Is the Ford F-150 any different from other pickups?
The Ford F-150 has always been America's best-selling truck because it's no stranger to hard work, living up to the “Built Ford Tough” slogan. More often than not, the F-150 leads the competition with best-in-class towing and payload ratings, putting it ahead of rivals like Ram, Chevrolet, GMC, Toyota, and Nissan.
But just like its competitors, the F-150 has the same independent suspension on the front end and a leaf-spring suspension on the rear:
Front suspension
Like most pickups today, the Ford F150 is designed to ride like a luxury sedan. However, increased ride quality means reduced load-bearing strength. So, when the front-end squats, the weight of the vehicle shifts forward which reduces the amount of traction on the rear tyres. Furthermore, too much weight on the front end can throw the steering out and damage the suspension.
Rear suspension
Over the years, suspensions for pickups have evolved. Even though that may be true, the rear suspension on the Ford F150 continues to favour a leaf spring setup. Believe it or not, with enough added weight, the rear end will squat. When this happens, the weight of the vehicle shifts backward reducing the amount of traction on the front tyres which will impact steering ability. Not only that, too much weight on the rear suspension can cause instability such as roll and sway.
Regardless of its GVWR and robust towing capacity, the Ford F-150 still needs rubber bump stops for its front and rear suspensions.
Does your Ford F-150 need suspension helper springs?
If you’re planning to use your Ford F-150 to haul extra-heavy loads, you’re probably going to need a set of SES suspension helper springs. Here’s why:
Even though the leaf spring rear suspension of the Ford F-150 has a towing capacity of up to 13,500 lb (6,123 kg), it’s built to provide a smooth and comfortable ride. As strong as you might think it is, the rear suspension on the Ford F-150 has its limitations.
Here's the thing: Truck squat happens because most ute and SUVs are built with suspensions that are meant to provide a comfortable, ‘Cadillac’ ride. The leaf springs that help support the rear of the F-150 are flexible, helping to absorb bumps and irregularities in the road but unable to support the weight of a heavy load or trailer.
Believe it or not, the weight of a trailer will make it sag in the rear. When this happens, the weight of the vehicle shifts backward reducing the amount of traction on the front tyres which will impact steering ability.
At the end of the day, too much weight on the rear suspension can cause sag and squat resulting in instability. As you’ve probably guessed, instability is dangerous and will require the driver to slow down to a crawl. You’ve probably seen this happen on other vehicles with big loads and camper trailers in tow. Even if it hasn’t reached anywhere near its towing capacity, the back end of your F-150 may squat dangerously lower than the front end.
Which helper springs are better for heavy-duty hauling?
Below is a quick comparison of the four most popular helper springs:
Add-a-leaf
- Price: $500
- Rated capacity: 1500 lb (680 kg)
- Progressive spring rate: NO
- DIY installation: NO
- Improved ride quality: NO
- Durability: NO
- Lifetime Warranty: NO
- 100-day money back guarantee: NO
Airbags
- Price: $2500
- Rated capacity: 5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
- Progressive spring rate: NO
- DIY installation: NO
- Improved ride quality: YES
- Durability: NO
- Lifetime Warranty: NO
- 100-day money back guarantee: NO
Foam
- Price: $299
- Rated capacity: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
- Progressive spring rate: NO
- DIY installation: YES
- Improved ride quality: YES
- Durability: NO
- Lifetime Warranty: YES
- 100-day money back guarantee: NO
Timbren SES
- Price: $297
- Rated capacity: 6,000
- Progressive spring rate: YES
- DIY installation: YES
- Improved ride quality: YES
- Durability: YES
- Lifetime Warranty: YES
- 100-day money back guarantee: YES
Can you see which product makes the best Ford F-150 helper springs?
Why are Timbren SES upgrades the best Ford F-150 helper springs?
A quick observation suggests that DIY Timbren SES helper springs are the easiest to install. It offers the best price, the most capacity (up to 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)), and maximum stability by eliminating roll and sway. And if you were to take a closer look, you’d notice that Timbren SES wins big points for:
We highly recommend Timbren SES suspension upgrades for the 2024 Ford F-150!
Think about it: Timbren SES products have been around for over 50 years and are still the best and smartest choice hands down!
Part # FR1504E is perfect for towing and hauling with your 2024 Ford F-150.
“Whether we’re towing with our GMC Sierra or our Toyota 4Runner, Timbren SES kits have been a game changer by reducing sag in the rear plus helping the tow rig gain maximum control. Over a year with SES and we would never go back.” @ClicOutdoor
For more information about Timbren SES products, please visit Timbren.com
