Posted 2005-09-20 12:54 PM (#30673) Subject: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 57
I recently had a conversion put in and now the trailer has much more front end weight. My 03 F-250 power stroke is now dipping a bit in the rear. It was sujested to put airbags on but not sure what to do. Does anyone have advice? The trailer is 30' long and was 6300lbs before the conversion. 2 horse straight load. Rear and side ramps. Thanks, T
Posted 2005-09-20 1:24 PM (#30680 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 500 Location: West TN
When you say dipping, does the truck sit down enough that it touches the overload springs? Most trucks will lower when you hook up to a trailer. Your 03 should have a set of overload springs to help it with this problem. I would look to see how much pressure is being placed on them first before investing in the air bags.
Posted 2005-09-20 4:52 PM (#30692 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Originally written by highgatefarm on 2005-09-20 12:54 PM
I recently had a conversion put in and now the trailer has much more front end weight. My 03 F-250 power stroke is now dipping a bit in the rear. It was sujested to put airbags on but not sure what to do. Does anyone have advice? The trailer is 30' long and was 6300lbs before the conversion. 2 horse straight load. Rear and side ramps. Thanks, T
If that is 30ft of trailer floor length there is the POTENTIAL for a LOT of extra camper space weight - as you are aware with a lot of it on the coupler.
Whatever you do to the springy bits the axle still has to carry whatever you put on it, so do the tires. Without devolving yet again down the whole F250 payload rat hole, you might just need MORE TRUCK !
I'd get to a weigh station or sand & gravel yard to get the rig weighed axle by axle, if you're over on the rear... well, you're over on the rear. Boosters, helwags, timbrens, more overload springs, airbags, whatever won't change that.
Posted 2005-09-21 2:56 AM (#30715 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Hind sight being 20/20 I would have paid the extra for the F-350. Never dreamed I would end up with such a big beautiful trailer like this. The simi rigs look like the way to go. What are they F-750 ,lol...?
It does not sit down on the overload springs. Looking at the trailer hooked up on level ground it looks almost level, just a slight sag. I do hear the springs sqeek a bit when the touge weight sets down on the bed. The whole rig, truck and trailer with conversion no horses or gear weighs 16,000.lbs. 6300 with the back axles of the truck and trailer. I will weigh the truck by its self and see what I get. I will check into Super Springs! Thanks for that info..Just want to beef up what I have. It seems to have the power at this point.
Posted 2005-09-21 7:09 AM (#30718 - in reply to #30715) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Originally written by highgatefarm on 2005-09-21 2:56 AM
Hind sight being 20/20 I would have paid the extra for the F-350. Never dreamed I would end up with such a big beautiful trailer like this. The simi rigs look like the way to go. What are they F-750 ,lol...?
It does not sit down on the overload springs. Looking at the trailer hooked up on level ground it looks almost level, just a slight sag. I do hear the springs sqeek a bit when the touge weight sets down on the bed. The whole rig, truck and trailer with conversion no horses or gear weighs 16,000.lbs. 6300 with the back axles of the truck and trailer. I will weigh the truck by its self and see what I get. I will check into Super Springs! Thanks for that info..Just want to beef up what I have. It seems to have the power at this point.
Power is probably not the limiting factor, rear axle capacity most likely is. Springs and things (whatever their color) won't change that, even bright yellow ones.
Again, you need the rig weighed axle by axle. Since it may be impractical to weigh the truck's rear axle with the trailer on it you might have to get at it by weighing the whole rig and subtracting the weights of the "ends".
You'll probably have to check the tire ratings as well, I s'pose you COULD get a 1 ton DRW axle put on, but... nevermind.
Posted 2005-09-21 8:33 AM (#30723 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Reg, explaing what axle differences there are form a SRW 350 and a SRW 250????????? The spring pack IS the difference on a Ford for that year. I agree about the tires. 16,000 pounds combined means the trailer weighs over 9000 empty. Your F250 will weigh between 6800 and 7800 depending on configuration.
Posted 2005-09-21 9:14 AM (#30726 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 57
For sure I need to find out how much the trailer weighs after the conversion. I don't think it gained 3000lbs. It is a weekender with no bathroom. I was told about 1000. Thanks for your in-put.
Posted 2005-09-21 9:26 AM (#30727 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 57
If the scales I weighed the whole rig on was correct I gained around 1900lbs for the conversion. That sounds about right. Good old OSB walls and ceiling, hickory cabinets etc....I haul my 1200lb horse this Sunday for the first time since the conversion and will see how much more touge weight it creates.....
