To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
2,000-lb Capacity. Convert your Ford E-Series Cutaway's leaf springs into a mechanically active suspension system. RAS adjusts to your load to level your ride. The system also increases stability, handling, and control by improving traction and reducing sway.
Features:
Specs:
All-In-One Suspension System
When towing or hauling a heavy load, you may encounter a number of problems that can make your driving experience difficult or dangerous, such as sway, body roll, or bottoming out. When your vehicle is weighted down, your factory leaf springs can't counteract these problems to the extent that they are supposed to. The weight will overpower the leaf springs and cause them to twist or flatten out. When that happens, they cannot support, level, or stabilize your vehicle effectively. Additionally, because your factory leaf springs are passive, they won't begin to tackle problems such as sway until those problems have already started.
RoadActive Suspension (RAS) kits enhance those passive leaf springs by converting them into a mechanically active, all-in-one suspension system. RAS kits have variable-rated coil tension springs that automatically adjust to your heavy load. Other suspension systems only solve a few problems and usually at the expense of other improvements your factory leaf springs may need. RAS, on the other hand, is a unique kit that provides everything you want in a suspension system without any trade-offs. It eliminates bottoming out like air springs, reduces sway and body roll like sway bars, keeps your ride level like helper springs, and improves traction and braking control like traction bars. This improves your vehicle's stability, handling, and control while you are towing or hauling, as well as when your vehicle is unloaded. RAS also makes your overall driving and towing experience safer and more comfortable, which greatly lessens driver fatigue.
Each RAS unit has a powerful variable-rated coil tension spring that converts your passive leaf spring into a mechanically-active system. Once your vehicle is loaded, the tension springs immediately activate to absorb and support the weight. This allows your leaf springs to maintain their bowed position and keeps them from flattening out or flipping over, which greatly hinders their ability to bear a heavy load. The tension springs are variable-rated, which means that the heavier your load is, the more assistance they provide to your leaf springs. Because of this design, RAS reacts instantaneously, whereas hydraulics, air springs, and other suspension systems take time to react. And unlike your factory leaf springs, RAS stops sway and sag before they even start to happen. Additionally, when your vehicle is unloaded, the tension springs disengage, allowing your leaf springs to perform as intended without hardening your ride. RAS won't hinder your leaf springs' movement, nor will it cause any friction between any of the brackets.
When under a heavy load, leaf springs are especially susceptible to axle wrap, which can cause wheel hop. Wheel hop is when the tires lose their grip on the road, causing a jarring, up-and-down movement. Axle wrap occurs when the circular motion of the tires cause the leaf springs to twist or rotate. If the leaf springs twist far enough, wheel hop can occur. RAS stabilizes your leaf springs by absorbing the force of the load they're trying to support. This eliminates axle wrap and wheel hop, as well as prevents your vehicle from bottoming out. Because of this, less strain is put on your vehicle. And by reducing some of this wear and tear, RAS helps extend the life of your leaf springs, shock absorbers, shackles, and even tires.
When driving along a curve while towing or hauling a heavy load, the back end of your vehicle or trailer can start to shift with that weight. If your factory leaf springs have flattened or twisted under this load, they won't be able to prevent it from shifting. Because of this, your trailer will sway away from your vehicle. This makes driving challenging and dangerous, as it increases the risk of body roll, which is when your vehicle drastically leans to one side. This can often cause you to completely lose control of your vehicle. Body roll is especially prevalent with multi-passenger vans and vehicles towing long campers, trailers, or boats. RAS provides a much safer ride by reinforcing your factory leaf springs and stabilizing your load. This helps prevent sway from occurring and reduces the chance of body roll while cornering, turning, and swerving. RAS also lessens the rocking motion that happens during windy conditions or when a semi passes by on the road.
