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01-29-2017, 02:18 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 28
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Airbags on F150 Supercrew w/3.5 ecoboost
Hello everyone:
We recently shifted back from a Forest River 255 RDS to a travel trailer - a Flagstaff 30WRLIKS.
We have a Husky 1200# WDS with integrated sway control, and our tow vehicle is a 2016 F150 Supercrew with the 3.5 twin turbo ecoboost engine and the tow package (11,600# tow capacity). The Ford also has electronic trailer sway control, which seems to be pretty effective. (On the way TO our first campground, I hadn't figured out the truck's sway control, on the way HOME, I had - we thought we noticed quite a difference.)The trailer dry weight is around 8600#, and tongue weight is around 900# with the trailer loaded.
My question is, would we benefit from installing airbags? What exactly do airbags do for us? Do they help further reduce trailer sway?
Thanks for any help.
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01-29-2017, 03:49 PM
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#2
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Tom
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 386
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The F-150 sway control per say does not prevent sway when towing. It is a safety feature that kicks end once you've experienced a dangerous sway situation. Believe me you will know it when it happens.
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01-29-2017, 03:55 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 28
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Thanks, Seachaser. Yeah, I wondered about that. The "improvement" was just in my imagination.
Still like to know what - if anything - airbags will do for me.
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01-29-2017, 05:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,219
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Airbags lift the rear end of the truck. You are probably just getting pushed around a bit since your trailer weighs so much more than your truck. The wind catches that giant sail and transfers forces to your truck. Sway is when the trailer is oscillating back and forth, not just a little movement now and then.
2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
2010 F250 4X4 5.4L 3.73 LS
EQUALIZER E4 1200/12000
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01-29-2017, 05:31 PM
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#5
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Tom
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 386
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I also have a '16 F-150 3.5 EB and they do need some help in the rear end with that much tongue weight. I went with the Supersprings but most people seem to prefer the air bags. Hope you have LT tires pulling that much TT.
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01-29-2017, 09:23 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 63
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Definitely get some LT tires. That will help more than you realize. The wdh should take care of moving the weight to the front but I did put airbags on my F150 eco to help firm up a little more. I did notice the most improvement though with the LT tires.
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01-30-2017, 01:27 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 93
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As previously stated, change to LT tires first, made a big difference with our 2012EB.
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01-30-2017, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Boondocking Only
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 360
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Tires, tires,tires....get a good set of Load Rang "E" -10 Ply tires. Big O - Big Foots are near the best you can get. Air bags will help but really don't need them with a weight distribution hitch.
__________________
2014 Shamrock/Roo 21SSL
Complete LED Lighting
Off Road Package
2010 F250 Lariat 6.8 V-10 w/Timbren SES
Custom Tunes by 5 Star Tuning
Boondocking Only
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01-30-2017, 01:51 PM
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#9
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,144
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Air bags will only help level the truck. I would think the difference in sway with or without air bags to be minimal... unless you are way out of level rear bumper to front bumper. But your WDH should be correcting this.
As mentioned, if you still have the stock P rated tires, get yourself some good LT tires.
Changing the tires seems to be the top mod for improving sway, at least on these forums.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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01-30-2017, 02:38 PM
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#10
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AKA: 'tiredTeacher
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DCW
My question is, would we benefit from installing airbags? What exactly do airbags do for us? Do they help further reduce trailer sway?
Thanks for any help.
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According to the folks at etrailer.com: "Air bags and similar products are best for carrying loads in a vehicle, not towing a trailer. When you use both at the same time, the air bags and weight distribution systems can work against each other and you will not get the full benefits of either system."
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
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01-30-2017, 03:03 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 361
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The F150 EB max rated tow is one thing, what's the payload sticker? Have a 2011 F150 EB tow 11,200 and payload 2,393, had no wiggle with Equalizer hitch and Prime Time Tracer 30 footer. Moved up to a 5r, I'll never go back to a TT.
