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Old 08-01-2020, 08:19 PM   #1
BulletOwner1
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Air Bags for F150

My 2019 F150 without being hooked up to the trailer sits well. But when I hook up to the trailer with EZ lift WD hitch hooked up, the trailer rides pretty level but the truck has some sag. Considering air bags to see if I can get everything level. One of the questions I have is with air bags installed and not towing will the pickup still ride at the original height? I seem to remember reading that you should keep approx. 5 lbs of pressure at a no load condition. Is that enough to raise the tail?

When I hook up the EZ lift I'm only dropping 2 links but can't drop any more. 750lb bars. I don't think I can drop the hitch one hole and pick up the difference by dropping more links to level both vehicles out.

I think what bothers me the most about this is that when towing with minimal sag my low beams are up in oncoming traffic. Might seem trivial but I know what it's like staring at bright lights coming at me.

TIA
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:27 AM   #2
wiredgeorge
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BulletOwner1 View Post
My 2019 F150 without being hooked up to the trailer sits well. But when I hook up to the trailer with EZ lift WD hitch hooked up, the trailer rides pretty level but the truck has some sag. Considering air bags to see if I can get everything level. One of the questions I have is with air bags installed and not towing will the pickup still ride at the original height? I seem to remember reading that you should keep approx. 5 lbs of pressure at a no load condition. Is that enough to raise the tail?

When I hook up the EZ lift I'm only dropping 2 links but can't drop any more. 750lb bars. I don't think I can drop the hitch one hole and pick up the difference by dropping more links to level both vehicles out.

I think what bothers me the most about this is that when towing with minimal sag my low beams are up in oncoming traffic. Might seem trivial but I know what it's like staring at bright lights coming at me.

TIA

A 2007 243RKS appears to have a gross weight of about 9300 lbs. What does the yellow/white sticker in your driver side door frame say your payload is for your F150?
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:30 AM   #3
flybouy
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It's difficult to find info on a 13 yr old trailer but from what I can see it should be around a 6k trailer. With a 13% tongue weight should be around 750-800 lbs. That said, with a properly sized and adjusted wdh you should not have ant rear end "squat". The purpose of the wdh is to get the weight distributed so the front and rear axles equally.

Is the trailer new to you? Do you have anything else in the bed of the truck like a generator, tool box, cap? What are the bars on the wdh rated at?

I would start with a trip to the CAT scale to see where you're at weight wise. After getting that info If the trailer is overweight leave some stuff at home. If the tongue is heavy redistribute some weight. Once those issues, if they exist, are corrected then start at page 1 of the wdh install instructions and make certain it's correct.

As for your question on air bags... Most have a very low minimum inflation and should not alter ride height or ride when the truck is unloaded. They DO NOT ADD TO THE PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF THE TRUCK. In fact, they reduce it. Look at the yellow and white tire inflation sticker on the driver's door jamb. That line that says "cargo and passengers cannot exceed xxx lbs. Is your payload. That's what the truck had when it left the factory. Anything added to the truck comes off the payload. So if you added running boards, mud flaps, bed liner, bed cover, tool box, tools, firewood, an ice chest with drinks, ANYTHING placed into or installed on the truck reduces payload by the weight of that object.

Airbags are great in my opinion but if you need them to level out a truck with a wdh then something is wrong.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:33 AM   #4
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A 2007 243RKS appears to have a gross weight of about 9300 lbs. What does the yellow/white sticker in your driver side door frame say your payload is for your F150?
Where did you find that? I couldn't find much on that year.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:44 AM   #5
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https://www.mantecatrailer.com/produ...rks-1106554-29


https://www.rvguide.com/specs/keysto...st-coast-.html


Saw the > 3K payload for the 6K lbs trailer on several sites. Not wishing to run afoul of the weight police who are set to patrol, I calculated that perhaps the tongue weight for his camper would be north of 1200 lbs. I suspect most Eco-Boost crew cabs are guzzied up models with a relatively lower payload so thought I would check on his payload before going into full statistics mode on a Sunday morning. A good candidate for pinpointing sagging is lack of payload capability I suspect but then I am not an expert on bumper pull trailers.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:59 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
https://www.mantecatrailer.com/produ...rks-1106554-29


https://www.rvguide.com/specs/keysto...st-coast-.html


Saw the > 3K payload for the 6K lbs trailer on several sites. Not wishing to run afoul of the weight police who are set to patrol, I calculated that perhaps the tongue weight for his camper would be north of 1200 lbs. I suspect most Eco-Boost crew cabs are guzzied up models with a relatively lower payload so thought I would check on his payload before going into full statistics mode on a Sunday morning. A good candidate for pinpointing sagging is lack of payload capability I suspect but then I am not an expert on bumper pull trailers.
The site I found listed GVW as 6040. That's the trouble with older models, finding the info. I'd be surprised if a 6k empty trailer had a payload of 50% of base weight .

To the OP, can you post a picture of the sticker on the trailer that lists the tire size and weight rating?
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Old 08-02-2020, 05:07 AM   #7
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Why can’t you drop 3 links?

