F150 8200 GVWR - Bilsteins one size fits all?

tcp,

My weight with topper is right around 6300 and I run with about 950 or so on the hitch so we are not that far apart.

campingloo,

Thanks for your comment as well regarding running unloaded.

Stu

Don't know about your truck since I have a 3/4 ton. With mine, I really like the unloaded ride much better over the stick. Biggest change I noticed was way way better cornering. Not nearly as much body roll as with stock.

Not exactly sure of the weight, but with the topper 6200 lbs sounds close. The trailer is about 4000lbs including a 700lb tongue weight.

tcp wrote:
I run 5100s on my 2009 f150 super crew 6.5' box. It is not the HD version. The 5100s are more tightly damped than stock or the 4600s and intended to control larger than stock wheel/tire combinations. The fronts also have four height adjustment options to "level" the truck. I run at stock height with the original wheel/tires. 275/65r18s.
You can definitely feel more of the road with them when unloaded and they work great while towing on my truck. With your extra leaf in the rear and possibly stronger front springs ( the long box supercrew has a strong front spring without the HD payload option. I need 4 spring compressors to swap the springs onto the bilsteins) the damping should match quite well.

tcp,

Could you let me know the weight of your truck either from a scale or estimate based on the door sticker (GVWR - Payload). Also, do you know the weight you are putting on the hitch or if not what the weight of the trailer is?

BenK,

I do not do any serious off-road with the truck. The 4WD is for dealing with snow and pulling a boat up the ramp.

Appreciate the feedback,
Stu

I run 5100s on my 2009 f150 super crew 6.5' box. It is not the HD version. The 5100s are more tightly damped than stock or the 4600s and intended to control larger than stock wheel/tire combinations. The fronts also have four height adjustment options to "level" the truck. I run at stock height with the original wheel/tires. 275/65r18s.
You can definitely feel more of the road with them when unloaded and they work great while towing on my truck. With your extra leaf in the rear and possibly stronger front springs ( the long box supercrew has a strong front spring without the HD payload option. I need 4 spring compressors to swap the springs onto the bilsteins) the damping should match quite well.

There is no such truck as a "fack half ton". :R

Ford does manufacture an F150 with a Heavy Duty Payload Package though.

Good that you referenced that your TV is the fake half ton...more 3/4 ton than a half ton...

Key to shocks are the spec's of the vehicle it is going onto...and a 'regular'
F150 shock will NOT be optimal for your fake half ton...as the GAWR's are different

Ask if this is a 4x4 and how 'hard' do you off road? Because serious off
roaders will chose off road shocks...as when the suspension max's out in extension...the
shocks are the end stops. Really serious off roaders install a chain/strap
kit to take that extension stop duty AWAY from the shocks

Back on why the GAWR is important...the spring rates/travel are different as
you go up the class of truck it is

Just look at a regular half ton's GAWR in the 4,xxx lbs vs yours which should
be closer to 5,xxx lbs. Those spring rates are very different and make sure
the parts person you talk to understands that.

A regular F150 shock will NOT dampen well enough...nor long in your TV

As for which brand and model...personal...like white vs black...Ford vs GM vs Ram

Also, how you drive. Mine is setup to where most on this forum would NOT like
it and say there is no 'ride quality'...well...subjective as I like my truck
to ride like a truck and drive it HARD.

All the major shock OEM's products are very close both in price to performance
and ride quality. Go HD and the ride quality will start to be less...go to
performance and the ride quality will further slide downwards.

I ran 4600x on my xterra and they were great. Big improvement over stock. One thing they really helped with was preventing rear axle hop off-road. I've had some issues with the same thing on my Ram and am planning on upgrading to the Bils. I may go with 5100s in case I decide to do a level kit although at this point I'm leaning against it. Although I'd sure like a little more up travel than I have stock up front. The difference between the 4600s and 5100s, so far as I can tell, is the 5100s are designed to allow a little more suspension travel.