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DJsFolly
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01-30-2017, 03:03 PM
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#12
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Tom
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 386
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Looking at your numbers you mention a dry weight of 8600 and a loaded tongue weight of 900, tells me you are towing rear heavy which will induce sway. I am also surprised the the 3/4 and 1 ton boys haven't chimed in yet telling you need a bigger truck.
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01-30-2017, 03:14 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,059
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DCW
The Ford also has electronic trailer sway control, which seems to be pretty effective. (On the way TO our first campground, I hadn't figured out the truck's sway control, on the way HOME, I had - we thought we noticed quite a difference.)The trailer dry weight is around 8600#, and tongue weight is around 900# with the trailer loaded.
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FWIW, I've seen posts on various forums suggesting that, if you have a sway control hitch, you may want to disable the Ford anti-sway. To show the truck anti-sway in action, check out this U-Tube from the Fast Lane Truck guys. Pretty scary! But then again they set their trailer up with about 0 tongue weight for the test.
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
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01-30-2017, 03:45 PM
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#14
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Tom
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 386
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I wouldn't think progressive helper springs would interfere with the WDH. Some may argue whether they are needed with a properly adjusted WDH.
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01-30-2017, 05:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 522
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I have Firestone air bag on my 2500 but I do have a good WDH also, I haven't tow with my air bag in yet but I will put about 10 to 20 lbs of air in them only and I should get a little more stable and firmer ride out of them. Theirs some good info here so if you use these it should solve your problem.
BTW: I think that you have enough truck to tow that though.
__________________
2018 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7L CTD
2019 Jayco Eagle 321RSTS
Retired Army MSG.
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01-31-2017, 08:49 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 316
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We have a 2015 F150 Ecoboost and we added Super Springs to the rear. Big difference in towing and no difference when not towing. They are idiot proof, totally mechanical and require no maintenance. We had looked at airbags as we had them in our previous truck (RAM) but opted for the springs after talking with professionals. As to the sway, we had two bad experiences and the automatic sway brought our 5th wheel back into alignment right away. It is great, it does everything to reducing your speed and braking your truck and trailer at various points to eliminate the sway.
__________________
Marcel & Jenne
Kemptville, ON
2014 Rockwood 8282WS
2015 Ford F150 Eco-Boost
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01-31-2017, 09:00 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,253
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As you can see, you'll get lot's of "theoretical" information here on the forums. Here's my real world experience. I had a 2013 F150 SCrew 4x4 145"WB Ecoboost pulling a similarly sized trailer. I installed LRD BFGoodrich T/A KO2 tires, Firestone RideRite airbags and Rancho RS9000XL shocks. It was rock solid when towing after these modifications were made. IIRC, I ran the tires at ~50PSI, 30 PSI in the airbags and shocks at 10(firmest setting) when towing. On second though, I may have actually run the rear tires closer to max, which is 65 I think, but it's been a while.
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01-31-2017, 10:02 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lake City Florida
Posts: 137
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I run Firestone airbags and a Reese weight distribution hitch with bars that have friction pads on the ends. My F250 pulls my unloaded weight of 10,K lbs. loaded about 12K lbs. Work and Play 30WRS easily.
I've pulled the trailer with and without the WDH. The airbags will level the truck just fine, and I can adjust the tongue height on the fly with the wireless controller, raising and lowering the tongue height I can eliminate the trailer swaying. With airbags alone there's too much weight on the rear tires and not enough on the front tires of the truck.
The airbags along with an electric hitch jack really help hooking and unhooking up the weight distribution bars.
My son has an 2015 ecoboost 3.5 and from my experience with his F150 and my F250 you should trade up to a F250 and I'd recommend a good weight distribution hitch system.
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01-31-2017, 10:11 AM
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#19
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Tom
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 386
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Yep it took awhile but here's the 3/4 Ton guy saying you need a bigger truck.
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01-31-2017, 10:30 AM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 28
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Guess it's new tires for me!
Thanks to everyone. Seems like the common denominator from all responses is tires, tires, tires.
Guess I'm going to be out some bucks!
We don't have those "Big O" tires/dealers in GA.
Any other recommendations?
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