Recommended Air Bags to Keep a 1995 Ford F-250 Level While Towing

Question:

I have a 95 Ford F250 2WD that I haul a 3000 lb camper with. I am considering installing airbags to help level out the truck when the camper is on it. Your site lists a lot of product options to choose from. Can you make a recommendation about which airbags I should consider? Thanks.

asked by: Darin S

Expert Reply:

The air bags that I recommend for you to use on your 1995 Ford F250 is the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2071. These are double convoluted which makes them more durable than many other brands. They have a weight capacity of 4,800 lbs but keep in mind that this does not increase the weight capacity of your F-250.

I also recommend using the Firestone Air Command I # F2158 which allows you to adjust the air pressure of your air bags from inside your cab. This is also a great option because you don't have to find an air compressor just to fill up your air bags.

With that being said, if you are wanting to use the air bags only because of the trailer then your better option would be to go with a Weight Distribution (WD) system. Air bags are great options for people who do a lot of hauling in their truck bed, but just to level it out when you are pulling your trailer WD is the way to go. A WD system distributes the TW between all of your axles for a level ride.

To find out the best WD system for your application you first need to find your Total Tongue Weight (TTW). This is the Tongue Weight (TW) of your fully loaded and ready-to-go trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your F-250. Once you know your TTW you will then want to pick a WD system with a weight range that your TTW falls in the middle of.

If your camper has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 3,000 lbs then I can make a recommendation for you. Since the TW of your trailer should be between 10-15 percent of the weight of your trailer hits means the max TW range that you should have will be between 300-450 lbs. With this TW plus any cargo behind the rear axle of your F-250 the Reese Strait-Line WD System # RP66083 should have a good weight range for you. The weight range is 400-800 lbs which gives you some room to toss some stuff in the bed of your truck. Keep in mind that you will want to make sure this range is good for your actual setup as I am just speculating your TW.

This system doesn't come with a hitch ball so you can use part # A-90 for a 2 inch hitch ball or part # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch hitch ball.

I have attached some review videos and helpful articles that you can check out as well.