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07-23-2018, 03:17 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 7
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Air Bags F350?
Hello all! I'm taking delivery of a 2019 F350 next month and wanted to hear other 350 experiences on if you installed air bags on the rear suspension to keep the truck level while towing. We have a 2018 Cougar 311RES fifth-wheel. Pin weight is 2300-2400 lbs. Thanks!
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07-23-2018, 04:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 175
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I just purchased a new F250 SDCC and have towed with it three times. I'm ordering Air-Lift air bags tonight. I'm not disappointed with the towing experience. I just don't like the tow feeling with it full on the overload springs. I can stiffen the handling and get it off the overload (helper) springs with the bags.
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2019 Montana HC 331RL
2017 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab
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07-23-2018, 05:11 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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Air Bags F350?
My 2016 DRW squats a little bit. My pin weight is 3260. Unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket see how it does before you buy them.
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Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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07-23-2018, 07:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,218
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbos
My 2016 DRW squats a little bit. My pin weight is 3260. Unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket see how it does before you buy them. Attachment 17608
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X2
We tow a 5er with about a 2,400# pin don’t have bags and don’t even contact the overloads!
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Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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07-23-2018, 07:26 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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I have air bags on this and had on last truck. This is what I found. Weight on the overload springs is good. Not all the weight that will cause the rear to be lower and head lights too high, if max'ed out. You will need to find the right amount of air for the best ride. But the best ride is having the front overload spring engaged with the weight and the rear of the spring just on the overload spring at least on my truck. When the overload springs do not carry any weigh you will find the truck rear bounces like a yo-yo. Watch how the truck lowers when hitching up, the rear and front might or just the rear. Be ready to adjust the psi until you find the sweet spot. Ideally level. A few years ago I went from sea level to around 5,000 ft. Ride seemed fine. Return trip I put same psi into the bags and had to stop when we got off the mountains, the truck rear was bouncing way to much, the psi was higher than when I started. Also the air temps went from cool to hot. If you can do it get a gauge and air tank mounted in the truck so you do not need to hook up a pump and be on your knees in a parking lot adjusting them like I do.
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2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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07-23-2018, 08:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Escondido
Posts: 163
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For what it's worth, I have bags on my 2006 GMC 2500 Dmax. Air bags are infinetley adjustable. I use my truck for a number of things, but almost always have the pop up camper (in the bed) along for the ride. I can't say it's right or wrong, I adjust the pressure in the bags until the overload springs are just off of their slider pads.
I can't say what my airbags are aired up to as it changes with load. On the "con" side I will say that my next set of shocks (currently Bilstein 5100's) will have more rebound dialed in as the air bags can produce a "bouncy" ride quality.
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2017 Outback 330RL 15th Anniversary Edition (stationary full timer)
2006 GMC 2500HD Duramax CC 4x4 w/SunLite pop-up camper
Dust Junkies Racing, 3 time Baja 1000 Class Champions
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07-24-2018, 04:04 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Near Saratoga Springs,
Posts: 1,131
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Don't know the pin weight or suspension you ordered on your new truck so any answer will be maybe.
My last truck was a SBCC F350, pulling a 12K, 35 foot Titanium whih was nose heavy. That truck did not need air bags. Jump ahead, different truck, ab F250CCLB needs air bags to level out. This F250 has the same suspension capacity by actual part number but only 2" rear axle blocks vs the 4" on a 350 so it just touched the overloads.
I like the air bags since they also seem to add stability to the hanling.
My suggestion - try a haul without the bags first. Then if you 5er drops below level or hits the overloads, revisit adding them
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07-27-2018, 08:55 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Oswego
Posts: 604
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Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags. I installed t them on our 2005 3500HD and on our 2011 3500HD. Improves the ride and minimizes the sag on the rear. Do not have an on-board compressor. Put the fill connections on the rear bumper area. Put 40# of air in the bags before I hitch up. Would not be without them.
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RV - 2017 Avalanche 320RS
TV - 2011 Chevy Silverado 3500HD LTZ CCLB Duramax SRW 4X4
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07-27-2018, 09:12 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: St Loius, MO
Posts: 32
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The main difference between the F250 and the f-350 is the secondary springs and brakes. Don't rush out and buy airbags. There is an excellent chance you won't need them. The only air bags that you might need are for the pin. I just installed an air bag pin from Lippert on my F-350. World of difference. Those secondary springs are so stiff bounced truck and trailer. So stiff.
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07-27-2018, 09:15 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 306
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Perhaps the newer trucks are setup better for towing , especially if you buy them from factory setup for fifth wheel hitch etc. My 2018 3500 Gmc lowers maybe 2 inches when I hookup fifth wheel. Tows fantastic so I ended up not adding air bags even though i had "read" that I would need/want them. I agree with above. Buy trailer see how it fits and what happens. If you don't need them why spend money?
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2020 GMC 3500 Denali Dually Duramax 6.6
2013 Fuzion 342 ToyHauler (Ours)
2011 Harley Davidson Streetglide custom (Mine)
2012 Harley Davidson TriGlide (Trike) (Hers)
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07-28-2018, 07:25 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
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I had firestone 5000 air bags on my 2500 13 duramax the 2500 rolled with out 5000 bags . I up to 2018 1 ton SRW duramax towed with out bags at max pin weigh . I installed the air lift bags with built in bed stop . I felt more comfortable with the the truck. I like the firestone 5000 bags
Load levers better then the air lift bags .
