Air bags for towing/ camper on the lightning ?

[ogdobber]

Yes but they have a stronger frame, Ford even made a camper special back in the 60-70s on an F250.

Your truck so do what you want but don't cry when things start breaking because you didn't heed their warnings.

i own a camper special
Lemme ask a question, you cant put a slide in in a raptor or tow like a “normal” f150 right? Why? Its the rear springs! Put hd springs in a raptor and then you can do all the normal f150 stuff, however then it doesn’t work offroad. Airbags solve towing in a raptor, but then it limits the suspension droop and doesn’t work as well.
there is a workaround for raptor towing using long feet on aftermarket air bumps tho.
thats is what i am looking for, a workaround that make the half dozen heavy tows i do a year. All you WD hitch guys go start a club and stop lecturing, i get it, i’ve used them. I want another option

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[Timeless Epoch]

What? Have you ever used airbags? Airbags on the rear literally pits more pressure on the front axel.

Absolutely it does not. Not even a little. I've towed heavy plenty.

 

[ogdobber]

Absolutely it does not. Not even a little. I've toed heavy plenty.

Its basic physics, if the rear is raised it transfers more weight to the front

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/ford_content/catalog/motorcraft/2024_MY_Camper_Loading.pdf

 

[RLXXI]

i own a camper special
Lemme ask a question, you cant put a slide in in a raptor or tow like a “normal” f150 right? Why? Its the rear springs! Put hd springs in a raptor and then you can do all the normal f150 stuff, however then it doesn’t work offroad. Airbags solve towing in a raptor, but then it limits the suspension droop and doesn’t work as well.
there is a workaround for raptor towing using long feet on aftermarket air bumps tho.
thats is what i am looking for, a workaround that make the half dozen heavy tows i do a year. All you WD hitch guys go start a club and stop lecturing, i get it, i’ve used them. I want another option

You'll have to discuss this with a Ford engineer, I didn't design or make the rules for any vehicles, just passing the info along.

Mean time have a look at this, https://www.carscoops.com/2022/12/a...dually-in-half-to-the-tune-of-17000/?hl=en-US

 

[K6CCC]

Its basic physics, if the rear is raised it transfers more weight to the front

I don't know where you came up with that one, but it is wrong. For the most part, ride height and weight distribution have no relationship to each other.

Now if you want to split incredibly tiny hairs, it does - but by such a small amount that it does not matter. As you raise the back end, the body rotates a few degrees around the center. That means that the area around the top center does move ever so slightly forward (a few mm maybe). Shifting a few hundred pounds forward by a few millimeters does not really do much...

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I don't know where you came up with that one, but it is wrong. For the most part, ride height and weight distribution have no relationship to each other.

Now if you want to split incredibly tiny hairs, it does - but by such a small amount that it does not matter. As you raise the back end, the body rotates a few degrees around the center. That means that the area around the top center does move ever so slightly forward (a few mm maybe). Shifting a few hundred pounds forward by a few millimeters does not really do much...

Yeah. I used to be under this mistaken assumption too.

Assuming there’s a 2-inch lift in the rear relative to the front.
The weight shift is about 1.8% to the front. A 1-inch lift would give about 0.6% weight shift.

If we’re talking a 1000 pound maximum tongue weight, that’s about a maximum 18-pound shift to the front if there’s a 2-inch lift.

 

[K6CCC]

I assume you are agreeing with me that a lift has almost no effect. I did not calculate the numbers, but pretty darn small...

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I assume you are agreeing with me that a lift has almost no effect. I did not calculate the numbers, but pretty darn small...

I am agreeing, yes.

 

[ogdobber]

Yeah. I used to be under this mistaken assumption too.

Assuming there’s a 2-inch lift in the rear relative to the front.
The weight shift is about 1.8% to the front. A 1-inch lift would give about 0.6% weight shift.

If we’re talking a 1000 pound maximum tongue weight, that’s about a maximum 18-pound shift to the front if there’s a 2-inch lift.

You math is wrong, besides if you have 1000 tongue weight your rear will be sacked compounding the problem.
Have you towed a lot with your lightning with a heavy load? Its a pos, it needs stiffer springs and then when you are not towing you dont want the stiff springs, that is the beauty of air bags. A WD hitch is not always an option. Yes if I am towing my travel trailer I’m going to have a weight distribution hitch, however if I have to tow a trailer thats not mine, this isnt an option now is it?

 

[roddiaz1]

I set up my weight distribution hitch and my truck sits level when towing.

That’s the key right there. Weight distribution hitches place a moment on the frame that prevents the front-end from lifting. Don’t leave home without it! Of course it helps to have the trailer balanced so you have the correct amount of tongue weight.

 

[Baja Lightning]

This about as much camper as the Lightning can safely handle, I think, maybe, possibly…

 

[Andrewbens]

I’ve pulled my dad’s 8,000 pound boat a few times and I saw no need for airbags. His 2020 F150 max tow on the other hand needed air bags badly.

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