Air bag vs overload springs

[Josey]

Just wondering what everyone thinks. I've been planning on putting air bags under my 14 F-250, long bed crew cab 4x4 but had someone ask me about overload springs. So I'd like some advice from the experts. I just purchased a 16 Salem Hemisphere 3563 QBQ, first 5th wheel. We just upgraded from a 33' Cougar 29 RBK TT.
Thanks.

[VizJedi]

I'd go with air bags. We had them on our race team dually that pulled a 48 ft, 2 car hauler that went about 20k, loaded.

Air bags have the advantage that you can adjust the pressure to manage the ride loaded and not loaded. Overloads really just kick in at a set rate when you squat enough to get into them.

j

[rracer5]

X2 on the air bags.......adjustable.

[Todouble]

X3 on the airbags. I absolutely love em

[rather_b_camping]

Just installed some Firestone RideRite bags last weekend on my '12 250 and it's a night and day difference in the stability of the truck when towing, I highly recommend them considering how much the 250's squat.

[tom_sanfelippo]

I have a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel Dually with a full length bed. It seems to haul our 43' 2015 Forest River Sandpiper fine. Though, it does squat down when we connect it. Is it advantageous and worth the cost to invest in Air Bag Suspension? I'm happy with the ride but would do it if it saves problems with my truck. Please advise. Thank you!!

[rather_b_camping]

Originally Posted by tom_sanfelippo

I have a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel Dually with a full length bed. It seems to haul our 43' 2015 Forest River Sandpiper fine. Though, it does squat down when we connect it. Is it advantageous and worth the cost to invest in Air Bag Suspension? I'm happy with the ride but would do it if it saves problems with my truck. Please advise. Thank you!!

$350 for the kit on Amazon and I installed them myself with the help of a friend. Took about 4 hours and the install was pretty straight forward. I fill mine manually but you can add an onboard compressor, just more money and install time. So for the price, worth every penny if you ask me.

[juice5]

Fall of 14 wife bought me 2014 Greywolf 27RR (33 foot)...new suburban wouldn't handle it....so she got me F250 6 box crewcab diesel lariat....A very good combination....and Im putting the air bags in ...adjustable and can get low beams where they should be....when towing

[Elkhounds]

I put them on my F-350 because I wanted to soften the ride when unloaded and be able to level the truck with anything I load up. I went with AirLift Ultimate 5000 and their wireless air. Been really happy with it so far and looking forward to seeing how it does with the new Columbus we have ordered.

[D. J. Schuler]

Again, what's the pin weight and what's the "Payload Sticker" on the driver door frame show. Sounds weird your truck needs help, better check the axle rating too - actual truck weight minus the axle weight is payload. Some F250 and 2500 trucks could haul a lot but TT tongue weight is usually 10%, 5r is 15-20%. 5r hitch usually weighs over 150 lbs., you could be looking at 1,650 to 2,150 Payload before you and yours get in the TV.

[bareftn]

well I must be the only one . I would go with the full over ride spring or go to a spring shop and add a leaf or two if needed I did not buy my first f 250 4wd for a soft ride I wanted a truck that when ever I put any kind of load in it I could load and go and not mess with putting air in the system but that's just me if I wanted a soft ride I would buy me a girly truck

[X96mnn]

Originally Posted by tom_sanfelippo

I have a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel Dually with a full length bed. It seems to haul our 43' 2015 Forest River Sandpiper fine. Though, it does squat down when we connect it. Is it advantageous and worth the cost to invest in Air Bag Suspension? I'm happy with the ride but would do it if it saves problems with my truck. Please advise. Thank you!!

One of those can't hurt for the most part kind of items. I do not think it will "save" your truck from anything. I have a 2014 dually 3500 and the payload on it is 5975pds. Yours depending on the options will be close to that! This post mostly have 250/2500 trucks carrying campers like yours where they have used up 3/4 of their payload just dropping the dry trailer on it. Your max hitch of 2500pds is not even taking up half your payload.

[Todouble]

Originally Posted by bareftn

I did not buy my first f 250 4wd for a soft ride I wanted a truck that when ever I put any kind of load in it I could load and go and not mess with putting air in the system

Takes a touch of a button and about 5 seconds to pump airbags up. Not hard at all. All done from the cab on my truck. Plus you can adjust the ride to match the load.

[MacII]

Like air bags and have had them now on 4 different tow vehicles. Probably never have another truck without them. Some kits have two separate hookup to manually put air in bags. Friends of mine years ago had one bag go down due to a rock puncture and it nearly threw him off the road. Ended up in a ditch with the truck seriously up on one side and dragging low on the other.
I now put in one tap to put air in both bags. If one bag goes flat, both go at pretty close to the same time. Rather have no bags or both bags with air than one bag filled and one empty.
I put the air tap inside the fuel filler door, keeps it clean of dirt, etc. Sometimes have to use a very short extension on the filler valve to be able to get the air hose on. Unless, of course, you use an onboard compressor. I had it once and it was both expensive and troublesome. Now I use about the cheapest 12 volt compressor I can buy that plugs into the cigarette lighter. Current one cost less than $10.00 and while a bit slow, it works fine. If it breaks, I can replace it for less than $20.00. Lot cheaper than an onboard set up, less wiring and fewer complications.

[bareftn]

that's anther reason I have always added a spring or a full overload spring

[Davidg]

Take a look at the SumoSpring. They are a progressive spring which will not rupture. Looks like a great option for both front and rear.