F350 Dually, anyone upgrade to F450 springs?

[pcoplin]

The rear springs are pretty saggy on my F350. 2005 Dually. It's used with 125k miles on it, must have had a good life towing a 5th wheel. It has a rear driveline vibration because of it.

I'm going to be buying new rear springs, the spring shop says they have a set of rear springs that are rated at 4500 lbs each, versus the stockers at around 3500 each. Should give around a 1 inch lift in the rear.

Anyone upgrade the rear springs on their Ford? Thanks for any experience.

[Bedlam]

BoatyCall upgraded his F350 suspension to F450 but ultimately upgraded the truck because he was pushing axle weight limits. You can check out spring packs at SD Truck Springs to see if the local source is competitively priced.

[mellow]

I would be interested in hearing how that upgrade goes.

[Kayteg1]

I think you should talk to somebody who actually knows those truck and not make blind swap.
Over the years I had 1999 F450, who had about 8 leaves in the rear.
Than I had 2006 F350, but C&C and that one had 8 leaves as well and per my experience it could carry the same what standart F450 (but with tooth grinding).
When I was buying my 2017 F350 - everybody on this forum was saying I will need lot of mods for my 5500lb camper.
Turned out new suspension is stiffer than older one, while aluminium bed increased payload and new truck handles heavy load with no mods just fine.
My guess is that standard leaves from new F350 dually are all you need, but again, this is just from observations and not having factory numbers.

[pcoplin]

jaycocreek wrote:
Instead of replacing the whole spring pack,why not just ad a leaf or two or even ad another leaf to the helper springs..Adding to the helper/overload spring wouldn't effect the ride when empty..

They are worn out. It has rotated the pinion angle down, and the left side sits about 3/4 inch lower than the right. I need new springs anyway, I think I'll upgrade to the HD pack.

[jaycocreek]

Instead of replacing the whole spring pack,why not just ad a leaf or two or even ad another leaf to the helper springs..Adding to the helper/overload spring wouldn't effect the ride when empty..

[jimh406]

I think a combination of conventional springs and air bag “springs” to be best. That way you have adjustability which is helpful for a variety of different types of loads.

As far as springs go, I’m not sure 4500 lb springs are F450 springs. The spring pack looks completely different on a F450 with fewer but stronger leaves. The load capacity for the pickup variety is virtually the same for both F450 and F350 although they get there the same way. My guess is 4500 lb springs are DRW springs and 3500 are SRW springs.

The chassis F450 is a different beast entirely and those springs would be way overkill.

[jaycocreek]

Wow..Cool floorplan for kids....Congrats...I wish the TC makers would make more floorplans available instead of the one or two floorplans fit all..

An extra spring or two is your best option but air bags do work also..That TC should not give you any problems on your DRW whichever way you choose..

[MikeJinCO]

I wrinkled the springs on our 2006 GMC 3500 dually carrying a The heavy Bigfoot with a slide (3010C?) and running around the rough roads in Mexico for a few years. Replaced the stock 2200 lb springs with some 2700lb ones from Stengel. Yes, the unloaded ride is quite rough, but we seldom unload the camper. I inflate the air bags a bit to get them to work before the springs come in to play, it helps. IMO many times the factory replacement parts are way overpriced and from experience not necessarily the same quality as the original equipment. Replacement parts are their own profit center and warranty? forget it.

[pcoplin]

jaycocreek wrote:

I've actually upgraded the camper, thus the upgrade to the Dually. I now have a 2009 Adventurer 650B. It's at least 500, maybe 1000 lb heavier than my old Lance.

I have to ask,I can't seem to find a 650B in a google search....What is it?

Adventurer makes good truck campers, infact the 89RBS is on my short list for my next truck camper.

Whoops! 950B. 9.5 foot slide unit with double bunks in the slide. Rear kitchen. It's our favorite floor plan I've found, as I have two small kids.

[jaycocreek]

I've actually upgraded the camper, thus the upgrade to the Dually. I now have a 2009 Adventurer 650B. It's at least 500, maybe 1000 lb heavier than my old Lance.

I have to ask,I can't seem to find a 650B in a google search....What is it?

Adventurer makes good truck campers, infact the 89RBS is on my short list for my next truck camper.

[pcoplin]

jaycocreek wrote:
You basically have the same TC I do...I have air bags on mine that came with the truck when I bought it..If I had had the option of air bags or extra springs,I would go with the extra springs instead..Having said that,my f-350 DRW handles that TC loaded extra heavy very well..

IMHO adding springs trumps air bags..

Thanks for the info.

I've actually upgraded the camper, thus the upgrade to the Dually. I now have a 2009 Adventurer 650B. It's at least 500, maybe 1000 lb heavier than my old Lance.

[Grit_dog]

^ This 100%. More springs ftw over airbags.

[jaycocreek]

You basically have the same TC I do...I have air bags on mine that came with the truck when I bought it..If I had had the option of air bags or extra springs,I would go with the extra springs instead..Having said that,my f-350 DRW handles that TC loaded extra heavy very well..

IMHO adding springs trumps air bags..

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I looked into doing 550 springs on my E-450. The spring shop added a leaf and things got better. I replaced the rear shocks and added timbrens.

I'm happy with the results.