Air Bags For a 2014 F350

Traveler II wrote:
We have a 2014 F350 and love it. In the past we used “Air Lift” air bags and would like to add them now, but here’s my question. Our new truck is higher than our last one. We have an air hitch and can’t lower it, our pin has one more set up holes to move and it would give me 1”. When we hook up with the new truck it squats down 3”, but the trailer is level if we add the air bags we will be 2” high. We put 10-13,000 miles a year on the trailer and I think it should be level. Rides not to bad, but running at night I make other driver grumble.

What are your thoughts?

Not completely understanding, but I think you want air bags and with them the trailer nose will be 2" to high.

If I am right about that then why not this simple solution? Seems like you need to drop the rear on the truck by 2".

You F350 has 4" lift blocks and should have a rake from front to back.. Replace the blocks with 2" lift blocks from an F250 then install the bags at the F250 height. That should drop rear of truck/trailer nose by 2". The truck should be level when not towing (no more rake) and with the bags truck/trailer combo should be level when towing.

Good call on the Torklift Stable Loads, Cumminsdriver. I much prefer fully engaged overload spring packs, to air bags.

His signature shows a picture of a single rear wheel late model Ford pickup. I can't tell if it's 2wd or 4wd, or what the cab size or bed length is, due to the camera angle of the pic. I'll assume it's likely not a regular cab, since hardly anybody buys a regular cab pickup anymore, except for business/fleet service truck purposes.

You might want to consider the TorkLift Stable Loads for the upper overload springs on your truck. They install in place of the factory upper overload spring pads, and allow your upper spring to contact much sooner. Instead of the 3" drop with your pin weight, it may reduce that to half as much. Here's a link to what they look like.

Rich

7780 for a unladen 2014 Ford F350 :H I've read a few guys with 2011-2013 F350 weighing in a 9k plus ( same with the new Rams).
Anyway mine squats a good 4" with 3200-3400 lbs on it. Just enough to level out the natural rake it has. New Fords don't seem to have much of a rake at all. I'd personally wait for the headlight flash before you start solving a problem that ain't there.
Good Luck

My Weight

Trailer R Front 3,230
Trailer R Rear 3,185 6,415
Trailer L Front 2,840
Trailer L Rear 2,780 5,620 795 Right side weight more
Total Axel Weight 12,035 Loaded, 1/3 water empty gray and black tanks
Total Truck & Trailer 22,440 Max Total
Truck Weight 7,780 Max Truck
Trailer Weight 14,660 Max Trailer
Pin Weight 2,625
% Pin Weight 18%
Truck & Pin Weight 10,405

Trailer Dry Weight 11,680
Est Cargo Weight 2,980
Trailer Height 13' 4" Feet

Are you sure on that 2600# pin weight??

That light of pin weight shouldn't be dropping the rear of truck 3"

My almost 3000# pin weight just drops my SRW where the overloads are just coming into play.

Is that actual measured weight.....guesstimate weight...or dry weight?

Trailer sits level when hooked up...that's the way it should be for towing

So adjust your headlights (IF they really are shooting high) or add the air bags as suggested in your 9/5/13 post concerning the 'shutter' problem and tow as is or raise 5vr.

ON Edit:
That Cameo has a GVWR close to 15K---'wet' pin has to be close to 3000# so you must have an SRW with soft springs.
Air bag it.

Sitting level as I assume you are with 3" drop your headlights should be of no concern to oncoming traffic. But sounds like yours are a problem. Take it to the dealer and have them adjusted with RV in tow.

If you add air bags and raise the rear to unloaded height when hooked up you will have a very harsh ride.

I added air bags to my 3500 dually even tho it sat level with 4,500# pin weight. The reason I added them is to smooth pout the rough expansion joints. I run them at 5psi empty and when hitched it increases the psi to around 30psi. Makes no difference in ride height but sure helps smooth things out.

If you have that much sag that you feel you have to add air bags, maybe you bought the wrong truck.

Traveler II wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Does your trailer have any height adjustment at the axles, in the spring brackets/shackles? Some have multiple spring eye bolt holes so the springs can mount higher or lower, to raise or lower the trailer.

You can also do a spring-over-axle conversion on the trailer, which usually raises it about 4-6 inches. Then, adjust the pin box lower, or hitch higher, to level the now taller trailer. The spring-over-axle conversion mounts the springs on top of the trailer axles, instead of underneath. This is commonly done with fifth wheel toy hauler trailers, being towed by tall 4wd trucks.

We have the IS suspension system and it is raised for 4 wheel drive truck. In fact we had to remove the 3 steps and replace it with 4 step entrance system. Our overall height right now is 13' 4". Our pin weight is 2600 and like I said when we hook up the truck at the tail gate drops 3".

Good suggestion on moving the head-lights.

Should have gotten one of the BRVs. You know Big Red Volvos like a few of your old red bird friends!!!

Just adjust the headlights and enjoy. 2600 pounds is very light for a large 5th wheel!!!

Chris