Best Option for Fighting Squat on 2016 Ford F-150 When Using Weight Distribution for Trailer

Question:

We haul a 33 foot RV with our 2016 F150 4x4. The tongue weight loaded is probably around 800-900lbs. Get more squat than I would like even when using our WDH. Not sure what the best option would be to reduce the squat. I have seen tests where the air bags actually end up taking away from the trucks payload, I like the easy install and little maintenance required on the active suspension and the bump stop replacements but not sure what is the best option strictly for hauling our RV. Thanks

asked by: Ramon

Expert Reply:

The first thing that I thought of when reading about your situation is that you may want to make sure that your WD system is rated properly for your setup. We have, unfortunately, found that dealers tend to do a poor job at educating customers and people end up using systems that are too light or too heavy for their towing setup.

Be sure that you add the loaded tongue weight (TW) of your trailer (the 800 lbs - 900 lbs) along with the weight of any cargo that you have sitting in the bed of your 2016 Ford F-150 behind your rear axle. When added this is known as Total Tongue Weight (TTW). You need to make sure that your TTW falls in the middle of the TW range of your WD system. Please note that a properly loaded trailer will have a TW that is 10-15% of the weight of the loaded trailer.

If all of that checks out then adding an air bag kit like the Air Lift LoadLifter # AL57385 or SumoSprings like part # SSR-117-47 will do a great job at helping with that extra squat. These won't take away from your payload capacity but they won't increase it either. They are only designed to help support a current suspension that is in good, working order.

I do recommend installing a compressor kit like the Air Lift WirelessONE # AL25980 if you install the air bags. This allows you to adjust the psi of your air bags without you having to hunt down a compressor and can be activated while you are inside your cab or outside your cab keeping an eye on how much squat you may have.

expert reply by: Jon G