Help me convince the parents they need airbags

[Natesms]

I want my parents to get airbags on their 2013 F250. They pull a big 5th wheel camper and are right at the tongue capacity and it squats the truck pretty good. I've researched this and read nothing but positive reviews. I'm trying to come up with a list of why they should get them. From some of the posts I've found (the adds on manufactures websites aren't good enough for the penny pincher):

1. Levels the tow vehicle.
2. Helps with bobbing and weaving.
3. Improves ride by limiting bounce.
4. Easy to adjust so it the ride when towing is not impacted.

Does it help with braking and turning? I would assume so by just getting the truck level.

Any other items from people's experience that would be good to add to the list???

 

[robert graham]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

I pull my boat with my old Buick Roadmaster and my air shocks really keep everything level and handling better....your folks should get bags or shocks for safe hauling, especially since their trips are probably more lengthy....

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

I used load leveling bags by Firestone and they sure leveled out one of my trucks awhile back. Bags would be better than shocks..... Or, heavier or additional(if leaf) springs(helpers)......

 

[Bondo]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

I want my parents to get airbags on their 2013 F250. They pull a big 5th wheel camper and are right at the tongue capacity and it squats the truck pretty good. I've researched this and read nothing but positive reviews. I'm trying to come up with a list of why they should get them. From some of the posts I've found (the adds on manufactures websites aren't good enough for the penny pincher):

1. Levels the tow vehicle.
2. Helps with bobbing and weaving.
3. Improves ride by limiting bounce.
4. Easy to adjust so it the ride when towing is not impacted.

Does it help with braking and turning? I would assume so by just getting the truck level.

Any other items from people's experience that would be good to add to the list???

Ayuh,.... Sounds like they need an F-350, rather than more spring capacity,...

A SRW F-350 will give 'em more carryin' capacity, 'n more brakes...

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

Ayuh,.... Sounds like they need an F-350, rather than more spring capacity,...

A SRW F-350 will give 'em more carryin' capacity, 'n more brakes...

I don't disagree and attempted to get them to go that route, but they didn't and now I have to work with what they got.

Everything is within capacity, just doing what I can to make it safe and comfortable as possible for them. It's a 2012 camper and the trailer brakes work great. Showed them how to adjust the gain and change it for driving conditions, etc.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

How much weight are they towing? Typically, the capacity for 5th wheel is much larger than conventional towing.

What engine and gear ratio do they have?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

no air bags will not improve cornering or braking... they will not make anything safer(with one exception I'll mention in a sec)... they WILL level the truck and make for a MUCH more comfortable ride and will level the truck putting the headlights where they are supposed to be so the driver can see the road without blinding other drivers.

I tow a 38' triple slide fiver with an f350 drw and the difference in ride quality on concrete slab roads is totally worth the cost.

If they tow 100 miles a couple times a year they don't need em... If they tow a thousand miles at a time the bags are MUST have items

Also tell them to upgrade to 350 dually shocks... that makes a big difference too

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

5th wheels and tongue weight are not the same as a travel trailer! The 'hitch' weight is obviously more with a 5th wheel; however, more of the weight should be centered over the rear axle! Did you folks have any mods to the 5th wheel to make it level with truck height?

My folks towed a Nuway Hitchhiker Premiere Widebody 35.5 (GVWR of 14,500lbs) 5,000 + miles (over a 6 months period) with a 1995 F250 4x4 Power Stroke...WAY too much camper for that little truck! When they showed up in Colorado I bought them a 2004 F350 DRW extended cab FX4 PS...made 'em sell the F250 as it was not enough truck for that trailer (they were exceeding the GVWR and the GVCWR of the truck by about 2,500lbs) The motor and tranny weren't the issue...it was the truck itself! That being said, if your folk's 5th wheel is withing tow rating and payload, then it's possibly a set-up issue. It may need to be leveled with truck (springs, higher or lower?). This will significantly help with sag/bounce.

Don't trust the manufacturer's 'tag' that gives the WR, check it at a local weigh station...they can be much heavier than what's listed on the plate.

Air bags might help with sag/stability, but doesn't fix over-loading! The motor and transmission are the same as an F350 (gear ratios and rear axles are usually stouter and of higher gearing in the F350)

DRW help significantly with sway and stability!

Just my $.02 worth!

~Brett

P.S. Yes my parents paid me back for the truck. I was lucky to be in the position to help them out, just as they have helped me over the years!