Do you lock the trailer onto the ball and then lift the tongue?
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Old 08-02-2020, 05:38 AM   #8
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Well a 3,000# payload in a 27’ TT is going to be tough to use up. I would think that TT would weigh no more than 7,500# fully loaded. That would make
The tongue about 900# at 12%.
I would drop the hitch head one set of holes and tighten the bars an extra link to level
The TV and maintain the TT level.
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Old 08-02-2020, 05:47 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by rhagfo View Post
Well a 3,000# payload in a 27’ TT is going to be tough to use up. I would think that TT would weigh no more than 7,500# fully loaded. That would make
The tongue about 900# at 12%.
I would drop the hitch head one set of holes and tighten the bars an extra link to level
The TV and maintain the TT level.
And if that's the case the 750 lb bars won't cut it. The weight is unknown and needs to be discovered.
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Old 08-02-2020, 07:53 AM   #10
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I have a `14 F150 Ecoboost Max Tow / Payload Package and have Airlift Loadlifter Ultimate 5000's-work great.
They have rubber bump stops built in.
They keep the truck stable while towing and don't affect my ride. I like a firm ride in my truck anyway, so I will keep 15-20#'s when not in tow.
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Old 08-02-2020, 09:35 AM   #11
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Number to chew on:

These figures are off the sticker inside the cupboard and on the side of the trailer:
Trailer 6030
Gross trailer 9370
CCC 2906 + water/propane

Figures from the door sticker and owners manual:
Pickup CCC 1760
GCWR 16,100

2019 F150, 4X4, 3.5 ECB, max tow, short box, 3.55 rear end.

We, just the two of us, don't have kids, pets, toys etc that go along with family camping trips so don't load the trailer to the max. Usually the water tank has water but the waste tanks are close to or empty.

I have weighed the trailer when loaded on a trip and was surprised that it was less that 7000. That's hooked up with bars on etc. Need to just take the time and go loaded to the local highway weigh station when closed and weigh all axles loaded and unloaded. Used to have one right in town but it's been deactivated. Closest is about 15 miles away.
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Old 08-06-2020, 06:43 AM   #12
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Those bars probably aren't sized right... tongue weight on that trailer would be well over 750 lbs. Probably around 1000 or so. That might be why you are having trouble getting it level.
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Old 08-06-2020, 08:21 AM   #13
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Seems CamperMike hit the nail on the head. If the bars are undersized it won't transfer weight across axels. After hitching with proper bars, I would invest in Bilstein 5100 shocks, night and day ride with or without trailer.
Good luck
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Old 08-16-2020, 07:28 AM   #14
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Re adjust your wdh. If you follow the directions your rear shouldn't drop. I like my airbags, but don't adjust them to level the truck. Only to balance things when I use the truck camper. They were very easy to install.
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Old 08-16-2020, 09:05 AM   #15
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Well, to answer the OP's original question as this has gone down the GVW banter rabbit hole. I have air bags on my RAM 1500 and with the minimum suggested air pressure, there is no addition rise in the rear and it doesn't affect the ride. That said, air bags are great to help with a heavy load, but no substitute for the right sized TV.
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Old 08-16-2020, 09:26 AM   #16
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I added “Airlift 1000” airbags to my ram1500, cost about $90 on amazon. They were extremely easy to install on my own and work great. A little air nipple comes out the back of my truck (Completely hidden) and when towing or putting weight in the bed I simply shoot some air in with a compressor to bring it back Up to level. Highly recommend for a easy cheap great fix.
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Old 08-16-2020, 09:55 AM   #17
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Here is mine.

Here is a picture of my 2018 F-150 with air bags. I air them to 25 psi prior to hooking up and 10 psi when unhooked. The trailer is 6610 dry, in the photo it is loaded with about 800 lbs so 7410. I have the Equilizer 12000 pound wd hitch. Everything is pretty level.
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Old 08-16-2020, 12:24 PM   #18
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You should consider the addition of a Roadmaster Active Suspension system. F150s are known for their soft rear suspensions and mediocre rear shocks. I tow a 2015 Cougar 27rlswe and have a Blue Ox WDH with 750 lb bars. The Active Suspension is an adjustable suspension system that mounts over the rear leaf spring assembly. When installed and set on high assist (black spacer disk) the rear end of the truck is only 3/4 inch higher unloaded but will not flatten out the leaf springs when the trailer is hooked up. I also replaced the poor Ford original equipment rear shocks with aftermarket shocks by Monroe. The trailer loaded truck now sits perfectly level without the rear sag I had before installing the active suspension kit. Cornering with the truck is also much improved and flatter through the turns. The Active Suspension system made for a much better ride overall and I am now a believer in the Roadmaster product.
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Old 08-16-2020, 12:36 PM   #19
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I had a conversion van many decades ago that I installed Roadmasters on. They worked great BUT if you need to adjust them you will need wrenches and time an your back.

Over the years I've used air shocks, added springs over the rear coils, and air bags. Personally I like the air bags with an on board compressor. Add or remove air at the driver's seat. Have a set on the F150 and the F250. On the F250 have train horns so a high volume compressor and tank make it easy to press the up button and hitch up without the jack moving.
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Old 08-16-2020, 01:34 PM   #20
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I put air lift air bags and the WirelessOne compressor in my F150.

It works great for leveling things out when necessary.

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