Air bags on an F150

[Happy Smitty]

So for an enhanced towing experience I decided to install air bags on my F150.

Fit everything in place.

Once I know all the placement is correct I'll tighten up the nuts and bolts.

Install the air line.

Hooked up the trailer and went for a test and it enhanced my towing experience just as I expected. Truck sits level now so I won't chew through my front tires. No more steering at 1 o clock to stay straight.

Next week I'll post about installing my 5th wheel slider hitch in a shortbed F150.

After that maybe a post on how to load and balance the 5th wheel toy hauler with a canam and dirtbikes...

Glamis here I come

 

[rivermobster]

Oh boy...

 

[ultra26shadow]

I’m surprised they even have a kit.

 

[ka0tyk]

So now the gvwr is 50k?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

So now the gvwr is 50k?

It is a 1979 F150, so yes.

 

[chvynhra]

You should look into these:

 

[nowski]

Airbags in the cab of an F150??? Pretty common if you ask me...

 

[WhatExit?]

Why would an F150 need air bags? They're tow-ready from the factory

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

You should look into these:

What freeway is that?

 

[wzuber]

Thats interesting

You should look into these:

. So instead of the bag having a fixed mount on bottom it's allowed to float so the bag doesn't become a travel limit/stop as well as overstretch the bag? Potentially damaging it? Seems a good idea for a multi use vehicle like that as opposed to say a moho.

 

[wzuber]

What freeway is that?

Pretty much any so cal freeway just pick one.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Why would an F150 need air bags? They're tow-ready from the factory

Same reason a F250 needs them to tow half their rating....

 

[Bpracing1127]

I had bags on my f150. Helped a ton with the weight sag. Lost the factory ride when unloaded tho. Even with the bags at 5 psi

 

[braindead]

So for an enhanced towing experience I decided to install air bags on my F150.

Fit everything in place.

View attachment 1062284
View attachment 1062285

Once I know all the placement is correct I'll tighten up the nuts and bolts.

View attachment 1062278

Install the air line.

View attachment 1062283

Hooked up the trailer and went for a test and it enhanced my towing experience just as I expected. Truck sits level now so I won't chew through my front tires. No more steering at 1 o clock to stay straight.

Next week I'll post about installing my 5th wheel slider hitch in a shortbed F150.

After that maybe a post on how to load and balance the 5th wheel toy hauler with a canam and dirtbikes...

Glamis here I come

it might just be the picture, but it looks like your leaf springs are de-arched from being overloaded

 

[Happy Smitty]

Why would an F150 need air bags? They're tow-ready from the factory

Yeah they are tow ready from the factory. The airbags enhance the towing experience and unlock the full towing potential of these trucks.

it might just be the picture, but it looks like your leaf springs are de-arched from being overloaded

It's probably from having the jack under the truck. I took the wheel off for the install.

 

[Hermosa]

So for an enhanced towing experience I decided to install air bags on my F150.

Fit everything in place.

View attachment 1062284
View attachment 1062285

Once I know all the placement is correct I'll tighten up the nuts and bolts.

View attachment 1062278

Install the air line.

View attachment 1062283

Hooked up the trailer and went for a test and it enhanced my towing experience just as I expected. Truck sits level now so I won't chew through my front tires. No more steering at 1 o clock to stay straight.

Next week I'll post about installing my 5th wheel slider hitch in a shortbed F150.

After that maybe a post on how to load and balance the 5th wheel toy hauler with a canam and dirtbikes...

Glamis here I come

you will find they work great for towing but with no trailer or load, they get a little hard and with low air pressure they bottom out with the internal bump stops easily. I loved them for towing, was a must with a box trailer towing my RZR.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Dude nice upgrade! Grabbing gears and beatin' queers!

 

[Happy Smitty]

Yeah I thin

I had bags on my f150. Helped a ton with the weight sag. Lost the factory ride when unloaded tho. Even with the bags at 5 psi

Yeah I think I'll drop my tires by 5 psi to compensate.

 

[spectras only]

I’m surprised they even have a kit.

Pacbrake:Air Suspension

pacbrake.com

after getting a bigger trailer with 960 lb of TW, I installed them on my truck. The F-150's have a rake from the factory and a 1200 lbs Class IV hitch with optional tow package, Lowering the tongue jack, the truck and trailer leveled perfectly as this picture shows. Of course I used the WDH set up as it's still required.
The airbag is not increasing tow capacity, but, it helps to have when used for hauling weight like gravel/lumber etc.....in the bed.
Min 10 pounds of pressure needs in the bag, recommended by pacbrake, when the truck is unloaded. I've only used 20 psi when towing the trailer . The bag with 10 psi didn't alter riding comfort what so ever.

Here's the truck sitting level without the WD bars hooked up and no extra air pumped in the bags