Posted 2006-08-17 7:35 PM (#46876) Subject: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Naples, Fl 34117
Hello everyone, been reading all of your helpful comments tonight and thought some would like to help me out with this? Am installing gooseneck hitch on my f250 diesel, and have been told it wouldn't hurt to help my suspension with either the airbags or the leaf springs... The airbags i'm looking into are the firestone, that you inflate yourself according to load, someone told me the leaf springs could make my truck ride rougher when not trailering... ??? Thanks for any thoughtsjavascript:smilie('59','%3Cimg%20src=HTTP://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/emoticons/icon_oct2.gif%20border=0%3E');
Posted 2006-08-18 10:52 AM (#46907 - in reply to #46876) Subject: RE: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Holstein, NE 68950
Hellwig Products in California makes a add on spring kit that increases the truck capacity 2500#, if you use the progressive kit, it doesn't affect your ride without the trailer, these springs won't work if the truck has factory overload springs.
Posted 2006-08-18 1:39 PM (#46912 - in reply to #46911) Subject: RE: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by MichaelD on 2006-08-18 12:37 PM
Could those with experience comment on the Timbren springs also.I've been thinking of adding those to my truck.Thanks
Mike
I looked at them, briefly.
For the amount of work involved in installing them I figured that air springs were a better idea. It has taken me a while to figure out WHY air springs help the ride when the trailer is unloaded, they take out a lot of the harsh choppines that firmly sprung trucks have. Timbrens, Helwigs and supersprings don't do anything for the ride in an unloaded truck, basically they don't do anything until you get down onto them. If you use your truck ONLY for hauling this might not matter to you.
Posted 2006-08-18 2:24 PM (#46915 - in reply to #46876) Subject: RE: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Veteran
Posts: 247 Location: La Crosse, WI - God's Country
I've got a set of Timbrens on my 2004 2500. They're exactly what I needed - installed in minutes and I never know that they're there. They do a great job of keeping level under load and my suspension doesn't touch them when I'm not loaded down.
Airbags might have been nice, but I didn't feel like messing with air lines or compressors, so I did the Timbrens. Just be sure that you have the right amount of spacing so that you don't hit them when you're unloaded. Mine came with a spacer on each that I did not need...
Posted 2006-08-20 8:29 PM (#47009 - in reply to #46876) Subject: RE: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Naples, Fl 34117
thanks painted horse, I think that's exactly what i'm gonna do, everyone that i've talked to says the air bags are the way to go, and they do save your suspension.
Posted 2006-08-21 6:35 AM (#47029 - in reply to #46907) Subject: RE: better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by dylan1 on 2006-08-18 10:52 AM
Hellwig Products in California makes a add on spring kit that increases the truck capacity 2500#, if you use the progressive kit, it doesn't affect your ride without the trailer, these springs won't work if the truck has factory overload springs.
Not true.
A 12,000 GVW truck is still a 12,000 GVW truck.
WHATEVER you add to it's underguts, it doesn't become a 14,500 GVW truck.
Well, maybe if you changed out everything but the starter key, but upgrading springs doesn't do it.
better suspension, air bags or leaf springs
