Hitched-up "squat" - Montana Owners Club

DCP · 07-09-2005, 04:50 PM

I have a 2005 Super Duty 4X4 single wheel, and when hitched up with my 2980, it "squats" about 3". Is this about normal or too much? I am a newbe with a 5th wheel!

Montana Sky · 07-09-2005, 07:12 PM

Dave,
My truck squats approx. 2 inches when hooked and ready to go. You might want to look into getting airbags installed if you do not feel comfortable with the amount of "squat" you have. The main thing I would be worried about is does your steering feel really light while hooked up to the coach.

ols1932 · 07-10-2005, 02:27 AM

My truck squatted also. I bought the Firestone airbags (they're usually advertised in Trailer Life) and now there is no squat. I put in 50 psi in each one and that does the trick. I'm very glad I had them installed (at Camping World). Empty ride doesn't seem to be to harsh.

Charlie · 07-10-2005, 03:42 AM

Dave-
I am hitched to a 3295RK which has one of the heaviest pin weights in the Montana's. My truck also squatted about 3" and was down on the truck overload springs which I did not like. I also intstalled the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags and now I have very little if any squat when hooked up. I do not have an on board compressor and gauges like some of the folks and I inflate mine to about 25# before hooking up. Remember that if you install the bags that when you drop the Monty on the hitch the air in the bags will compress. Mine increase to 45# or so which is close to what Orv says he runs his at. Max pressure the bags are rated for is 100#, sure did help the ride when pulling the Monty, solo drop the pressure to about 5# and there is no difference than before you install the bags in the truck ride and handling.

Fordzilla · 07-10-2005, 07:16 AM

Another thing you may want to look at is how you have the trailer loaded. Do you have too much loaded up in the front closet? May need to transfer some things to the back of the coach to help move some of the pin weight to the trailers wheels. The 2980 has about the same pin weight listed as the 3400 listed above and mine. When I first hooked up the trailer it squated about an inch. Now that I have it loaded for weekend camping, it squats about 2'2 and a half inches.

Bill Hill · 07-10-2005, 09:03 AM

Our 2980 also made our 2500HD squat in the rear. I used the Timbren SES (solid rubber "bumpers") to keep it from squatting. Ride is a little harsher than the air bags, but there are no moving parts to mess with. Part of the reason for the harsher ride on our set up is that I went with the set for the 3500 which are a little longer and stiffer. The Timbrens are about $150-$200 per set.

bob n pam · 07-10-2005, 01:32 PM

It is my understanding that the rig (TV and 5ver) should be level. Any squatting impacts steering and safety. I may have been misinformed, but that's the criteria we follow. Had Timbrens on our Dodge - hated them - truck rode like a rock, and haven't pulled with the new F350 DRW yet, so don't know what we'll need, if anything.

Bill Hill · 07-11-2005, 04:00 AM

Bob,
you're absolutely right about towing level. I wouldn't think you'd need any help if you're pulling with a DRW.

sreigle · 07-12-2005, 03:32 PM

DCP, my truck is very similar to yours but a Lariat rather than King Ranch. Our 3295RK has a scaled pinweight of 3300. It causes the truck to squat just over an inch. I added the Firestone airbags and have been very happy with them. I got the inthecab gauge and switch with compressor under the hood so I can adjust the bags by simply pushing the switch. That helps when on those rough concrete roads that cause the herky jerky motions, also.

Believe it or not, the Montana specs say your 2980RL has the same 2300 lbs pinweight as our 3295RK. (Ours actually scales out at 3300 though). And the only Montana with heavier pinweight, according to the specs, is the 3685FL front living room model at 2340. So, your 2980 has one of the heaviest pinweights of any Montana.

If you and I had got the Camper Package (intended for those slidein campers) we'd not have the squat. But I didn't. That package adds the extra overload leaf to the rear springs. Our 2003 F350 had that extra leaf. The 2003 sat high in the rear when not hitched and level (without help) when hitched. Same FW.

stiles watson · 07-12-2005, 04:25 PM

I don't have the airbags. I haven't measured the squat. All I know is there is no difficulty towing the rig. I have never "bottomed out" on bumps. It may be related to the fact that my TV is a long box.

DCP · 07-15-2005, 03:00 AM

Steve, do you have the part number for the Firestone airbags? I talked with the factory this week and they told me 2005 Ford Superduty airbags for 4x4 is not available for another two weeks. Their part number then will be #2004. I've seen multiple numbers from various distributors and was confused as to what the number really should be.

sreigle · 07-15-2005, 06:09 PM

Dave, ours were installed on 1/28/05 by Dorsey Trailer Repair, Inc, in Savannah, GA. Looking at their invoice, they show a part number of 043900 for the 'Ride Rite Susp' and 044055 for the 'control kit'. I don't know if that's a Firestone part number or their own.

I just searched to see if they are available. At this link, the third item is for the 2005 F250 4x4. Their part number is 2071. I'm not sure what that dealer was looking at.

http://www.truckspring.com/airspring.../ford_f250.asp

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