Towing 327 RES - Airbags needed?

Scratch · 02-26-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cougarfamily

Sweet rig!

Thanks! Just purchased our 327RES this evening. We'll pick it up on the 6th and have the dealer install the hitch. trading in our 26' Flagstaff TT and this is our first 5er. Would you recommend airbags?

Thanks in advance...

Festus2 · 02-26-2013, 08:46 PM

Scratch -
I would wait until you have your 327RES hooked up to your Ford TV and see how the two "sit" and how the ride feels before purchasing and installing air bags.
Installing airbags or other similar helpers will only improve the comfort level of the ride. They won't increase your towing capacity.

(I moved your post to here and started a new thead for you. )

Javi · 02-27-2013, 03:57 AM

Judging from the weights listed for that trailer and my experience with the '12 F250 6.7 I'd say that it would be a REAL good idea... as Festus said you can only be sure by actually hooking up and seeing what it looks like.. But with a loaded pin weight of about 2300 you'll be right at the max load for that truck... My '12 XL longbed with 10K option has a payload of 2690 and the more accerssories you have the less that number.. So plan on the truck squatting a good bit.. bags won't increase the carrying capacity of the truck but they will help get the headlights down out of the trees...

SteveC7010 · 02-27-2013, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festus2

Scratch -
I would wait until you have your 327RES hooked up to your Ford TV and see how the two "sit" and how the ride feels before purchasing and installing air bags.
Installing airbags or other similar helpers will only improve the comfort level of the ride. They won't increase your towing capacity.

I'm in exactly the same boat, Scratch, and I'm already doing what Festus suggests. We had an older 1 ton duallie that handled the pin weight of our Cougar just fine, but replaced it with the same truck that you have. I am waiting until we get it out of winter storage in mid-April to see exactly how the two pair up. If there is significant squat, I'll order them right away. We've got more than 6 weeks from "out-of-storage" until our first trip so I'll have plenty of time to take care of it.

Scratch · 02-27-2013, 06:42 AM

Much appreciated folks. I've heard the 2012 F250 suspension was softened for ride which usually culminates in air bogs. We'll hook it up next week and figure it out from there.

msp2jxr · 02-27-2013, 02:53 PM

I have a 2008 F250 and pull a MKS 326 (almost the same trailer). I don't pull with air bags and do just fine. I do get some squat on the truck but it is not bouncy. I even put a cart on the back of the trailer and take my Goldwing with me. Before I invest in air bags I would add a Mor-Ryde pin box.
Just my 2cents Jay

Cougarfamily · 02-27-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Thanks! Just purchased our 327RES this evening. We'll pick it up on the 6th and have the dealer install the hitch. trading in our 26' Flagstaff TT and this is our first 5er. Would you recommend airbags?

Thanks in advance...

No, I would not at this time. As others have said, I would wait to see how it looks when hooked up. According to the Cougar specs I have, our hitch weight is only weighs 20 lbs less than yours. And maybe our tv has stiffer springs since it is an '05, but the truck did not sag any that I could tell under the weight of the 5er. We have traveled at night with it, and no one flashed due to our lights being in their eyes.

SAD · 02-27-2013, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cougarfamily

No, I would not at this time. As others have said, I would wait to see how it looks when hooked up. ...

Ditto this

DJ85 · 02-27-2013, 06:40 PM

I have a 08 f-250 4x4 with a 6.4l

I have put air bags on my trk to just level everything out with the camper attached. the air bag the camper would lower to just start making contact with the overload springs. I noticed the trk would bounce off and on the overload springs cause a huge amount of bounce. Since putting the air bags on there is alot less bounce. I only run about 30 to 40 psi in them and that is just to relevel the truck again. I am not saying to do or not to do just passing on some info thats all.

DJ85 · 02-27-2013, 06:48 PM

I really think it's time for my wife to proof read my write up. It would just be one more thing that she tells me that I do wrong. Really wish I could argue that but it appears she right. I meant to say with the camper hooked up before I put the air bags on. The camper would put the trk onto the overload springs and while driving down the road I would get alot of rear suspension bounce. The air bags have settled things down alot without changing suspension travel. Just remember that air bags do not increase vehicle payload so if your trk is overloaded already air bags will not help it will just place more stress on an overloaded problem.

Scratch · 02-27-2013, 07:26 PM

Thanks again for the advice and info, everyone. I'm pretty sure the 6.7L should be able to handle the payload as the Cougar is just 10,160 dry and 12,000 loaded out. The truck specs say I should be able to handle 15,400.

