Suspension mods

[mike326]

I could use some wise advice. F150 SRW 4WD w/ trailer package. Mated with NorthStar Adventurer 8.5. Despite assurances from both car & TC dealers - fair amount of sag & sway. While many may say I should upgrade to an F250 - probably not an option at the moment. So looking at suspension mods. I'm thinking of RoadMaster Advanced System (RAS), Bilstein HD shocks, E-series tires - possibly Helwig sway bars. At the risk of being scrushed by criticisms & pinions - what would the TC community recommend or agree w/ the above mods?

Semper Fi - mike 326

[2Gordons]

For the cost of the upgrades, you can purchase a tandem axle trailer with brakes to pull that camper on, and have a ton of storage for coolers, generators, bikes... whatever. It'll be safe and efficient until you can afford the truck you need.

When you get the new tuck, pop the camper in the bed and sell the trailer. You'll probably recoup a bunch of your initial investment back, and not have killed your F-150 in the process.

We did substantial upgrades to the suspension of my F-350 to get it to handle the weight of my TC, and I just upgraded the brakes again- plus, I had to replace several suspension components... This after doing ball-joints at 50,000 miles. Don't let anyone kid you... These heavy TC's are hard on the trucks and their suspensions.

You can be marginally safe if you spend a lot of money on your current truck- but I have been in a couple of white-knuckle panic stops during my TC ownership time-frame, and I can tell you this... it is not fun. We always think nothing will happen to us, but it's the other knuckleheads, deer, road-hazards, and sudden mechanical failures you have to plan for. These things are a handful, even when set up perfectly.

I know you don't want to hear this, but think long and hard before you put your family in harm's way over a truck that could be gone tomorrow. There is always a way out of a vehicle. If you've got money to upgrade, you've got money to trade.

JMHO. Be safe,

2G

[jefe_4x4]

Looking back, we always had the most 'fun' when we were smelling the ozone and right at the brink with any rig we wheeled. I don't have much fun anymore: too far from the brink. It happens when you age.
jefe

[twodownzero]

The mistake is always in thinking that just because a truck has a bed of a certain size, that filling it up all the way is acceptable. It just depends on whether you're filling it with feathers or lead.

[joeshmoe]

This is why I am skeptical that a 1/2 ton or smaller truck really can safely carry any truck camper at all by the time it's loaded to go out for a trip.

The old adage still applies: The right tool for the job.

Sure, you can use harbor freight tools (some of which, I do use on non-critical components), but eventually, they'll break.

[Bedlam]

ah64id wrote:
While I am not a fan of big payloads on 1/2 tons my buddies 05 non-HD crew/SWB F-150 has a sticker payload over 3K. That's with OEM 6 lug wheels , 3850? RAWR and a 7200 GVWR

They do exist, I still don't think it's the best way to do it and neither does he. On paper he has more payload than I do, in reality they aren't comparable.

Current 150's weigh 2000-2500 lbs empty on the rear axle. The only way to get over 3000 lbs payload is to have a standard cab HD. The Raptor has less than 1000 lbs payload in some configurations...

[RWDIII]

I am a fan of the F150 and popups,unless you have the F150 HD,don't do it
And Semper Fi USMC 74-80

[AH64ID]

While I am not a fan of big payloads on 1/2 tons my buddies 05 non-HD crew/SWB F-150 has a sticker payload over 3K. That's with OEM 6 lug wheels , 3850? RAWR and a 7200 GVWR

They do exist, I still don't think it's the best way to do it and neither does he. On paper he has more payload than I do, in reality they aren't comparable.

[Bedlam]

Ford is offering the F150 HD 8200 lb GVWR in all three cab configurations but only in the long bed wheelbases. Tow Max packages are available only for the extended and crew cabs, but in both bed lengths. I have not looked at other 1/2t offerings.

[Mello_Mike]

ZRX-Steve wrote:
I found this regarding the HD Payload package too:

F150 HD Package
- high capacity wheels
- LT tires
- HD shocks
- upgraded rear axle: 9.75" gear set (instead of 8.80")
- upgraded springs
- upgraded radiator and aux. transmission oil cooler
- stronger frame on all but screw (0.150 instead of 0.110 rail thickness). Screw has 0.150 rail thickness regardless of HD payload package already.

Yes, but this HD package is available only in the standard cab, long bed configuration. Ford's HD 1/2 ton has a payload of 3,100 lbs. This is how the TC manufacturers get away saying that their TCs are 1/2 ton compatible. They are referring to HD 1/2 long-bed trucks. None of the big three are producing a HD 1/2 ton in a crew cab, short bed configuration that I know of.

[twodownzero]

mkirsch wrote:

What 1/2 ton truck, save for the "fake" 1/2 tons, is going to be able to comfortably haul a camper like this? You're looking at 2500+ by the time all is said and done, 1000+ over your real available payload capacity.

Just using my 2005 Dodge as an example, my truck is a 1 ton, which has a 9900 lb GVWR. A 3/4 ton of the same year has an 8800 lb GVWR. My truck weighs 7,080 pounds with nothing in it, full of fuel.

That puts a 1 ton at 2,820 lbs of payload. A 3/4 ton of the same year would have just 1,720 lbs of payload.

What that means is that in your example, not only are you far beyond the capability of a 1/2 ton truck, but by the time you put two passengers in a 1 ton SRW, you're right at the weight limit, and a 3/4 ton would be 1000 pounds or more overloaded the minute two passengers got in the truck.

Giving up 4wd would save you a few hundred pounds and a gasoline engine probably even more than that, but considering how close the ratings are, good luck staying within them.

This is why I am skeptical that a 1/2 ton or smaller truck really can safely carry any truck camper at all by the time it's loaded to go out for a trip. I'm similarly skeptical of any camper with a slideout on a SRW truck--every single one I've looked at would put me 20-30% overloaded.

My next truck will be a dually. When I bought this one I never thought I'd max it out, but I have managed to do so not only with the camper but with trailers as well.

The numbers above demonstrate why so many here use 19.5" wheels and tires. The tires on a single wheel truck are always the weakest component. Still, it's quite a surprise when you start adding up weights.

[AH64ID]

Need to know a few things before making a recommendation.

What is your RAWR and GVWR?
What is your scaled empty weight?
What rear axle do you have? Post a photo if unsure.

There is generally some wiggle room, when looking at trucks... Not much on a 1/2 ton as a 3/4 ton, but you might be able to carefully pull it off.

If you where sold something you couldn't do with the equipment you presented I would demand a full buy back, then get an appropriate truck.

[mike326]

E-rated tires, HD shocks, leaf springs and/or RoadMaster Active Suspension (RAS)?

[ZRX-Steve]

I found this regarding the HD Payload package too:

F150 HD Package
- high capacity wheels
- LT tires
- HD shocks
- upgraded rear axle: 9.75" gear set (instead of 8.80")
- upgraded springs
- upgraded radiator and aux. transmission oil cooler
- stronger frame on all but screw (0.150 instead of 0.110 rail thickness). Screw has 0.150 rail thickness regardless of HD payload package already.

[ZRX-Steve]

Bedlam wrote:
Your F150 most likely has the semi-floating Visteon Ford 8.8 axle. Since the shafts are supported only on one side with bearings, it only has a 3800 lb rating for the 6-lug version. The semi-floating 9.75 axle with 7-lugs has a 4800 lbs rating. If you can keep less than much weight off the axle, you will be fine.

Good information Bedlam