Posted 2005-09-21 9:45 AM (#30728 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
It appears then that your truck is a long bed F350 crew cab, most likely 4x4 PSD and weighs about 7800 pounds? SO the trailer weighs in at about 8200 pounds now.
Posted 2005-09-21 12:52 PM (#30735 - in reply to #30723) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-09-21 8:33 AM
Reg, explaing what axle differences there are form a SRW 350 and a SRW 250????????? The spring pack IS the difference on a Ford for that year. I agree about the tires. 16,000 pounds combined means the trailer weighs over 9000 empty. Your F250 will weigh between 6800 and 7800 depending on configuration.
Maybe it IS ony a spring pack, maybe the people in blue suits will understand that and say "Oh yeah, just another F 250 with a 350 spring pack and it's F250 emblems still on the side. That's OK, right Joe ?"
"Yeah, let 'em go,,, Next !"
I'd just HATE to be out of State for THAT conversation.
Posted 2005-09-21 1:01 PM (#30736 - in reply to #30735) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Originally written by Reg on 2005-09-21 1:52 PM
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-09-21 8:33 AM Reg, explaing what axle differences there are form a SRW 350 and a SRW 250????????? The spring pack IS the difference on a Ford for that year. I agree about the tires. 16,000 pounds combined means the trailer weighs over 9000 empty. Your F250 will weigh between 6800 and 7800 depending on configuration.
Maybe it IS ony a spring pack, maybe the people in blue suits will understand that and say "Oh yeah, just another F 250 with a 350 spring pack and it's F250 emblems still on the side. That's OK, right Joe ?" "Yeah, let 'em go,,, Next !" I'd just HATE to be out of State for THAT conversation.
Reg, even if the pin weight is 15%, thats 1500 pounds, which is still within an F250's payload specification.
Posted 2005-09-22 8:07 AM (#30779 - in reply to #30736) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-09-21 1:01 PM
Originally written by Reg on 2005-09-21 1:52 PM
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-09-21 8:33 AM Reg, explaing what axle differences there are form a SRW 350 and a SRW 250????????? The spring pack IS the difference on a Ford for that year. I agree about the tires. 16,000 pounds combined means the trailer weighs over 9000 empty. Your F250 will weigh between 6800 and 7800 depending on configuration.
Maybe it IS ony a spring pack, maybe the people in blue suits will understand that and say "Oh yeah, just another F 250 with a 350 spring pack and it's F250 emblems still on the side. That's OK, right Joe ?" "Yeah, let 'em go,,, Next !" I'd just HATE to be out of State for THAT conversation.
Reg, even if the pin weight is 15%, thats 1500 pounds, which is still within an F250's payload specification.
Right. Could be, might be, don't (yet) know.
My point was more about approach to the problem than it's solution.
Rather than throwing parts at it and THEN finding spec and/or registration/licencing issues with the rear axle rating - I was suggesting a test weighing FIRST. Then the O/P would be in a better position to decide what to do with the current truck - or not.
It might well turn out that everything is WELL within the truck's capacity and I hope it is. Without the ACTUAL numbers we're just speculating.
Posted 2005-09-22 10:04 AM (#30793 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Reg, I agree. Preparedness is a good thing. And the test first, then decide method sounds good to me. O/P should find out what the actual numbers are, as you said.
Posted 2005-09-22 10:53 AM (#30796 - in reply to #30673) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Posts: 57
Got It, will do! Correct numbers will spell it out in Black and white. Like mention above I am still oporating in the Trucks payload. at 10,000.lbs + some. Think I need to talk to some off-roaders about rear suspention. May have to keep the Ford as a pleasure pop-up camper hauler and hook up with someone who has an F-550 or better for trips with lots of weight.
Posted 2005-09-22 11:07 AM (#30797 - in reply to #30796) Subject: RE: Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
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Originally written by highgatefarm on 2005-09-22 10:53 AM
Got It, will do! Correct numbers will spell it out in Black and white. Like mention above I am still oporating in the Trucks payload. at 10,000.lbs + some. Think I need to talk to some off-roaders about rear suspention. May have to keep the Ford as a pleasure pop-up camper hauler and hook up with someone who has an F-550 or better for trips with lots of weight.
Go all the way, also be sure to get a trannie that can "TAKE IT !"
Allison has some good ones (-:
Air bags, extra leaf, or lift kit, for F-250 ?
