Are Rear Axle Air Bags Needed with Weight Distribution System Installed on 2011 Ford F-150

Updated 04/07/2016 | Published 04/04/2016

Question:

Hi there, I have a 11 F150 2wd, and am towing a 6200lb dry rv trailer with 610 assuming dry tongue weight. Already have a WDH set up but looking to add airlift. My question is, would the Ride control series be sufficient, or would I need the loadlifter series. Towing is very occasionally. Thank you

asked by: Bryan

Expert Reply:

As long as your trailer's total loaded weight is within the truck's towing capacity, and your weight distribution (WD) system is properly rated for your actual total tongue weight (TW), and correctly installed, you should not need to add rear-axle air bags for towing your camper trailer without side-effects like rear-end sag.

The key to selecting a WD system is knowing the actual fully-loaded TW, with filled water and propane tanks and all gear and supplies loaded. (Dry hitch weight alone is not enough.) To this measured weight you'll add anything in the truck bed that sits behind the rear axle, such as a loaded cooler or generator. With this total TW figure known you can select a WD system that provides the desired shift of weight to the front axle without being so stiff that the trailer's handling suffers. Ideally your total TW will fall in the middle of the system's operating range. For example, for an actual total TW of 800-850-lbs, systems like # PS49583 and # RP66084 would be good options.

We offer a handy TW scale # e99044 but other methods for measuring TW are noted in the linked article.

I suggest you confirm your total TW and verify that the WD system you're using is rated appropriately and set-up correctly.

expert reply by: Adam R