If your Ford F-150 is sagging while hauling a load or towing a trailer, you need to install a set of Ford F-150 helper springs. This short article will help you decide which helper springs are the best choice for you.
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 suspension helper springs. Here’s why:
Even though the leaf spring rear suspension of the Ford F-150 has a towing capacity of 8,200 lbs, it also provides a smooth and comfortable ride. But as strong as you might think it is, the rear suspension on the Ford F-150 has its limitations.
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 tires 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.
Here's the thing: Truck squat happens because most pickup trucks 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 a heavy trailer.
Which helper springs are better for heavy-duty hauling?
There are several suspension upgrades for trucks, but not all are suitable for HD trucks.
- Air suspension
Air bags can help to level the truck which is important when hauling a heavy load. Because air bags are inflated with compressed air, you always run the risk of leaks to the system. Additionally, air suspensions aren’t well-suited to stabilizing top-heavy loads as the air control valves are unable to respond quickly enough to fix roll and sway issues. -
RAS (Road Active Suspension)
The Road Active Suspension system is not appropriate for heavy-duty hauling. The additional capacity is only 3,000 lbs and comes with a short 5-year warranty.
- Timbren SES
Timbren SES suspension upgrades are perfect for heavy-duty loads. In fact, there are SES kits that work well with vocational trucks all the way up to class 7 & 8 categories. Timbren’s ‘Severe Service’ upgrades are recommended for F-150 trucks used to haul top-heavy loads like a truck camper. An easy-to-install Ford F-150 suspension kit from Timbren is clearly the better choice.
Why are Timbren SES upgrades the best choice for your HD truck?
Above, we compared three suspension upgrades for trucks to see which one is best for HD trucks:
- Air suspensions are unable to fully stabilize the top-heavy loads on a Ford F-150.
- RAS (Road Active Suspension) doesn’t have enough capacity to handle heavy-duty loads.
-
Timbren SES is clearly the obvious choice because they combine best price with maximum capacity. Also, their severe service kits are available for top-heavy loads.
If you have rear-end sag when you load up your truck, the helper springs that will work best under any circumstance or weather condition are Timbren’s DIY suspension upgrades.
Every regular and severe service kit comes with the following advantages:
- They level the load
Why do Timbren SES helper springs give you the biggest bang for your buck?
A quick observation (in case you missed it) suggests that Timbren SES part # FR1504E is the easiest to install. It offers the best price, the most capacity (up to 6,000 lbs), 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:
- best ride quality loaded or unloaded
Even if you own an earlier model like Ford F-150 07 and Ford F-150 08, there is a kit that will fit your vehicle. Therefore, we highly recommend Timbren SES suspension upgrades for your Ford F-150 for both new and old models!
Timbren has been designing SES kits for over 50 years. That’s why they can confidently offer a Lifetime Warranty and a 100-Day Money Back Guarantee with every kit.
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
