Trailer haulin

[Samsquanch]

So this spring i'll be buying a fifth wheel to pull behind my 08 SD do any of you use any kinda of suspension help? :ie airbag system spring kits.

[Phil G.]

That will depend on a couple of things.
#1 does your truck have the override helper springs? (the extra 2 leafs that sit a couple of inches above the main spring pack). This was part of certain suspention options. If so, it will take a lot of 5th wheel to flatten out your 250/350.
#2 What will the pin weight be of the 5th wheel you want to tow? Even without helper springs, you should find anything under 2000lbs acceptable but that is entirely up to your comfort level for towing.
If help in the rear is needed, air bags do work great to stiffen things up back there, I would recommend the Firestone ride rites. There are 2 models for the SuperDuty, one bolts onto the outside of the frame rails but can interfere with certain hitches, the other mounts more inboard. I have used the outboard ones on a couple of my past trucks and had no problems when using the 5th wheel rail kit by Reese or Valley etc.
If you will be leaving from home with your unit & returning with it and unhooking at the end of the trip and not doing a lot of drivingbobtail while away, you should be able to get away without buying the compressor kit & guage as long as you have an airsource at home to inflate them before you leave. If you do add them, remember NEVER run them empty, always leave 5 or 10lbs air in them.
The other less expensive choice is the Timbren rubber spacers. I have not tried them but I have heard people really like them.
Good luck with your choices!

[BMac]

Phil basically summed it up!

[erico88]

With our experience and been installing more and more 5th wheel because snow is melting we recommend supersrpings (http://www.supersprings.com/). There like adding a extra leaf but doesn't give you the really stiff ride.

I would stay away from airbags. Alot of problem can occur...bags tearing, line breaking etc...

[Phil G.]

I have had great luck with bags, they were on my 99 & 04 (over 450K between the two trucks using the same bags) never a leak, never a bag problem. I understand this experience is only one set of bags, but I have been in the RV industry for 23 years and have not heard of any issues from dealers. My airbags are laying in my garage and I wouldn't hesitate to install them on my current truck if the truck needed them. Are the problem bags more related to Airlift vs Firestones? The Airlift do not look as well built to me (just an opinion, not based on fact, they look more like they are designed for the guys slamming their rides. The nice part of using bags is your ride harshness is unaffected until you air them up. I have contemplated removing some leafs to soften up the ride, then using the bags for carrrying any loads. Just sharing my experience and opinions, I have no affilliation with Firestone :)

[Samsquanch]

That will depend on a couple of things.
#1 does your truck have the override helper springs? (the extra 2 leafs that sit a couple of inches above the main spring pack). This was part of certain suspention options. If so, it will take a lot of 5th wheel to flatten out your 250/350.
#2 What will the pin weight be of the 5th wheel you want to tow? Even without helper springs, you should find anything under 2000lbs acceptable but that is entirely up to your comfort level for towing.
If help in the rear is needed, air bags do work great to stiffen things up back there, I would recommend the Firestone ride rites. There are 2 models for the SuperDuty, one bolts onto the outside of the frame rails but can interfere with certain hitches, the other mounts more inboard. I have used the outboard ones on a couple of my past trucks and had no problems when using the 5th wheel rail kit by Reese or Valley etc.
If you will be leaving from home with your unit & returning with it and unhooking at the end of the trip and not doing a lot of drivingbobtail while away, you should be able to get away without buying the compressor kit & guage as long as you have an airsource at home to inflate them before you leave. If you do add them, remember NEVER run them empty, always leave 5 or 10lbs air in them.
The other less expensive choice is the Timbren rubber spacers. I have not tried them but I have heard people really like them.
Good luck with your choices!

Yes i have one extra spring above the spring pack is there also another package with 2 springs above the pack?
You mentioned the firestone bags that what i was looking at that sounds like the best option seeings how it's a bolt on system,
i guess i will know forsure when i'm hocked up if i need any help, Thanks guys for the replies.

[LaredoRV]

I haul a 35' Keystone Laredo with a F150, stock suspension, and no problem. It sure lower the rear, and is not overpowered, but It can haul it nice ;)

What kind of FW btw ? :P

[PATTER]

I haul a 35' Keystone Laredo with a F150, stock suspension, and no problem. It sure lower the rear, and is not overpowered, but It can haul it nice ;)

What does your RV weigh.

[LaredoRV]

What does your RV weigh.

My '08 Laredo Extreme Canadian Edition 30BH weighted 8638 dry. I have a clothes washer, full of food & clothes (that's our summer residence) and lot of stuff.

My '09 Laredo 298BH will weight 9720. A foot shorter but heavier because of the extra 2 extension...

[firefighter38]

Hi guys, sorry so late on this post but I just too upgraded my 5th wheel to a 34' from a 25'. Last year I installed a levelling kit on my F350 and noticed afterwards that my tow did sag the rear end, duh, wasn't thinking there!! My new 5ver shows up this week and I am concerened with the extra weight that it will lower my rear even more. I could remove the leveling kit or add airbags (Firestone 2400 which works with an in box hitch) or a Timbren system. I'm thinking that the Timbren system will still offer some sag until it connects with the axel and the air bags would be better at keeping it level because you would just increase the air to raise the rear. Am I wrong in the way I am thinking?? Thanks for any thoughts!

--Corey

PS - where is everyone buying their air bags? I was out pricing them today and the cheapest I could find was $635. So much cheaper in the USA like $280 - $350USD +shipping of course.

[Phil G.]

IMO, as I stated above, the Firestone bags are the way to go. Remember that if you have the extra two leafs (overload springs) above the main spring pack, you will not be able to install the outboard kit wihtout first removing them. I'm not sure about the other kit that mounts inboard. I'm guessing you do not have those extra springs or I don't think you would have noticed much sag on a 25' 5th wheel.

[canadian redneck]

I don't have any extra help for pulling my 5'er, even with my DW filling every compartment to the max :icon_eek:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5161/wallpaper1kn.jpg

[caissiel]

I am on my way to Florida to spend the winter. I do have a 38 ft 5th wheel, that gross at 15500 Lbs. Dry weight is 12300 and 1000 Lbs of stuff. The Truck is the 2005, F250, 4x4, 6.0L and 6 spd std tranny. I do have the extra leaf camper package with rear stabilizers. I had additional 2 leafs on each side installed by the previous owner, but I removed the bottom shorter one due to the ride being to stiff, It now rides like a dream with the helpers just touching the rubbers, and not loaded. They help in the stabilizing in curves and windy conditions. So far the truck has been great with all the weight, I do have about 2500 Lbs on the pin loaded. Your trailer will hardly load your truck, Mine has never run more then 207 Deg F in the large hills of PA, and never heard the cooling fan come on.

These Fords are monster pullers and weight plenty to take the loads, much more then there are supppose to for sure. My Truck with the 5th wheel on the hitch weighs in at 10,000Lbs, while the trailer wheels carry 11,000-13,000 Lbs. I like the ratio compared to GM's or Rams. Yours will be around 9200 Lbs for the truck and maybe 8000 lbs on the wheels of the trailer.