Questions: 2015 F250 Capacity Enhancements.

[wuli959]

This forum is amazing in the information that is shared. Thanks to all to that take the time to educate those of us that are just starting out.

I apologize in advance for another rookie suspension/capacity question. I've been following truck camper threads for many years while using a pop-up camper that I pulled with a Honda van. Never been able to make the jump to afford a TC/Truck combo. Bought a F150 several years ago and hoped to find a light weight camper (FWC) to use with it but my wife balked at the lack of amenities.

Jumping to today, I was able to find a 2013 Northern Lite TC where the seller was willing to pair up his 2015 F250 SRW truck and sell them together.

What I had hoped to do was also to be able to tow a 12' enclosed motorcycle trailer (dual wheels with electric brakes). Then I weighed it.

In it current form, the truck is more then maxed out even before I add a tow to it.

I understand that the increased capacity of an F350 is derived from the wheel/tire and perhaps springs. Same axle, frame etc are used in both the 250 & 350. (Is this right?)
For the 2015 model year, the same truck configuration in a F350 with "18 inch All terrain tires/wheels" is rated to max GVWR of 11,300 lbs. 4800/7000.
(I've read about the 19.5" wheel/tire combos but I hope to use the TC in rough road/beach access situations)

I realize that this would still be above the truck's GVWR but would like to add a safety factor of capacity to the vehicle.

If this would work? Where can I find out what wheel/tire combinations will work to enhance capacity and where to buy? Most of the wheel selling sites do not list load ratings and I've read about the poor quality wheels enough to be very cautious.

If the tire wheel combination upgrade is made; what if anything should be done to the springs to assist? (Truck currently has air lift airbags).


Vehicle Details:

2015 Ford F-250 XL 4x4 Crew Cab 6.2L Gas 156" Wheelbase
10,000 GVWR. Front 4800. Rear 6290.
Tires: 17" Michelin LT245 75R17. Rating 3195.
Wheels: Stock Ford 17x17.5 wheels. Rating unknown to me
(Ford C34-1015 BA BLK JA SL F2647 Mexico F2 2014 03 03 T 00T. 17x7 1/2J 40 INSET EN8SA) .
Bilstein 5100 series Front and Rear Shocks
Hellwig 7271 Big Wig rear sway bar
Air Lift airbags installed with separate fill valves (80 psi)

Camper: 2013 Northern Lite 8'11" Sportsman

Weighed the truck & driver with full tank of fuel (35 gallons) = 7260 lbs. 4160 lbs Front 3100 Rear

Weighed truck & driver/passenger/dog with "loaded" camper with full water tank = 10,600 lbs. 4240 Front 6360 Rear

This would show that I am over the truck GVWR by 600 lbs and assuming that the rear axle wheel/tire combination actually provides for 6390, I am over by 100 lbs already of the truck's stated axle but close to the wheel/tire combination.

Thanks for your input.

David Anderson
Louisville, KY

[SoCalDesertRid1]

The 4600's are ordered by make/model/year, for stock suspension height trucks. The 5100's are ordered by length, for lifted or lowered trucks, or custom applications, like buggies.

[sonuvabug]

whizbang wrote:
... snipped ... You have the wrong Bilstein shocks. The 5100 are their off road shock. The 4600's are the heavy load shocks.

I respectfully disagree. The 4600 and 5100 series have the same internal working bits. 4600's are for stock height ... the 5100's are for lifted suspensions starting with the 0-2" lift range.

This explains the differences:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/images/bilstein-5100-vs-bilstein-heavy-duty.cfm

The OP did not mention a lift to his truck set-up. Therefore, either shock will work just fine and no need to replace them if they are in good working order.

[Vinsil]

Yup. if your pretty level and it feels good (better) stick with it. You can play with your bag pressure some to dial it in.

[wuli959]

So I loaded the TC back on the truck this weekend using the Stableloads with only 5 psi in the airlift airbags


Probably not the right way to measure it but before the TC was loaded the truck bed elevation over the wheels and the height to the rear hitch looked like this:



With the TC loaded



Engaging the lower overload springs seems to have made quite a difference in being able to back off the airbag as the main source of support.
Seems like a pretty good baseline for the TC load. . . Agree?

[ticki2]

wuli959 wrote:


what do I need to know to find out exactly what I have or did you mean use what I've done so far and then think about changes?

Your local Ford dealer should be able to tell you every option your truck came with from the factory by the vin number .

It looks to me that the tires are the limiting factor for the RAWR .

[lonegunman]

It sounds like your truck does not have "heavy duty suspension" or camper package. If you want go avoid airbags and I am not sure why they are a problem, then a helper spring pkg is a good idea.

I would rather have more spring or bag capacity than barely enough. It will be heavier than estimated, pretty much always.

[wuli959]

lonegunman wrote:
I have put 5,000 miles on my 2011 Ford F-250 in the last three weeks of cross country adventure. I am on factory Michelins and stock Ford 18" wheels. I am at 11,500 lbs and have had zero problems with my truck and set up. From the west coast to Ohio and back on every type of road. SRW truck to boot. I haul an Arctic Fox 865.

I bought my tires and wheels just like you did, had air bags and Rancho 9000's and added upper Stable Loads before my trip. I air up until they are about 2/3rds contacted with the overloads and the truck sits fine. I ordered the truck with camper pkg and heavy duty suspension when new.