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2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
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07-28-2018, 07:00 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 352
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And they have built in bump stops so you can run them at 0psi and not have them bottom out metal bracket to frame ....banging around like some Firestone setups.
I have them on my 2014 Max Tow F150 Boost.
Love love love them and I pull a 38' 8900# dry Keystone Outback.
No worries.
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07-28-2018, 09:33 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Western PA
Posts: 17
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I have a 2017 F350 CCSB SRW 6.7L Lariat Ultimate. I ordered it for towing with all the load goodies & creature comforts goodies including spray in bed liner, aluminum roll up tonnou cover, B & W slider hitch, tool boxes, 55 gal fuel tank... It is heavy empty.
I pull a 2017 Cougar 336BHS 12,500# 5th wheel. With 2 teen boys & 2-3 week trips we tow at 21k gross. The truck is at 11,500# ±. The trailer was level but the truck sagged just a little. I was on the overload spring but not a lot. Big bumps in the road were hard. The back of the truck would bounce up & down with the truck then the trailer would do the same when those wheels went over the pavement bumps. Felt like a pogo stick.
After one year I added Air Lift Ult 5000 air bags with internal jounce bumpers. I plumbed them to fill each side individually (to reduce roll). Even with anti sway bars & the one ton springs, the air bags helpped roll stability. But they most importantly reduced the porpoiseing. Big road bumps were smoothed out substantially. If I did not drive so much I might not have tried them. But now I will not drive without them. The wireless air, Air Lift compressor went out over the winter so I was going to do a quick weekend without air in the bags. I turned around after 2 miles (rough country road) and aired them up. Glad I put schrader valves in the bumper.
You may not need them. The truck can handle the trailer. BUT, you may want them to help refine the ride.
As far as air pressure, with the 5th 25 psi is enough most trips. With 2k in the bed & an 8k utility trailer loaded I use 40 psi. 5 psi otherwise.
Good luck.
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2017 Cougar 336BHS
2017 F350 6.7L CCSB SRW Lariat Ult., 55 gal Titan Tank,
B&W Companion Slider, Ford TPMS & Back up Camera
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07-28-2018, 09:58 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meaz93*
And they have built in bump stops so you can run them at 0psi and not have them bottom out metal bracket to frame ....banging around like some Firestone setups.
I have them on my 2014 Max Tow F150 Boost.
Love love love them and I pull a 38' 8900# dry Keystone Outback.
No worries.
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Minimum air pressure 5 psi to prevent rubbing and damaging the bag . The bumper inside the air lift bags is design to stabilize the load in case of bag failer .
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
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08-02-2018, 07:17 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Northfield
Posts: 130
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I have a 2017 F350 platinum with toy package and 5th wheel prep.
My pin weight on our 5th wheel is 3,400lbs. I had about 3 inches of squat. I added the Airlift system. The bags are rated for 5K each. The system comes with a programmable remote.
I love the system. It makes things soooo smooth. You won’t regret getting airbags.
I went down the road without the bags inflated and then inflated them. IMO airbags are a must.
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2022 F450 Limited
2022 Keystone Fuzion 428
2 Pitt Bulls (WiFi and Giggles)
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08-02-2018, 08:16 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wifi_guy
I have a 2017 F350 platinum with toy package and 5th wheel prep.
My pin weight on our 5th wheel is 3,400lbs. I had about 3 inches of squat. I added the Airlift system. The bags are rated for 5K each. The system comes with a programmable remote.
I love the system. It makes things soooo smooth. You won’t regret getting airbags.
I went down the road without the bags inflated and then inflated them. IMO airbags are a must.
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I have the same set up, 3,020lb. pin weight on my Fuzion, 2017 Lariat F350 SRD. The air bags are a must, made the ride so much better. And the onboard compressor is sweet. I pull a bumper pull sled trailer in the winter which creates more sag and the bags level it right out. Definitely recommend!!
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08-02-2018, 08:19 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Northfield
Posts: 130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by manonfire1978
I have the same set up, 3,020lb. pin weight on my Fuzion, 2017 Lariat F350 SRD. The air bags are a must, made the ride so much better. And the onboard compressor is sweet. I pull a bumper pull sled trailer in the winter which creates more sag and the bags level it right out. Definitely recommend!!
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We have a 2018 Fuzion. I wonder what makes ours heavier.... hmmmm... Do you have the genny package?
__________________
2022 F450 Limited
2022 Keystone Fuzion 428
2 Pitt Bulls (WiFi and Giggles)
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08-02-2018, 09:17 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 27
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Air bags
I would wait and try them without first. I have a F350 and mine don’t touch the overload springs with only 10 pounds of air. My pin weight is 3200. My air bags have the stop in them though
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08-02-2018, 11:16 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Brant Lake,NY
Posts: 321
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Air Bags
When I ordered my 2016 F350 DRW I ordered it with a slide in camper spring option I tow a 2016 Alfa Gold SH that weights in at 19,755 lb and I have no Squat at all and it handles great. The DW and I traveled all over the country and never had any handling problems.
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Gary & Gail
Alfa Gold 3905SH
2016 F350 DWD 4X4 6.7,3.73 Rear
2012 Cougar 318SAB
2015 F350 SWD 4X4 3.55 Rear
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08-02-2018, 03:33 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Northfield
Posts: 130
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Not sure how much truth there is to this, but bags have to save your socks and leaf springs over time.
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