arto_wa
S.W. Washington State
Full Member
Joined: 02/25/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
This is what I did in order to limit sag (Hellwig overloads & upper Stabelloads) - it only sags about 1 1/8 inch with my camper loaded on.
Eventually I will remove the shorter Hellwig overloads to see what effect that has.
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/A64hxm7l.jpg )
![[image]](http://bit.ly/1CIRlV8)
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28550571.cfm
This is with the two of them installed:
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/e33VZ0cl.jpg )
* This post was
last
edited 06/19/16 07:45am by arto_wa *
View edit history
99 F350 4x4 CC DRW 7.3L PSD, 97 Bigfoot 2500 10.6
(11,900#)
89 Duckworth 17' Pro 302
|
WanderWest
Midwest
New Member
Joined: 05/28/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
That's the puzzle on the fifth-wheel. It is not a sliding hitch (8' bed) and is mounted in Ford's factory mounting holes (fifth-wheel prep package). The relative proportions of the hitch (a Reese) could, perhaps, put the pin weight an inch or so back from where Ford anticipated, but it's hard to imagine more than that.
Unless Ford put the holes for the hitch too far to the rear (seems unlikely), it's a bit of a mystery to me.
--WW
2014 F350 dually
2015 Excel 31 IKE fifth-wheel
2016 Arctic Fox 1140 truck camper
|
SoCalDesertRider
Arizona desert
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2003
View Profile
|
Addressing the issue of your fifth wheel taking weight off the front axle, inspect the position of the hitch in relation to the rear axle center.
The hitch sounds to be too far back, slightly behind the axle, instead of in front of it, to be removing weight from the front axle. Maybe something is installed wrong, backwards, or adjusted to the rear. Is it a sliding hitch?
The fifth wheel should add a slight amount of weight to the front axle, with the hitch mounted such that the kingpin is a few inches (about 3 to 6 inches) ahead of the rear axle centerline.
01 International 4800 4x4 CrewCab DT466E Allison MD3060
69Bronco 86Samurai 85ATC250R 89CR500
98Ranger 96Tacoma
20' BigTex flatbed
8' truck camper, 14' Aristocrat TT
73 Kona 17' ski boat & Mercury 1150TB
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6 285 BFG AT 4.56 & LockRite rear
|
Dirtpig
Qualicum Beach, BC
Senior Member
Joined: 05/13/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I agree with Bedlam. I ran a heavy arctic fox camper for years and the stable loads are great. Also did not destroy unloaded ride quality.
2015 Nash 25C bumper pull /w 300watts solar my install
My Truck & RV youtube channel
2005 F-350 Diesel 4x4 CC SB SRW
2001 Honda XR400: many mods
12ft Lund WC boat & 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke on custom loader.
|
WanderWest
Midwest
New Member
Joined: 05/28/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Thanks everyone. Sounds like Stableloads are probably where I'll start, with airbags or other upgrades depending on how things feel.
I confess I'm not sure exactly how I should expect the TC to ride. With the higher center of gravity and load that takes it up to GVWR, I'm not expecting it to ride as smoothly as it does towing the fifth-wheel.
It does seem like everyone has their own opinions (as well as unique combinations of truck and TC), but the feedback does help me focus in a few areas.
--WW
|
|
|
Bedlam
PNW
Moderator
Joined: 06/13/2012
View Profile
|
Start with upper and lower StableLoads to get the most out of your OEM suspension. If you need more, you can supplement later with bags, super springs or Timbrens.
Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD
|
Buzzcut1
Norcal
Senior Member
Joined: 10/04/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
my TC weighs 4500. Its on a 2011 F350 4x4 crew cab long bed diesel dually with the camper package. I also tow a 5-7000 pound load horse trailer (weight is related to number of horses on board).
For just the camper I find that upper and lower stable loads give me a perfect ride. I have airbags that only get used for when I am towing the horses to level the ride. For that reason I chose Airlift Loadlifter 5000 airbags as they can be run at zero psi when not needed.
2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags
|
HMS Beagle
Napa, California
Senior Member
Joined: 08/22/2003
View Profile
|
Everyone is going to have a different opinion. Here's mine: I have a 2015 F350 dually with a 4300 lbs camper. If yours is 4WD, I would put outside-the-frame mount airbags, plumbed separately (dual path). Then add the Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear, and Rancho 9000 shocks. The shocks and airbags will let you adjust the rear height to keep the headlights on the road, the 9000 shocks let you adjust the dampening between loaded and empty. The (much) larger sway bars will eliminate body roll empty and with the 5th, and minimize it with the camper. Since the airbags will be carrying some of the weight, outside-the-frame versions will maintain the same roll stiffness as the springs.
If 2WD, getting airbags to fit properly is difficult because of the lower ride height - I did it on my '99 but had to modify the mounts and though it worked it limited suspension travel.
Bigfoot 10.4E, 2015 F350 6.7L DRW 2WD, Autoflex Ultra Air Ride rear suspension, Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear
|
Florida Swamp Fox
Florida
New Member
Joined: 12/18/2009
View Profile
|
WW,
I have a similar size truck camper on order. My truck is identical to yours. I have wanted a truck camper for years and studied the subject of your question ALOT. There is a lot of information you can get on these forums for sure. Based on what I have learned I am adding the following items to my truck. Upper Stable Loads, Rancho 9000 Shocks, Air Bags (dual path). I will be as curious as you are to see other more experienced members reply to your post and react to my choice.
DP
2015 Ford F350 CC 6.7 PSD DRW
2017 Arctic Fox 1150 DB (sold)
2018 Jayco North Point 315RLTS
|
jimh406
Western MT
Senior Member
Joined: 06/11/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Air bags give you the flexibility to raise the rear as much as you want to or balance the load side to side which is important for some TCs. If you do use air bags, I'd extend the bumpstops either with stableloads or by extending your bump stops. Lower stableloads allow you to disengage them at will, so add that to your list of what to consider.
But, you probably should load it, and see how it is to you.
'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.
NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member
|
|
|
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/A64hxm7.jpg )
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/e33VZ0c.jpg )