I guess that I've been wondering if I need to stiffen up the rear springs to make this all work without having to rely on the air bags. The spring stack on my F250 does not have upper overloads and has two full length spring section with a lower overload spring.

[wuli959]

ticki2 wrote:

I am not a Ford guy so maybe one of them can comment .It seems to me that 2 main leafs is a very light sprung F250 . Ford has many options for spring packs and GVWR . Perhaps it's time to find out exactly what you have to know how to procede .

what do I need to know to find out exactly what I have or did you mean use what I've done so far and then think about changes?

Rear axle rating on truck label is 6290 with an overall GVWR of 10,000

This is where I started out . . .

Vehicle Details:

2015 Ford F-250 XL 4x4 Crew Cab 6.2L Gas 156" Wheelbase
10,000 GVWR. Front 4800. Rear 6290.
Tires: 17" Michelin LT245 75R17. Rating 3195.
Wheels: Stock Ford 17x17.5 wheels. Rating unknown to me
(Ford C34-1015 BA BLK JA SL F2647 Mexico F2 2014 03 03 T 00T. 17x7 1/2J 40 INSET EN8SA) .
Bilstein 5100 series Front and Rear Shocks
Hellwig 7271 Big Wig rear sway bar
Air Lift airbags installed with separate fill valves (80 psi)

Camper: 2013 Northern Lite 8'11" Sportsman

Weighed the truck & driver with full tank of fuel (35 gallons) = 7260 lbs. 4160 lbs Front 3100 Rear

Weighed truck & driver/passenger/dog with "loaded" camper with full water tank = 10,600 lbs. 4240 Front 6360 Rear


I have since swapped out wheels/tires to an OEM 18" wheel with Michelin tires rated at 3640 and added lower stableloads.

I've wondered if I should also add additional spring and/or upper overloads as well but have gotten good advice that I should actually try out what I've done so far and then consider additional changes if necessary.

[wuli959]

Buzzcut1 wrote:
this is my F350 dually springs with upper and lower stable loads, Camper pkg springs. I only need to add air to my airbags when towing my horse trailer with two horses in it. Photo is with my camper on, Lance 1055 weighs 4500 loaded

Looks like your spring set has three full length plus the overloads while my F250 has two full length and only the lower overload.

I'm going to load the camper back on the truck now that I have the lower stableloads installed and see how it does with a much lower dose of airbag lift

[lonegunman]

I have put 5,000 miles on my 2011 Ford F-250 in the last three weeks of cross country adventure. I am on factory Michelins and stock Ford 18" wheels. I am at 11,500 lbs and have had zero problems with my truck and set up. From the west coast to Ohio and back on every type of road. SRW truck to boot. I haul an Arctic Fox 865.

I bought my tires and wheels just like you did, had air bags and Rancho 9000's and added upper Stable Loads before my trip. I air up until they are about 2/3rds contacted with the overloads and the truck sits fine. I ordered the truck with camper pkg and heavy duty suspension when new.

[Buzzcut1]

this is my F350 dually springs with upper and lower stable loads, Camper pkg springs. I only need to add air to my airbags when towing my horse trailer with two horses in it. Photo is with my camper on, Lance 1055 weighs 4500 loaded

[ticki2]

wuli959 wrote:

Vinsil wrote:
See that hole on the bottom leaf? Bolt some stableloads in there.

The photo above was of the springs with 80 PSI in the airbags.

Doesn't need another leaf (or something) to hold the weight with less PSI or keep using the airbags at 80 PSI and add stable load to help engage the springs at the same time?
(Not even sure if I'm asking the right question)

This is what the spring looks like with 10 psi in the air lift bags. Pretty flat with a downward tilt front to rear (truck)

I am not a Ford guy so maybe one of them can comment .It seems to me that 2 main leafs is a very light sprung F250 . Ford has many options for spring packs and GVWR . Perhaps it's time to find out exactly what you have to know how to procede .

[bikepsych]

Great insight folks. I am running an F250 6.7L Diesel with an 89RB Adventurer. Loaded I"m probably right at 11,000, empty was 7700.

It used to sway and pogo down the road after bumps. I installed the airbags with Rancho 9000's cranked up to max 9 and it really rolls nicely. Also has the Hellwig Sway Bar on middle setting. Had a guy stop by the rig at a rest area in Washington on our way to Montana from Vancouver. He said he was impressed with how little sway it seemed to have. Tires are BFG TKO2's.

So, I would say go with the airbags at 40psi since you already have the sway bar. Am very impressed with the Rancho 9000s. Only have 5000's up front so that's the next change.

BG

[Vinsil]

Give it a shot first! Don't go throwing more parts and money until you dial in your current setup. I carry 8000+ lbs on my rear axle with my loaded camper with lower stableloads and bags and don't feel the need for any more spring capacity. I am adding a swaybar in the rear as I don't have a factory one and it give me some sway help but that is due to adding a heavy boat to tow recently.

Dial in your setup first.

[wuli959]

Installed a set of lower Stable Loads last night but haven't loaded the TC back on yet . . . not sure about how to add the upper overload springs and brackets. Is this something that I should take the truck into a spring shop to have done??


should I consider using an aftermarket "helper spring" like the Hellwig instead?