Air Bag or Forget It

[Cecilt]

I have a 2017 F350 with payload about 3200 lbs. . TT is 9500 lbs with TW of about 1300. Equalizer 1400 and set up. All is good with measurements and still a little high in rear end when all hooked up.

However, about 8 times a year we'll throw the electric golf cart and lots of wood blocks, 10x10 canopy, and beach toys in bed. GC probably around 1100 lbs. When we do this the rear sags lower than the front. Maybe 1.5" lower in rear vs. front. Equalizer does not recommend adjusting hitch to compensate for bed weight so I thought about adding air bags to bring it back up to level..
Question, should I even care about being 1.5" lower? Personally I hate the look of rear end sag when towing so more of me feels to do it. Other part of me with the wallet says $500 is a lot to spend for only 8 times a year when you haul a GC. Granted we haul it 2500miles+ when we do haul. What do you think?

[Cecilt]

I'm going to load the golf cart in the bed of truck Monday and drive back home and take same measurements in my storage lot. If I sag lower in the rear vs. front I'm going with bags. Question, which is better the Air Lift 5000 or Firestone Ride Ritte. With limited use of the GC in bed while towing I don't plan to install the compressor but will just air up. I assume best is to use to air lines for each side. What I noticed is the rear is off .5" side to side so I assume I could air the side that sits a little lower with a few more PSI.

Lastly, since I won't have an on board compressor nor bring a portable with me can I run unloaded with air in the bags say 40 psi while I drive around unloaded or will this lead to a harsh ride. I don't really want to air down and then have to air up for the return trip if it is not necessary. tks for all the tips.

[Passin_Thru]

I have run Airlift bags for years and love them. They take the shock out of being close! You can bleed them off to 10 lb ety and they will give a nice ride on AZs rough roads. You can put them on yourself, very simple install. I don't like sag, it appears overloaded and may be. You should level your truck with the Equalizer to original bumper height. That's what its for.

[beemerphile1]

I wouldn't spend a cent on the bags. Providing you stay within your capacities a little sag is only cosmetic.

[Artum_Snowbird]

I couldn't get the boat trailer hitch off the ball when I had the bags installed, even at minimum pressure they added that inch, so I was happy with them off. Any other solution to stay level would be better than the lift they give you when you don't need any.

[Ron3rd]

IdaD wrote:
Look into Timbrens. They don't change your unloaded ride as long as you don't use the spacers, but they (imo) do a lot to improve the loaded ride. They only run about $200 and they're maintenance free.

X2 on the Timbrens; had them on my old Tundra, worked great. I think I paid about $180.00 on Amazon. They don't give you the adjustibility of Air Bags, but they get the job done. Easy bolt-on installation too.

[dodge_guy]

Either timbrens or airbags. I would go with the bags. In the event you go to a 5'er (we all look to go bigger), the airbags will help with that. I agree on the WD hitch, it is to redistribute tongue weight only.

[Second_Chance]

I was very happy with the Timbrens I put on my previous truck in lieu of air bags - and they're a LOT less expensive. The ride was great both loaded and unloaded.

Rob

[IdaD]

Look into Timbrens. They don't change your unloaded ride as long as you don't use the spacers, but they (imo) do a lot to improve the loaded ride. They only run about $200 and they're maintenance free.