Recommended Rear Axle Suspension Kit for 2020 Ford F-150 4WD Short Bed

Question:

Looking for rear axle support kit for my 2020 F-150 6.5 box 4WD.

asked by: William H

Expert Reply:

The best choice of rear axle suspension kit for your 2020 F-150 will depend on the type of towing or hauling you're doing.

If you are routinely hauling cargo loads of widely varying weight then an adjustable air bag setup will give you the ability to match the bag air pressure to suit each different load. If you are towing a 5th wheel then you can get good results from a lower-cost jounce spring kit from Timbren that will be a simpler bolt-on install.

If an air bag system is what will match your needs then I suggest the Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Air Helper Springs # AL88268. This kit offers 5000-lbs of support capacity and it is compatible with an in-bed 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch. These air springs install without drilling. You can see this USA-made kit detailed in the linked video. I recommend using air line cutting tool like # AL10530 for the installation. This will make clean cuts in the air lines to help avoid pressure leaks.

You can get the most out of Air Lift kit by adding an on-board compressor that will allow you to control air bag pressure from the comfort of the cab. Air Lift QuickShot Compressor System # AL25690 includes a compressor and a reserve tank so you always have plenty of air pressure for on-the-fly adjustments and for filling tires.

If you are mostly towing a trailer of fairly constant weight and you prefer a rubber jounce spring kit that will be less costly and easier to install than air bags then I recommend Timbren kit # TFR1504E. This jounce spring kits bolts on, no drilling needed, and it provides 6000-lbs of progressive load support. The spring stiffen as they compress so as your load on them increases so too does their resistance. Review and installation videos for this kit are linked for you.

Timbren spring are easy to install and they require no maintenance. The simply replace the stock jounce bumpers with heavier-duty rubber springs and once bolt on you're all set.