to have both this truck and the trailer for many years.
" Termite" ... thanks for your advice as well but it's getting cold here and I'm just not that interested in laying on the ground under trucks in junk yards or my truck any longer than I have to. It ws good advice though. I have heard of being able to do something like that.
Your story reminded me of the times when people tried to keep vehicles running as long as possible rather than get a new one. Especially if it was a good running truck you really like. My old man bought a 1971 Cheverolet Cheyenne brand new that he kept for 22 years. The engine still ran like new and the body was in perfect condition. He maintained it himself rarely taking it in to a garage. It's hard to do most of the reapair work on your own vehicles now.

It looked a lot like this one :

I've found a solution to my problem . After doing a lot research I found that a weight dirstribution hitch with anti-sway is the way to go. I found a set on Craigslist for $150.00. Brand new would have cost me $500 - $600 !
They will look like this when I install them :

Carroll wrote:I would also strongly recommend a load leveling hitch and anti sway attachment on the hitch/tongue.

Hey...that's what I said. The load might still squat the back end down. You may still find the need for bags...but best of luck!

Carroll .....
I saw that bit of advice and blew right past it because I didn't really know what they were or how they worked. I also saw how expensive they are. I IMMMEDIATLY dropped the idea of buying one of those. I was going for C-H-E-A-P . Hind sight = 20/20 ...... I should have looked into it more instead of ignoring it.
After I came back around to this hitch being a possibilty I researched it more . Then I lucked out and found a deal on Craigslist.
I appreciate your help. Sometimes it's hard to get through this thick noggin of mine.

Just kiddin', man! I hope it works for you.

You might look at trailer brakes, as well. Nothing like control to ease your mind.

Yeah ... I know you were. Just kicking myself for asking for advice and then igorning it when I get it. This trailer is a 24' Citation and fortunately came with brakes and my truck ( that I also just recently bought used ) already had the controller on it ! I can take that one off the list of stuff to do .