Loaded truck pics.

One fill-up

 

We're both right

For **** sakes, it cost me 70 bucks to fill up my 2 door hatchback the other week. Prices have dipped a little since then.

 

So what are you guys saying? It is an F150...2008. Ive been told to get air bags or an extra leaf spring. What would you suggest? Im the K.I.S.S type here...and CHEAP

 

I bagged my Tundra and would recommend it. Obviously that doesn't mean you can simply start putting 2000#'s plus back there. I'm positive there are many many F one fiddy's out there with air bags.

 

You can do either one. I had airbags for several years. Then I discovered a few cracked leaves, possibly from before I got it, so I upgraded the springs. Maybe I went overboard, but it works great. It rides a little rough empty, but it drives real nice with 6k on it and sits level too. I ordered 43-701 or 43-701HD from sdtrucksprings.com. I will have to check to see which one. I know it carries more now than it did with airbags.

 

I personally like the leaf spring as its on there when needed with nothing to break. Is it an expensive upgrade?

 

No. I swapped to a full float axle, new springs, new hardware/bushings, brakes for about $600. The springs were about half the cost. I like not having to worry about the bags anymore. I bought the autoleveler valve, air tank, compressor, etc... to make the bags automatic, but after the axle swap and spring upgrade, they were not needed.

 

I was just pointing out that heavier springs, although improve driving, handling ect when loaded, the axle supporting that load or potentially more because it doesn't squat as much so more might be loaded, is still a 1/2 ton axle. It's a non full floating axle where the axle shaft itself supports the load vs a full floating axle, generally used on 3/4 on up, that has hubs with spindles supporting the load. In this set up the axle just floats and only has twisting forces applied to it. You also won't have a wheel exit if you break an axle in the full floating axle.

All that is to say be careful not to overload it after increasing spring capacity. Lol

 

Yes. You got what I meant. Bags or heavier springs doesn't make the 1/2 ton a 3/4 or 1 ton. Lol

 

Thanks for the input. Ill leave it stock

 

Definitely.

 

To be clear, I'm not trying to talk you out of it. Your truck would be safer and handle better with the bags or spring when loaded if you carry the same weight you do now. Like said above, you can't start tossing 2000 pounds in it after.

 

I usually toss more!

So if i add a spring to the back will it mess up the axle or put it more at risk?
Does it make the bed higher?

 

The spring back will probably make the rear set higher. That's where bags are nice. Stock height and ride quality unloaded. Pressure up as needed for carrying a load more safely.

You can definitely over stress the axle from repeatedly overloading it. Even without the added spring or bag support. I'm sure there are percentages built in above the listed capacity of the truck to ensure it will safely haul what they state over its service life, but loading it so it's setting on the bump stops regularly can take a toll. If you snap a C clip semi floating axle shaft your wheel, drum and the broken axle exit the axle housing. Maybe these later model Ford trucks don't use C clip axles anymore but I can't say. Pretty confident Dodge and Chevy still do with their 9.25 and 10 bolt rears. I've been out of that scene for a few years now.

 

Air bags or springs will work. Neither will hurt your truck. It's the weight we put in the truck bed that hurts bearings and bushings.

I use airbags on my current truck because I got them as old new stock for less than replacement leaf springs. Air bags can be adjusted to keep truck level at a range of loads. The require one to have an air compressor or compressed air of some type to air up and down.

My last truck I used leaf springs on. I used bolt on helper springs for 10 years before the main leaf bent and would not spring back up. I replaced the old rear leaf springs with HD springs from an online vendor. Went from 2 leaf to 4 leaf plus overload. Rear sat high and truck road rougher unloaded. Truck squat was minimal with full bed load. Replacement leaf springs use factory mounting points and don't require any adjustments to use as weight changes. Typically new leaf springs are cheaper than air bags and close to the cost of just adding a leaf or helper springs. Extra cost comes from replacing worn out leaf shackles and bushings one you cut the old rusted ones off. The worn pieces needed replaced anyway.

I went with new bolts, shackles and bushings when I put new leaf spring packs in old truck, including axle u bolts. I had 2 bushings completely gone and one shackle bolt friction welded to bushing liner and another bolt half way worn through. New HD leaf pack lasted 10 years and out lasted the truck. Engine and transmission was getting weaker at 250,000+ miles and the wiring harness failed. Trucks utility wasn't worth the price to repair everything.

I think I used SDtrucksprings.com for new HD leaf springs. Rockauto.com for replacement hardware

 

I put hellwig helpers on my truck. Really helps with the squat when it has a load. Cheap to buy and easy to install.

 

Here is a pic (not mine) of a half ton axle overloaded with firewood...one too many times. Oh, and he had changed to F250 springs previously...that'll fix it

 

Outgoing 1/4 cord of mixed hardwood.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

 

Not exactly a loaded truck . But it’s kinda close .Got three fairly decent loads . Mostly cherry with some shingle oak ,and shag bark hickory .
This the grapple really helps with the heavy lifting ,and gathering up the trimmed of limbs .

 

Wheel fell off. Did he forget to tighten nuts? Axle appears located right.