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Dutch_Oven_Man's avatar
Dutch_Oven_Man
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014

Air Bags or Not

I have just ordered our first fifth wheel, replacing our travel trailer. I have a F350 SRW and was wondering if airbags are worth installing for the fiver. I recently pulled a 9,000 lb fiver, I'm guessing a 1,500 pin wight and the back of the truck was still up higher than the front. But, the ride seemed a little rough with some porpoising. It was a rear kitchen, so the weight may not have been properly distributed.

The new fiver is about 11,750 pounds fully loaded with gear with a 1,800 to 1,900 pin weight. I'm well within my limits, but I didn't know if airbags would make a difference in the ride and if I needed it with the F350. My dealer said with the F350 SRW and the weights I'm towing it would be overkill.

I'm wondering if 1,900 pin weight would sit the back of the truck down too much, and if airbags would help the ride?

12 Replies

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  • mdamerell's avatar
    mdamerell
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    The pin weight is probably around 20%, so a 12,000#(?) 5'r is probably closer to a 2,400# pin weight. The pin should sit about 2" in front of your rear axle so most of the weight will be on your rear axle and a little will go forward.

    I would wait and see how your truck behaves before buying the air bags. I found that I was about a 1/4 to 1/2" off the overload springs with mine. I was getting a 2nd bounce when I would hit a bump in the road. The air bags allowed me to lift it a little so I quit bouncing off the overload springs.
  • Mark_Heisler's avatar
    Mark_Heisler
    Explorer II
    Jan 23, 2014
    you should be fine with out air bags.
    if your old trailer and truck was rough riding you got to much air in the tires.I run 65-70 lbs of air in my tire truck and trailer.rides as smooth as can be.

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