When your vehicle is overloaded, the bulk of the weight transfers to the rear axle. Your factory leaf springs then become overwhelmed by this weight, as they are not strong enough to support it. This causes the back end of your vehicle to sag and the front end to rise, which means that the front tires have lost some of the grip they need with the road. In addition to loss of traction, it can also cause poor headlight aim, unintentional swerving, and an extremely bumpy and uncomfortable ride. RAS bolsters your factory leaf springs and enables them to provide support for your load without compromising ride quality or comfort. This keeps your ride level from front to back whether you are hauling a load in the bed or towing a boat, trailer, or camper. RAS also ensures that your tires have the traction they require while braking and accelerating, which improves the overall driving experience.
RAS is also customizable to your vehicle. During installation, the tension setting of the coil tension springs should be increased to exactly 40 percent for improved road handling and support. To do this, rotate the springs while keeping the threaded rod still. As you turn the spring, use a 2mm quarter as a gauge to measure the widening gaps between the coils.
This custom-fit kit comes fully assembled and is easy to install. Each RAS unit simply bolts onto your factory leaf spring with the included hardware, and drilling, welding, and cutting aren't required. First, the axle bracket secures on top of the leaf spring and under the factory U-bolt plate. Then, position the eye hook bracket so that it wraps around the top of the factory leaf spring eye. Once the maintenance-free RAS units are fully installed, you won't need to monitor them as you would with air springs.
RAS is extremely durable and corrosion-resistant. The units are constructed of high-grade alloy steel, and they have an epoxy e-coat on the coil springs to provide extreme corrosion resistance. The brackets on the ends of each unit resist the effects of water and other elements, and they have a salt spray rating of more than 800 hours.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everybody. Andy here with etrailer.com. Let's take a look together at this Road Active Suspension Custom Leaf Spring Enhancement Kit. Now this kit is designed to fit your 2015 and newer Ford E-350 E-Series Cutaway and your 2008 to 2014 Ford Van E-150, 250, and 350. On custom fit parts such as this kit, I do recommend taking advantage of our vehicle fit guide. Just insert the year, make and model of your vehicle and our fit guide will confirm if this will work for you or if we have something comparable that will work for you.
So as you know, wind towing or hauling a heavy load, you may encounter a number of problems that can make your driving experience difficult or dangerous, such as sway, body roll, or bottoming out. When your vehicle is weighted down, your factory leaf springs can't counteract these problems to the extent that they are supposed to. The weight will overpower the leaf springs and cause 'em to twist or flatten out. And when that happens, they can't support, level, or stabilize your vehicle effectively. Additionally, because your factory leaf springs are passive, they won't begin to tackle problems such as sway until those problems are already started.
Now this kit is going to convert your vehicle's factory leaf springs into a mechanically active suspension system. It will actively strengthen the leaf springs for improved ride quality with or without a load. And this all in one suspension system will improve stability, handling and control. It will eliminate axle wrap, wheel hop, bottoming out. It will reduce dangerous sway and body roll when you're cornering.
And this will keep your ride level when you're towing or hauling a heavy load, improving your traction while braking and accelerating. This does use the variable rated coil tension springs, which automatically adjust to your vehicle's load. They activate immediately to support the extra weight and they'll disengage when unloaded allowing your leaf springs to perform as originally intended. They can be adjusted during installation to accommodate your towing or hauling needs, and they are independently adjustable for side to side leveling of any off center loads. These are gonna help extend the life of your leaf springs, your shock absorbers, shackles, and even your tires.
And these are made here in the USA and are constructed of a durable epoxy e-coated steel. The corrosion resistant brackets on the ends here of each of these units have a salt spray rating of more than 800 hours. And this is going to be an easy bolt on insulation. There's no drilling, cutting, or welding required. This is going to secure on top of the leaf spring and under the U-bolt plate and they arrive just as you see them here, fully assembled. And these are gonna be maintenance free. Adjustments and monitoring aren't needed once they're installed. Instructions are gonna be included to guide you through the installation process. Now these do have a weight capacity of 2000 pounds, however, I do want to make sure that you're aware of the fact that this kit does not actually increase your vehicle's weight carrying capacity. So just so you're aware of that. Well, I think that's gonna wrap up our brief look today. I do hope that it was helpful for you. Again, my name is Andy. Thank you for joining me.
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