So I’ve decided that I pretty much hate the air bags that came on my rig. It’s another 2 items I have to frequently check on, I hate airing them up, and as they do lose air slowly I find it’s a pain when I’m camping as I should deflate them to 5 pounds before I level. Which of course means I still have inflating to do when my levelers are up and I’m supposed to be rolling down the campground road. The shop that did my alignment will add 2 springs on each side of my rig and pull the bags out. I’m told this will eliminate any of the rear end sag. Since I had it aligned by them they’ll also realign me for free after the leafs are added. They say there is a good chance I’ll get more caster by adding the 2 leafs on the back. 850 plus tax - I didn’t think the price was too bad. Thoughts?

IMO, if you raise the rear end of a vehicle the front end +caster is reduced.I have been taken to task for this opinion so buyer beware, I could be all wet.I will consult with Dr Google to see if I can get an opinion on the subject.

I raise lower my bags by a push of a button, from your post, theres some thing wrong in your bag set up..takes 30 seconds and I,m ready to go. and my bags don,t leak, yours must if your fooling with them alot.

My bags are manual inflate so there is no push button. I have to empty my badge compartments and take my readings/pump them up.Also per the manual its normal for them to lose ~4 pounds per week - something that I suppose wouldn’t be obvious if you had a automatic system. Yours might just keep them topped off every time you turn over the engine?

I'm amazed you have sagging on a new E450 with only a 25-foor Class C on it. Our 31 came with Hellwig booster leaves on the rear springs. Somebody took them off before we bought it used. Still sits nose low.I want to raise the nose of ours, so it sits more level on the campsite. We always need a 2x8 block or two under the front wheels. Our first Class C was 25-feet on E350 and it sagged when we bought it. Added one "repair leaf" to each rear spring pack and that moved it from low at the rear to higher than the front. Took one 2x8 block to become level on a level site.It's good your shop will re-set the alignment. What Caster/Camber/Toe numbers do you have now?

I’m not doing this b/c its sagging per say, I’m doing this simply to get rid of the air bags (I’ve been inflating to 50-60 pounds). I really liked how the Jayco Greyhawk I had used the Hellwig helper spring, but after reviewing the install and figuring out the overall cost it wasn’t much more to have the shop put something permanent on and realign based on the extra weight that would be transferred to the front.Oh and the rig is 28’ bow to stern. :)

Adding rear leaf springs | Good Sam Community

S1njin
Explorer
Jul 26, 2018
Yep, this is an actual truck spring shop.

http://rnhspring.com/home/3829781
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jul 26, 2018
When I bought my C..had air bags with manual feeds. I said..no way..had an air compressor installed...now I have individual controls....and I think I now have 5 rear leafs. It is a never ending saga. Just make sure you are in an actual spring shop..not do everything shop. There are things to know about dynamics and stuff....

Gary Haupt
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 26, 2018
So here is where I ended up. I just ran the rig 3 hours 85% highway the rest country roads. Rig handles better than that Greyhawk I had. I did air my front tires back up to 75 pounds to get rid of the hub cap rub/squeak noise.

So I thought my spring work added extra weight to my front axle. It did not. CAT scale weigh in this afternoon showed I gave back 37 pounds on the front and took on an additional 200 on the back.

Maybe my rig has more rake now I’m not sure. My caster is over Ford spec though because of the rear suspension work. The shop has full confidence that the tires and steering components will be fine. I can now get the rig up to 70 and she tracks true with my hands hovering over the wheel. Driving 62-65 is easy peasy now.

I’m very pleased with the job !
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 24, 2018
FYI, I've got to go back to the CAT scale tomorrow on my way out, but it would also appear that this work DID add more weight back to the front. My front hubcaps are now creaking at 67 pounds where before the work that did not happen. I verified by pulling the hubs off - creak is gone. I'll air my fronts back up to 75 until I re-weigh.
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 21, 2018
Well they ended up adding 2 springs on each side. Side note, the airbag kit was pretty heavy as they put it all in a box for me.

Camper rode great - I was doing 70 and didn’t realize it. Once I did, I took my hands and hovered the over the wheel - tracked straight easy peasy.

When I got home I looked at the alignment specs - I have 7 and 7.8 caster now ! I’m over Ford spec, but in a motorhome application is that terrible?

Sure drove great ....
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
I'm just spoiled w/ the Hellwigs that were on my Greyhawk. Set/forget - its a nice thing. One less thing to worry about.
DrewE
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2018
I say the spring shop guy probably knows a lot more about that than I do, or at least I'd hope he would. If he says one leaf is about right, I'd go with that.

I have no complaints about the air helper springs on my motorhome, though obviously you're not me. I see no reason nor need to let the air out for leveling; I just level with them set appropriately, which presumably also helps a bit in stiffening the parked motorhome against bounciness as people walk around etc. Maybe once every few weeks at most they require a touch of air.
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
Spring shop tells me a pair of leafs will gain me 800-1000 pounds. I told him to go w/ 1 pair b/c I didn't want it to ride like it was a rock. He agreed.

What say you guys?
S1njin
Explorer
Jul 17, 2018
Ok, so when I call him and get the weight capacity of each pair, what’s the magic number I’m looking to be around that would make you say 1 leaf pair vs. 2 leaf pairs?
j-d
Explorer II
Jul 16, 2018
It'll cost less to remove the second leaf on each side than to add it. The Center Bolt can be cut but not lengthened, and the U-Bolts that held original pack plus two more leaves, won't be too short if one leaf is removed. Would still involve labor, though, and you can't just "slip the leaf out" because of the Center Bolt.
It's just that I feel, and can't prove, that two additional leaves each side could be too much. Easy way to find out: Get the Shop to tell you what capacity their Leaves provide.

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