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LL8's avatar
LL8
Explorer
Feb 06, 2020

Can’t afford new air bags right now

Moved up to a F350 DRW and need to take a little sag and sway out of the set-up. I can’t afford air bags right now but I do have a set of timbren bump stops left over from my last set-up. The camper is pretty light weight 4200# and only drops the bed about 1 1/2 “ when loaded. Eventually I’ll save up enough for air bags and swapping the factory sway bar for a hellwig but for now I’m thinking:
Upper overload super sway stops ($165) and adding the timbren suspension bump stops.
I had homemade wedges on my bottom overloads with my last set-up but don’t think They would do a whole lot with the DRW.
Are there any other inexpensive adjustments that I may be over looking you would recommend? Thanks
Truck Campers

19 Replies

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  • LL8's avatar
    LL8
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2020
    Kayteg, did your upper overload hockey pucks add and stability to your ride at all?
  • LL8's avatar
    LL8
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2020
    Kayteg1, it’s a 2015 and it rides fine, just has a little sway that I’d like to even out. It’s not white knuckle driving by any means but more than I’d like.
  • LL8's avatar
    LL8
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2020
    deltabravo wrote:
    LL8 wrote:
    The camper is pretty light weight 4200# and only drops the bed about 1 1/2 “ when loaded. Thanks


    4200 lbs isn't a "light weight" camper.

    I'd recommend Torklift Stableloads. That's what I run on my dually and hate the airbags I installed 10 years ago.


    Delta Bravo, are you talking upper stableloads? That’s interesting about the air bags. Is it because the maintenance/leaks or the way they ride?
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator III
    Feb 06, 2020
    To the OP, you don’t automatically need airbags.
    And in your case doesn’t sound like you need them at all. Or possibly any additional suspension help save for a stiffer sway bar if the body roll is not acceptable to you.
    If you don’t like how it rides, slap the timbrens on it and shim then to your preference.
    Not sure why you don’t think the bottom leaf wedges won’t help. They will absolutely stiffen the suspension, unless you mean in conjunction with the Timbrens which may hold the truck up high enough to not get into the bottom overloads capacity. Or by wedging the springs, not make use of the Timbrens.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Feb 06, 2020
    What year is dually?
    My 2017 F350 carries 6000lb camper just fine.
    I only add hockey pucks to upper overloads, even I did not really need them.
    Even with camper on, the rear is higher than front and for level parking I need to put planks under front wheels.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Feb 06, 2020
    bwlyon wrote:
    If you only dropped 1.5” I’d think you’d have the truck leveled out nicely. If the truck is handling fine I wouldn’t worry about it.


    My sentiments exactly, unless you mean 1-1/2" BELOW level.

    If it's only 1-1/2" total, the overloads are barely engaging. Raise it up much/any and you'll be slapping off the overloads every time you hit a bump, which let me tell you makes for a VERY harsh ride.
  • twodownzero's avatar
    twodownzero
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2020
    Does your truck have a rear antisway bar? If not, I'd probably install one before airbags. Does your truck have secondary overloads?
  • bwlyon's avatar
    bwlyon
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2020
    If you only dropped 1.5” I’d think you’d have the truck leveled out nicely. If the truck is handling fine I wouldn’t worry about it.
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Feb 06, 2020
    LL8 wrote:
    The camper is pretty light weight 4200# and only drops the bed about 1 1/2 “ when loaded. Thanks


    4200 lbs isn't a "light weight" camper.

    I'd recommend Torklift Stableloads. That's what I run on my dually and hate the airbags I installed 10 years ago.

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