I learned on another forum, that the springs on the '12 F250 were engineered for a softer ride at the expense of some sag. I'll get 'er hooked up next week and decide from there if I need to install air bags to alleviate the potential sag issue. Could be I won't have a problem at what seems (to me) to be only a moderate load...

What is the purpose of an 'air (ride) king pin'? That's a new term to me?

SAD · 02-27-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Thanks again for the advice and info, everyone. I'm pretty sure the 6.7L should be able to handle the payload as the Cougar is just 10,160 dry and 12,000 loaded out. The truck specs say I should be able to handle 15,400.

I learned on another forum, that the springs on the '12 F250 were engineered for a softer ride at the expense of some sag. I'll get 'er hooked up next week and decide from there if I need to install air bags to alleviate the potential sag issue. Could be I won't have a problem at what seems (to me) to be only a moderate load...

What is the purpose of an 'air (ride) king pin'? That's a new term to me?

Your hitch head (in truck bed) had tilt to it (fore/aft, left/right) to allow for ease of movement over uneven terrain... Combine that with the fact that the hitch jaws have a reasonable amount of tolerance/slop when clamped around the pin on the pin-box....

Slow truck down, hitch can tilt forward... Trailer takes up slop... Speed up truck, opposite can occur.

This can exhibit itself as a trailer that at times can seem to "buck" or "bang" or "clunk" behind the truck.

The air ride pin box will have an airbag/shock absorber that will absorb/smooth out this behavior.

Cougarfamily · 02-27-2013, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Thanks again for the advice and info, everyone. I'm pretty sure the 6.7L should be able to handle the payload as the Cougar is just 10,160 dry and 12,000 loaded out. The truck specs say I should be able to handle 15,400.

I learned on another forum, that the springs on the '12 F250 were engineered for a softer ride at the expense of some sag. I'll get 'er hooked up next week and decide from there if I need to install air bags to alleviate the potential sag issue. Could be I won't have a problem at what seems (to me) to be only a moderate load...

What is the purpose of an 'air (ride) king pin'? That's a new term to me?

The air ride king pin takes a lot(if not all) of the roughness out of the ride. Cushions the bounces and jerking due to bad road surface.

Scratch · 02-27-2013, 07:48 PM

Thanks fellas. The air ride king pin/air ride pin box does not serve the same purpose as air bags. Correct?

SAD · 02-27-2013, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Thanks fellas. The air ride king pin/air ride pin box does not serve the same purpose as air bags. Correct?

Correct...

C130 · 02-28-2013, 02:28 PM

I have a 2011 F250 and just got a Fuzion 322. No airbags yet but will probably add them soon. Truck squats a little but pulls great and no noticeable bouncing. I'd say it squats maybe 2 inches at the most. I noticed it more the second time I pulled it than the first.

Is it worth the extra money to get the wireless compressor or just air them up manually myself? Seems to be around $300-$350 difference.

Scratch · 02-28-2013, 03:47 PM

After doing some more research, I ordered the Firestone airbags and wireless compressor. The RV dealer is hitting me up for $1450 for parts & labor installed. I figured better safe than sorry as we're heading straight out for spring break week to the TX. coast.

What is the Fusion's tongue weight?

Ken / Claudia · 02-28-2013, 07:07 PM

C130, the air bags take little air, 2 trucks I have had them on I got a small 12 v compresser, plug in to power point, takes acouple mins to do it. Just put the valves at easy location. Down side w/o built in compresser you must stop to add/release air. Traveling from high/low temps and levels you will likely adjust the psi of the bags, (I Do). To get the best ride. With my truck and 4400 lb in bed camper and 3600 lb boat I would put in 20-30 psi. Higher psi took overload springs off the load and truck bounced like a wild bull.

aburns20 · 03-01-2013, 03:00 AM

I had the firestone air bags on my 2009 F250 KR, 6.4L when I was pulling our 2013 Fuzion 375 (tongue weight was ~3300 lbs). I did the same thing as DJ85 and saved myself some cash by not installing a wireless compressor. When I didn't need it, the compressor went in the storage compartment. This was not very painful, just needed to keep a tire gauge around

I have since upgraded my TV to a 2012 F350 DRW 6.7L KR. Have not towed with it yet (getting hitch put in today).

Good luck with your decision.

Javi · 03-01-2013, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

After doing some more research, I ordered the Firestone airbags and wireless compressor. The RV dealer is hitting me up for $1450 for parts & labor installed. I figured better safe than sorry as we're heading straight out for spring break week to the TX. coast.

What is the Fusion's tongue weight?

You won't regret the purchase...

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