Forum Discussion

langleyger's avatar
langleyger
Explorer
Jul 11, 2021

Airbags.

Are airbags needed on a F350, with an Adventurer slide in camper.
  • Load the rig up and see how much rear sag you have. I like having the basic Firestone bags you fill manually, but my tuck is old.
  • I have an Adventure 89RB, ready to camp it's pushing 3800lbs. I think that is about the max for a SRW truck.

    I see lots with heavier campers, maybe they carry less stuff than I do or they've just never been to a scale so they are blissfully ignorant of how overloaded they are.

    I do have air bags, I run 30lbs in them. I also have upper stableloads so this is the point where the bags are taking some of the weight but not unloading the overloads.
  • Depends on the camper. A giant long bed two or three slide camper probably needs a dually. A 901SB should work fine. Adventurer is very good about giving the actual weight from the scales on the builders tag, not some **** estimate like most companies. Adventurer also gives the correct center of mass. As long as you keep the red arrows at the axel or forward of it, your weight is where it is supposed to be. So it is not really cut and dry in some respects.

    Yes, airbags are cheap, easy to install and worth every penny. I'd have them even if I did not have a truck camper. Skip all the dribble from the 19.5" wheel crowd and just put them on. Do not air them up so high your helper spring does not make contact with the bump stop and they will be great for stopping the sag.

    Your truck will safely carry most Adventurer models in spite of what the weight NAZIs here will tell you. Better E-rated tires, aired up properly to 80lbs and a nice set-up with decent shocks (KYB Monomax/anything but Rancho shocks, most Rancho stuff is garbage), maybe a set of Stableloads to bring the helper springs in early and you are good to go. If your truck did not come with a rear sway bar, standard on Camper Package trucks, you might want to consider buying one.

    Spending $500 bucks on air bags is cheap and makes the truck ride better, do it and be happy. Just remember to run air lines to each bag separately.

    https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=54261

    https://www.torklift.com/rv/stableload#appguide
  • Probably or maybe.
    Year of truck? Dually or SRW? Model of Adventurer? Number of people also in truck?
    Towing a trailer too?
    Unless this is a dually and a very small camper you will probably want airbags.
  • You need to be more specific. Depending on the model, accessories and personal cargo, an Adventurer is likely to be well over 5000#. Again, you need to be more specific about the configuration of the F350. Many will not safely carry a 5000 plus pound cargo with or without air bags.
  • I wouldn’t add until your loaded and wet camper is aboard with the rear sagging.