F350 with no overload springs

[Natt85]

I own a 2001 F350 DRW 4x4 PSD.
Used to tow a 5th wheel and decided to downgrade (sizewise) to a truck camper. When I decided to install some stable loads on my truck, I realized that my truck had no overload springs. What a surprise! I looked at my F350 manual and it says "do no load a truck camper on this truck".
Did I make the biggest mistake ever by buying my Truck Camper? Obviously, I didn't do my homework…

Natacha "Frenchie"
2001 F350 DRW PSD 4x4
2013 Arctic Fox Truck Camper 811

[_DJ_1]

3000# overloads installed at local spring shop for $450.

[billtex]

Would Super springs be the same as adding OEM overloads?

This might be another (bolt-on)option...

Bill

[Natt85]

Boatycall,

Thank you for your reply. For a second, I thought I got taking advantage by buying this truck brand new. Looks like, I'm not the only one.

Tad94564,

Thank you for your comment. I learned something. I had no idea that the overload springs was an option on the super duty on that particular year.

Thank you everybody for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Now it is time for me to shop for some overload springs and install some stable loads. The airbags are doing a great job on this truck with no overload springs but I'd like to control the bouncing feeling… I'm hoping the stable loads will give me a smoother ride.

Natacha "Frenchie"
2013 Arctic Fox Truck Camper 811
2001 F 350 DRW, PSD, 4x4, air bags, rancho 9000

[tad94564]

In that model year of Superduty, the top overload springs was optional - you had to order the heavy duty suspension to get them.

You can buy the parts and bolt them on - no drilling needed, the holes are already there.

[stevenal]

Natt85 wrote:
I bought this truck brand new. It didn't offer the "camper package" but a "towing package". It is the same thing, right?

No, not the same. You'll get a camper certificate with the camper package.

[Boatycall]

Natt85 wrote:
I bought this truck brand new. It didn't offer the "camper package" but a "towing package". It is the same thing, right? Didn't have a sway bar also...
How costly it is to install overload springs?
I'm driving it right now with my camper as is (no overload springs), but with airbags. Should I install overload springs ASAP?

We bought the same truck, at what sounds like the same time. I have a friend that also has the same truck. So - three 2001 F350 DRW's. I got mine with F550 rear springs/overloads, and a factory rear sway bar. I swapped it out for a RoadMaster sway bar, it's the largest one you can get.
So, my friend has the same truck as you - no sway bar or overloads, and he used it for a fifth wheel. And same as you, he's just added bags to haul a camper. No sway bar yet, but's fine.

Just remember suspension is simple. It's the same rear end and frame in all 3 trucks. Whether you're using bags or springs to level out a load, the load can be handled just fine.

[cewillis]

That's hard to believe (for me) - a DRW with no overloads?!?!
But as suggested, just add them on - junkyard stock or new. And ignore the stupid 'no camper' instruction.

[Greg_B]

deltabravo wrote:

Greg B wrote:
Is there a handling problem your trying to correct? Maybe a sway bar or upgraded shocks would help.

What some truck camper owners do is install stable loads, a device made by Torklift, which causes the overload spring to engage sooner (when weight is on the truck) so the back end doesn't sag so much when hauling a heavy load.

I have them on my 3500HD dually too, and they are far more useful than airbags.

I agree, I have them on my truck also and they work wonderfully.
The OP stated they have airbags installed. On that era of Ford, you sometimes have to remove the overload spring pack in order to gain enough clearance between the bag and the bracket that bolts to the frame. This could have been the case with their 01 F350.
Might be a little more involved then just adding a spring and some overload spacers so I thought Id throw out a couple other options if its sway their trying to correct.

[svjim]

Natt85 wrote:
I bought this truck brand new. It didn't offer the "camper package" but a "towing package". It is the same thing, right? Didn't have a sway bar also...
How costly it is to install overload springs?
I'm driving it right now with my camper as is (no overload springs), but with airbags. Should I install overload springs ASAP?

Natacha "Frenchie"
2001 F350 DRW PSD 4x4
2013 Arctic Fox 811

The towing package for my 1999 F250 came with overloads and both front and rear sway bars. The towing package contained all sorts of goodies to make life easier when towing. Like you I towed a 5th wheel and am down sizing to a TC. I've put the Torklift stable load quick disconnects on the truck. From what I have read on the Torklift site, they recommend the quick disconnect on the lower overload spring over using the rubber bumpers on the top over load springs. They only real issue with them is on certain trucks you have to drill the overload spring to mount them. The hitch shop installing the quick disconnects had all sorts of fun trying to figure out how to do the drilling on the 1999 F250. Later models have the holes already drilled. I'm having timbrens installed instead of air bags.

[67avion]

I found the same issue with my truck, a 2004 F350. I added the airbags and haven't experienced any problems. But, I must say I was dumbfounded by the "missing" overload springs. Why on earth would overload springs be applied sometimes and not others?

[MikeJinCO]

I'd add overload springs and a sway bar also. But I would go with multi-leaf(probably 3) with maybe a 1300 lb load rating rather than the stock single leaf. The cost of aftermarket multi-leaf springs at a truck spring shop is insignificant and the labor the same. When I had a '99 F250 I added a second stock overload spring and it did very little. Remember that unloaded the overloads aren't in contact and have no effect on the ride. You'll need to extend the overload bump stops also, I used the hockey puck system at a cost of about $16 versus the expensive aftermarket ones.

[deltabravo]

Greg B wrote:
Is there a handling problem your trying to correct? Maybe a sway bar or upgraded shocks would help.

What some truck camper owners do is install stable loads, a device made by Torklift, which causes the overload spring to engage sooner (when weight is on the truck) so the back end doesn't sag so much when hauling a heavy load.

I have them on my 3500HD dually too, and they are far more useful than airbags.

[Greg_B]

They might have removed your overloads when the airbags were installed. IIRC this is necessary in some vehicles where the airbag sits on top of the spring pack to allow enough room for the airbags to compress. Is there a handling problem your trying to correct? Maybe a sway bar or upgraded shocks would help.

[garryk6]

Natt85 wrote:
I bought this truck brand new. It didn't offer the "camper package" but a "towing package". It is the same thing, right? Didn't have a sway bar also...
How costly it is to install overload springs?
I'm driving it right now with my camper as is (no overload springs), but with airbags. Should I install overload springs ASAP?

Natacha "Frenchie"
2001 F350 DRW PSD 4x4
2013 Arctic Fox 811

I have a 2002 F350 SRW. It came from the factory with overloads, but without swaybar.
I added a Helwig swaybar and the stable loads, and the truck and camper are GREAT! And since you already have the dually, just go to a bone yard, get the overloads and frame pads, then bolt them up on your dually, and the go for the Helwig Big-wig swaybar. You will not be sorry. Let us know if you have any more questions!
Garry in Kodiak, AK