Suspension upgrade

[KevinSharonLuci]

I'm looking at enhancing the rear suspension on my 2016 F250. My 5th wheel sits it down a bit. I'm looking at the Firestone air bags but had a mechanic recommend the Roadmaster Active Suspension Kit to eliminate future leaks and bag degrading. Does anyone have experience with the roadmaster kit and will it level the vehicle when towing the heavy load like an airbag?

[roddiemacdonald]

KevinSharonLuci, I'm looking at doing the same thing within the next week or two before I head south. I have a '13 F250 towing a 36' 5th wheel. It tows well enough, just looking for that little lift to level it off.

I would be interested in what sort of cost are you looking at? To see if it's worth my while to wait til I get to the States.

[shepstone]

Whole lotta weight policing going on without knowing the specs on the rv.....

[shadows4]

KevinSharonLuci wrote:
I'm looking at enhancing the rear suspension on my 2016 F250. My 5th wheel sits it down a bit. I'm looking at the Firestone air bags but had a mechanic recommend the Roadmaster Active Suspension Kit to eliminate future leaks and bag degrading. Does anyone have experience with the roadmaster kit and will it level the vehicle when towing the heavy load like an airbag?

So OP'er, now that everyone has probably thoroughly confused you. What if any conclusions have you made? Are you going to bag it, Ras it or say the heck with it and leave it as is?

Hope you don't just run away. Some times this forum is very intimidating. Good luck, John

[IdaD]

RustyJC wrote:

MFL wrote:


I agree Rusty, and it's not hard to upgrade the suspension/tires/wheels to 350 standards. But, as members were saying, many class 2s out there towing over their GVWR, and in most cases, due to the diesel engine wt.

I am under all ratings of my 250, even at my FW GVWR 12,110, due to the lighter gas engine. I am rated to tow 12,300. Any heavier than that, I'd be towing with a diesel class 3, likely a Ram/Cummins.:)

Jerry

It's not quite that simple with the Ram. The Ram 3500 with the optional 385/900 Cummins and Aisin AS69RC transmission uses the 11.8" AAM rear axle with additional ring gear bolting, special heat treatment, finned aluminum cover, etc. Since the Ram 2500 is not available with this option, it uses the 11.5" AAM rear axle.

Rusty

The most common axle and trans in the 3500 SRW is the same 11.5" AAM as is found in the 2500. I did read somewhere that diesel F350s will now have a heavier axle than what is in the gas F350 or gas/diesel F250, so there's a little separation in the Ford for 2017+.

It's unreal how overblown this topic gets on this site. The material real world difference in heavy duty trucks is at the SRW to DRW split and the DRW 350/3500 to MDT split.

[RustyJC]

MFL wrote:


I agree Rusty, and it's not hard to upgrade the suspension/tires/wheels to 350 standards. But, as members were saying, many class 2s out there towing over their GVWR, and in most cases, due to the diesel engine wt.

I am under all ratings of my 250, even at my FW GVWR 12,110, due to the lighter gas engine. I am rated to tow 12,300. Any heavier than that, I'd be towing with a diesel class 3, likely a Ram/Cummins.:)

Jerry

It's not quite that simple with the Ram. The Ram 3500 with the optional 385/900 Cummins and Aisin AS69RC transmission uses the 11.8" AAM rear axle with additional ring gear bolting, special heat treatment, finned aluminum cover, etc. Since the Ram 2500 is not available with this option, it uses the 11.5" AAM rear axle.

Rusty

[MFL]

RustyJC wrote:

MFL wrote:
Actually, it is those dang diesel engines, that are the trouble maker in a 250/2500.:W If you stick with a gas engine in a class 2, you should be able to carry what you can tow. Diesel engine, too much pulling power, but too heavy for class 2 10,000 GVWR. 😞

Should diesel engine be banned from class 2? IDK:h

Jerry

Diesel engines have little effect on the weight carried by the rear axle. Rear axle GAWR is the "gotcha" for the 3/4 ton trucks (ignoring GVWR, as most do.)

Rusty

I agree Rusty, and it's not hard to upgrade the suspension/tires/wheels to 350 standards. But, as members were saying, many class 2s out there towing over their GVWR, and in most cases, due to the diesel engine wt.

I am under all ratings of my 250, even at my FW GVWR 12,110, due to the lighter gas engine. I am rated to tow 12,300. Any heavier than that, I'd be towing with a diesel class 3, likely a Ram/Cummins.:)

Jerry

[CWSWine]

RustyJC wrote:

MFL wrote:
Actually, it is those dang diesel engines, that are the trouble maker in a 250/2500.:W If you stick with a gas engine in a class 2, you should be able to carry what you can tow. Diesel engine, too much pulling power, but too heavy for class 2 10,000 GVWR. 😞

Should diesel engine be banned from class 2? IDK:h

Jerry

Diesel engines have little effect on the weight carried by the rear axle. Rear axle GAWR is the "gotcha" for the 3/4 ton trucks (ignoring GVWR, as most do.)

