Adding Air Lift Bags with Pullrite 18K superglide ISR

[navajochief]

I'm currently having a Pullrite 18k superglide hitch with ISR rails installed on my '05 Ford F350 SRW SB 6.0 PSD. The truck has a 4.5" lift with 35" tires. I am planning on purchasing air bags after the hitch is installed. Will installing the airbags to the rear of the truck affect whatever setting the hitch will have? In other words, with adding air bags after the hitch install, will I need to readjust the height or anything else once the air bags are installed or will my set up remain the same?

Thank you.


M

[johnboytoo]

It probably won't affect your clearances very much, if at all...

the 4.5" lift and 35" tires might though...

What will you be towing with it ? 18k seems like a lot for a srw 05 ford and 35's ! Would suggest you look long and hard at the weight ratings of your rear axle and tires, etc...

good luck with the 6.0 - I had two of them that gave me good service until I towed too much, too fast with the 05 Excursion

[campingcpl]

One of my older trucks had a 3" lift and 33" tires and I had issues with getting the trailer level when hooked up. I had to have a lift kit added to the trailer so it would pull level. I agree with John on the clearance issues with your truck and set up.

[woodwalker]

Originally Posted by navajochief

I'm currently having a Pullrite 18k superglide hitch with ISR rails installed on my '05 Ford F350 SRW SB 6.0 PSD. The truck has a 4.5" lift with 35" tires. I am planning on purchasing air bags after the hitch is installed. Will installing the airbags to the rear of the truck affect whatever setting the hitch will have? In other words, with adding air bags after the hitch install, will I need to readjust the height or anything else once the air bags are installed or will my set up remain the same?

Thank you.


M

I have a 6" lift and 35,s on my truck with firestone bags. When hitched the truck will settle about 2 " . Just air the bags to bring it back up. I control my bags from the cab so they are set while under way for the best ride. I have not measured that. Set your hitch and pin box prior to airing the bags.

[navajochief]

The GVWR is 11,400. Front GAWR is 5,200 and rear GAWR 7000. Max payload 4,100. Tires are Dick Cepeck Fun Country 35 x 12.5 18" wheels E rated tires. Each tire rated at 3,750 lbs at 65 lbs. I'm purchasing a 2016 Keystone Fuzion 325 38' dual axle. Dry weight 12,806 and dry hitch weight 3,005. Currently with 3.73's and will be upgrading to 4.30's. Current trailer is '05 Weekend Warrior FS 26 when weighed empty came in at 1,998 lbs at the tongue and close to 7k total trailer wt. knew their wts were off but this was ridiculous.

[dedmiston]

Originally Posted by navajochief

The GVWR is 11,400. Front GAWR is 5,200 and rear GAWR 7000. Max payload 4,100. Tires are Dick Cepeck Fun Country 35 x 12.5 18" wheels E rated tires. Each tire rated at 3,750 lbs at 65 lbs. I'm purchasing a 2016 Keystone Fuzion 325 38' dual axle. Dry weight 12,806 and dry hitch weight 3,005. Currently with 3.73's and will be upgrading to 4.30's. Current trailer is '05 Weekend Warrior FS 26 when weighed empty came in at 1,998 lbs at the tongue and close to 7k total trailer wt. knew their wts were off but this was ridiculous.

What do you tow? I bet some weight in the rear would lighten the tongue.

[navajochief]

I plan to tow the 2016 Keystone Fuzion 325 fifth wheel as stated above. Only time I'll be close to max load (17k) would be to local desert trips. Only drive approx 12 miles to campsite. Other times travel empty. I have no toys other than my jeep tj my wife drives to to desert campsite. The 5th wheel on all other camping trips would be with no water or fuel. Only my wife and I.

[johnboytoo]

Originally Posted by navajochief

The GVWR is 11,400. Front GAWR is 5,200 and rear GAWR 7000. Max payload 4,100. Tires are Dick Cepeck Fun Country 35 x 12.5 18" wheels E rated tires. Each tire rated at 3,750 lbs at 65 lbs. I'm purchasing a 2016 Keystone Fuzion 325 38' dual axle. Dry weight 12,806 and dry hitch weight 3,005. Currently with 3.73's and will be upgrading to 4.30's. Current trailer is '05 Weekend Warrior FS 26 when weighed empty came in at 1,998 lbs at the tongue and close to 7k total trailer wt. knew their wts were off but this was ridiculous.

Looks like you've done your research, but I would run by a cat scale to see how much weight you have on the rear axle as that's where every weight rating is taxed with many 5'ers:

Not sure which trim level, etc you have, but 4253 payload can be quickly exceeded with hitch, rails, pin wgt, etc...

good luck and load it right
one pub shows the gvwr @ 10,600...

Weight Information

Curb Weight 6,347 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 10,600 lbs
Max Payload 4,253 lbs

[navajochief]

The weights for my truck as it relates to max weight ratings I got from my truck's sticker located in the driver's door. I agree. Will go to CAT scale to confirm. I was just looking for some reassurance adding air bags after the fact (hitch install) would not warrant adjustment to the current hitch set up for my 5er. The trim level I have gas the ambulance package along with dual alternators.

[tbaker1959]

Have air bags (Firestone self inflating) running 10lbs empty. Makes our 3500 ride like a half ton. Running 20 lbs with trailer for right now. Probably have to increase as we load the trailer. Nice level ride. We have a Pullrite Superlite 20k hitch on ours.

[navajochief]

hey tbaker1959: Is your truck a dually or SRW

[tbaker1959]

Originally Posted by navajochief

hey tbaker1959: Is your truck a dually or SRW

Single with 6.4 hemi

[navajochief]

How much wt are u towing with your SRW Cummins?

[tbaker1959]

Not a Cummins but a 6.4 hemi. Dry weight of the trailer is 11600lbs. Pulled nice and got around 8 to 10 pulling it home.

[navajochief]

Almost 12k on a hemi? Wow! That's very impressive. Can't wait to see how my 6.0 will handle 12k Saturday. It's bulletproof and have had nn issues towing in the past. Had to learn to take it easy and not push it.

[tbaker1959]

Thats what everybody has told me. Learn its limitations. Was told before taking on a big trip to take several small ones and learn what you need to do on hills and curves. The wife and I are going to take a small one to northern michigan and see how it handles. The weight limits are confusing. Even the Dodge website and the owners manual tell you different weight limits. I am figuring on 14k max.

[navajochief]

Tell me about it. My truck is rated to tow 15K and cargo max wt 4200. I know the pin wt will be close to 3k but that's okay with me as it's just my wife and I and I have no toys to pack in the rear. Plus, we always travel empty when we travel long distances. The only time I'm loaded is with water and gas when we camp locally here in the desert to enjoy our four-wheeling. The air bags I was asking advice on is something I've put off way too long.

[johnboytoo]

It is obvious you aren't confortable with the weight calcs...
don't worry, all of us were at first... some were concerned about it, others weren't

I think while gross combined wgt has it's place, 99% of the time with TT's and 5'ers it's the rear axle weight that is grossly overloaded ...
so don't focus on GVWR, focus on the REAR axle weight rating and your real pin weight!

good luck - $10 and 20 minutes at a cat scale can give you all the info you need. go here --> https://catscale.com/

and post your hooked up steer, drive, and trailer weights...
then unhook and reweigh (for $1 or $2) just your truck's steer and drive axles...

all you need can be calculated from that.

Not putting something IN the toyhauler garage COULD make the pin weight heavier due to the lack of a lever effect...

and air bags may 'hide' that you are overweight, it doesn't increase the carrying capacity any... just levels it out...

[navajochief]

Will do. Plan to weigh it for sure!