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Old 08-05-2018, 10:54 AM   #1
Bnrc73
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Check my hitch numbers.

Starting out I want to state that I am going to the scales shortly, but I thought I would get an opinion first. My rig is a 2010 3400rl. TV is a 2011 F-350 Super Duty 6.7 diesel srw. Rear wheel squats 3 1/2 inches and front tire raises 1/8 inch when hooked up. 5ers pulls great. 10 1/2 mpg with calm winds. Rear squat seems ok to me. I am considering new heavy duty shocks for the rear. (Still factory shocks) I don't think air bags are needed. All opinions will be considered. I want to pull a safe rig down road. Thanks in advance.
 
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Old 08-05-2018, 11:18 AM   #2
JABURKHOLDER
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3 1/2 inches IMHO is a lot of squat. You may be bottoming out on your snubbers, leaving no suspension travel. For best handling and safety, you want the truck to be pretty close to level. You have options once you get your pin weight at the scales.
15 - 25% of the RV weight should be pin weight. The average on this forum seems to be 21 - 22%. If you are at the 25% number, try moving some cargo rearward in the RV. You could also raise your hitch a bit. If this does not level your truck, then Timbrens or air bags may be needed.
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Old 08-05-2018, 12:00 PM   #3
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When Ford built your truck they anticipated you would put a load in the bed. 3.5 inches is not excessive, no problem. Drive it and don’t worry about it. Enjoy your truck and camper.
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Old 08-05-2018, 06:57 PM   #4
JABURKHOLDER
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There you go, 2 post, 2 completely opposite opinions. Good luck.
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Old 08-05-2018, 07:11 PM   #5
mlh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER View Post
There you go, 2 post, 2 completely opposite opinions. Good luck.
Thanks, as gentlemen we can disagree. I have absolutely no problem with that.
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Old 08-06-2018, 12:10 AM   #6
Texan
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I have 3480 pound hitch weight on my Ram DRW. My truck squats 2'' with airbags. I'm not concerned as much about the truck as the rv as you want your rv to run as level as possible so that you have both axles on the rv running as close to the same weight as possible. With 3 1/2'' squat then i would think a lot of your spring on your truck has sprung and you may need air-bags. As you probably already know shocks will not do anything for weight capacity but can take a lot of choppiness out of the rear. Very good ideal to weigh.
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Old 08-06-2018, 05:45 AM   #7
beeje
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The amount of squat really means squat. You need to weigh your rig fully loaded for travel and get all the #s to determine if anything is over loaded.

Your truck and camper should tow as level as possible and be within all of the truck and camper weight limits.
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Old 08-06-2018, 10:55 AM   #8
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I think the big 3 have (obviously) changed trucks suspension over the years. I had a 2004 Silverado that needed air bags. I bought a 2012 with same rig and didn't have much squat. So maybe the 2010 still had weaker suspension than newer rigs?????
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Old 08-06-2018, 11:15 AM   #9
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My ram squats around 2 inches also. no air bags, as there not needed.
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Old 08-06-2018, 11:38 AM   #10
richfaa
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We had a squat of about 2 1/2 inches when hooked up. We just wanted everything to ride level so we added airbags.
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Old 08-07-2018, 08:47 PM   #11
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Weigh the truck alone and then hooked up. You do not want to be taking weight off the front axle. Maybe loading it less than 100lbs. If the front is lighter when loaded, consider moving your hitch head forward, if you have that adjustment available go you.
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Old 08-12-2018, 02:21 PM   #12
Ed and Carole
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Install air bags. 5er and truck should ride level.
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Old 08-12-2018, 03:17 PM   #13
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If the 3-1/2" of squat causes the truck to be lower in the rear than the front, you may have too much pin for the truck, but you won't know it till you weigh. If not too much pin weight, then airbags can get you leveled.
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:36 PM   #14
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3.5" of squat seems a lot. I have Firestone airbags with a self-leveling system on my 2013 F-350 Supercab, long bed, SRW towing a 2012 3150RL. The air bags will level the rig when connected but ride comfort is not optimal. Once on the road after starting out at level, I bleed a little air from the bags to provide ride comfort. Just remember, no matter what you do to modify the TV, the factory specs do not change.
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Old 08-12-2018, 08:15 PM   #15
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That dip should not be a problem. The new trucks have the stern high to begin with. As long as #1 the 5er is near level and #2 truck lights are not too high you are fine. Unlikely the truck is bottoming so be happy. The money not wasted on bags can buy fuel for the next couple trips and you eliminate the PIA of adjusting PSI.
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Old 08-12-2018, 08:36 PM   #16
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I put air bags on my 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500. It leveled and made the ride better. I now pull the same trailer with a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW and I have air bags on it too. It's a softer improved ride and levels the truck so that no headlights are blinking at you at night. Its even a better ride when the truck is empty.
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Old 08-12-2018, 08:42 PM   #17
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CaptnJohn … if you go ahead and get an onboard air compressor with the air bags … you just reach down and press a button to add or remove air. I did the air chuck deal for a while, but went ahead and got a compressor from the same manufacturer as my bags. Best investment other than disk brakes I've made.
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Old 08-13-2018, 07:33 PM   #18
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The distance between the axel and the bumper stops is important. You do not want to bottom out.
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