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

Didn't think about the headlights. Good one for the list.

They have towed about 7,000 miles since May and have no plans to slow down. Got a call today from Table Rock Lake begging to bring the crownline down for a "quick spin".

I don't remember the exact specs of the truck and trailer, but I researched it when they first bought it and it was in spec. Under the gross weight by a couple thousand, but within a couple hundred pounds on the tongue weight. If memory serves. I want to say trailer is 13,000, 1500 tongue. Brand new 6.7 diesel, it's an awesome motor. Incredibly quiet and power for days.

They did take it to the scales right after they bought it to make sure everything was still ok after the camper was loaded with gear and water.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

5th wheels and tongue weight are not the same as a travel trailer! The 'hitch' weight is obviously more with a 5th wheel; however, more of the weight should be centered over the rear axle! Did you folks have any mods to the 5th wheel to make it level with truck height?

I knew I was using the wrong term from my first post but couldn't think of it!

No mods to anything that I know of. They did have pro's put it in and they actually had to change hitches because the first on wouldn't release correctly.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

...did have pro's put it in and they actually had to change hitches because the first on wouldn't release correctly.

By pro's do you mean the RV place? I know a few that have no interest in setting trailers up right...just gettin' 'em out the door! I'm not saying this is your issue, but the RV sales people and their 'techs' should be double checked!?

~Brett

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

that ISN'T tongue weight it's PIN weight and 1500 lbs is not an issue for a 250... My PIN weight is IIRC 2500 + my 5th wheel hitch (Curt 20k q5 slider) alone weighs 250 lbs + I have a 100 gallon fuel tank and a tool box in the bed for another 1500 lbs so that's over 4000 lbs

The real issue to watch is that the rear axle weight does not exceed the rating of the rear tires... If they don't have load range E tires they should.

Don't get me wrong... air bags are a wonderful thing but the don't NEED them... they just don't know how bad they SHOULD want them....

Maybe you should just buy them a set as a Christmas present

Btw I also pull my Jeep wrangler on a towbar behind the 5'er

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

Don't get me wrong... air bags are a wonderful thing but the don't NEED them... they just don't know how bad they SHOULD want them....

Maybe you should just buy them a set as a Christmas present

Btw I also pull my Jeep wrangler on a towbar behind the 5'er

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Ha, just talked to my sister about a Christmas present and that's the plan. Have to get them on in the next few weeks between trips. They were skeptical that a 4 season camper could really go 4 seasons. I told them to just aim a little more south and stay out of the single digits.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

By pro's do you mean the RV place? I know a few that have no interest in setting trailers up right...just gettin' 'em out the door! I'm not saying this is your issue, but the RV sales people and their 'techs' should be double checked!?

~Brett

Local hitch place, and the camper was used from a private party. I'm sure the hitch was just installed and that was it on setup.

 

[Natesms]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

Btw I also pull my Jeep wrangler on a towbar behind the 5'er

View attachment 215896View attachment 215897

What is your overall length with that setup?

 

[rbh]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

What can make a little difference is adjusting the hitch to the highest position towards the cab that the trailer can still do a full turn.
This way more of the weight is moved to the front axle.

 

[Splat]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

If your going to add bags, do it right and add onboard air. Just hit a switch and the bags inflate, hit another when empty they deflate and ride is restored to stock.

Have air on my current truck, and had it on my old truck when I used to plow. Was awesome to adjust on the fly as I emptied and refilled my insert spreader through out the night.

Also great to top off tires and fill inflatable toys at the dock.

Bill

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

One thing, make sure that hitch is installed in the correct position on the truck, that will do wonders for handling, I have installed several hitches over the years and you would be amazed at moving it 1 inch can affect handling and weight transfer.. I also have Helwig overloads on my truck and I changed out the F250 brakes and install F350 brakes on the front for stopping power. Many installers working at dealerships take a one size fits all approach when installing 5th wheel hitches, when in fact they need to look at all of the variables with a particular truck, such as what will be carried in the bed in addition to the trailer, they need to measure how long the pin box is and set up accordingly, my 5th wheel has a long pin box, and I towed a friends trailer the other day, that had a short pin box on it, talk about a major difference in handling.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

Smoke...nice set-up there with the Jeep...what no 5'er and boat? LOL!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help me convince the parents they need airbags

What is your overall length with that setup?

been a few years since I measured it... IIRC it was 73'
illegal in every state AFAIK