Rusty

I was looking for GMC 3500 SRW with the highest payload numbers I could get. I found a 2016 GMC Denali diesel with yellow payload tag of 3722 and ask what about lighter gas engine would that give me more payload. A little research we found that GMC 3500 gas engines had a lower GVWR of 10,900 and were not available in the 11,500 GVWR like the diesel. I checked Ford and found the same thing, lower GVWR for gas engines in the F350 lineup. Dealer called thier support network and the guy told us that GMC frame/suspension/brakes would NOT support the higher payloads with a gas engine with a 11,500 GVWR. I thought that was interesting.......

[RustyJC]

MFL wrote:
Actually, it is those dang diesel engines, that are the trouble maker in a 250/2500.:W If you stick with a gas engine in a class 2, you should be able to carry what you can tow. Diesel engine, too much pulling power, but too heavy for class 2 10,000 GVWR. 😞

Should diesel engine be banned from class 2? IDK:h

Jerry

Diesel engines have little effect on the weight carried by the rear axle. Rear axle GAWR is the "gotcha" for the 3/4 ton trucks (ignoring GVWR, as most do.)

Rusty

[MFL]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

TXiceman wrote:

RustyJC wrote:
Why are the 3/4 ton folks so quick to yell "weight police" when someone mentions the fact that they MIGHT be over the truck's rear axle GAWR? That's kinda important to know. If someone cares about such mundane stuff, it costs $11 to find out at the CAT scales.

Rusty

They do not want to know as their worst fears will be confirmed.

But they get 100 no ways and 1 that tells them sure, I get along fine and they think they are good to go.

Ken

The BIG problem is people look at what it can TOW, that is not as important as what can it CARRY!

Actually, it is those dang diesel engines, that are the trouble maker in a 250/2500.:W If you stick with a gas engine in a class 2, you should be able to carry what you can tow. Diesel engine, too much pulling power, but too heavy for class 2 10,000 GVWR. 😞

Should diesel engine be banned from class 2? IDK:h

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

TXiceman wrote:

RustyJC wrote:
Why are the 3/4 ton folks so quick to yell "weight police" when someone mentions the fact that they MIGHT be over the truck's rear axle GAWR? That's kinda important to know. If someone cares about such mundane stuff, it costs $11 to find out at the CAT scales.

Rusty

They do not want to know as their worst fears will be confirmed.

But they get 100 no ways and 1 that tells them sure, I get along fine and they think they are good to go.

Ken

The BIG problem is people look at what it can TOW, that is not as important as what can it CARRY!

[ol_Bombero-JC]

3oaks wrote:
RustyJC, you make a good point, but perhaps, in this thread, the O.P. asked nothing about carrying more weight, just correcting rear sag. Put a good load in any pickup truck and the rear will go down even without being overloaded.

It appears the "weight police" hide behind the trees, just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting poster.

Some can't see the forest for the trees, vice/versa - or -who's behind the trees!..:S

There's SWMBO - and for the Weight Police it's - TWAAR
("They Who Are Always Right") -and/or- TWMBO.....
("They Who Must Be Obeyed")..:R

No rust "JC" here.... OP, ignore the peanut gallery!..:p

~

[TXiceman]

RustyJC wrote:
Why are the 3/4 ton folks so quick to yell "weight police" when someone mentions the fact that they MIGHT be over the truck's rear axle GAWR? That's kinda important to know. If someone cares about such mundane stuff, it costs $11 to find out at the CAT scales.

Rusty

They do not want to know as their worst fears will be confirmed.

But they get 100 no ways and 1 that tells them sure, I get along fine and they think they are good to go.

Ken

[minnow]

The Roadmaster system has been around for years. TI assume they must a half way decent product if they are still selling them. However the Firestones seem to be much more popular and I've never seen a reported bag failure. Just by the number of people that have the Firestones, would lead me to go with those.

[CampingN_C_]

I can't imagine someone new signing on here and trying to get advise these days. Someone posts a question about a suspension question and everyone assumes he's overweight.
As said the newer F250's sit almost dead level bone stock. My buddy's sat low in the back with a 1300lb tongue weight with the WD hitch dialed in.
You guys crack me up, telling him to go to a scale when he asked about two different brands/types of a product.

[shadows4]

I had the RAS on an Excursion. The truck really sagged, even with the WD hitch. The RAS cured my sag and raised the rear of the the truck about 1.5 inches. The ride was about the same as stock. For your needs I think I would go with the air bags. Just because I like the adjustability of them. Good luck, John