Air Bag Suspension for 2018

[TomL]

I am planning to use my 2018 Limited Max to tow and I decided I could use some support to level the load. I want to use Air Bags to help. It is between the Air Ride or the Firestone and I am leaning to the Firestone.

Has anyone installed Air Bag support on their late model Expy? Any thoughts about Air Ride or Firestone? Does the Ford 150 kit fit?


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[8131full]

pretty sure f150 is solid rear axle, so no cross over on parts for that. last i checked, there was no air bags available as of yet for the Expy.

FYI, WDH is a better (safer) route to go depending on what you're towing.

 

[TomL]

pretty sure f150 is solid rear axle, so no cross over on parts for that. last i checked, there was no air bags available as of yet for the Expy.

FYI, WDH is a better (safer) route to go depending on what you're towing.

Thanks. I plan to use both a WDH (ProPride) and air bags (If I can find some)


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[byz250f]

I would be curious on this as well.

 

[dlcorbett]

Your best bet is to find a set for the 2014+ expy.

 

[TomL]

As it turns out, my Expy is equipped with auto-leveling air suspension that is supposed to level the load. I will have to wait and see if if it can support the max load with no sag. Thanks for your interest and support.


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[MostlyHarmless]

As it turns out, my Expy is equipped with auto-leveling air suspension that is supposed to level the load. I will have to wait and see if if it can support the max load with no sag. Thanks for your interest and support.


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Tom

I am not aware that any 2018 Expeditions can be had with self-leveling suspension. I believe this was not an option for 2018 - only the CCD is an option which can firm up the dampers but does not do true load leveling like the "old" systems or airbags would do

 

[TomL]

Tom

I am not aware that any 2018 Expeditions can be had with self-leveling suspension. I believe this was not an option for 2018 - only the CCD is an option which can firm up the dampers but does not do true load leveling like the "old" systems or airbags would do

Yup, you are correct. So much mis-information on this topic. I got my info from a local shop and didn’t check it out. Dumb.

So...what can I do to level the rig when under a heavy load.


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[montecarlo31]

Yup, you are correct. So much mis-information on this topic. I got my info from a local shop and didn’t check it out. Dumb.

So...what can I do to level the rig when under a heavy load.


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Best advise? Buy a truck designed to tow. Next best, find someone to roll you stiffer rear springs. You'll need to find the current spring rate (available to upfitters and fleet buyers) and have someone make you something a bit stiffer.

 

[Edistobob]

Yup, you are correct. So much mis-information on this topic. I got my info from a local shop and didn’t check it out. Dumb.

So...what can I do to level the rig when under a heavy load.


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How heavy of a load are you having to deal with? The tongue weight of our travel trailer is about 820-840 pounds and it is almost perfectly level after tweaking the weight distribution hitch. I had very little difficulty making the adjustments to keep it level. There is typically about 1/4" difference between front and back, as measured at the wheel wells. Ours is equipped with 4WD and the HD tow package.

 

[TomL]

How heavy of a load are you having to deal with? The tongue weight of our travel trailer is about 820-840 pounds and it is almost perfectly level after tweaking the weight distribution hitch. I had very little difficulty making the adjustments to keep it level. There is typically about 1/4" difference between front and back, as measured at the wheel wells.

See...that’s the thing. I may be assuming more squat than will really happen. I expect to be right at 900 lbs on the tongue with sufficient remaining payload to cover passengers. I also will be using a very effective hitch. Perhaps the Ford boys designed it to remain level at capacity? We shall see. Not really seeing too many options except for stiffer springs that will compromise normal ride.

As for poster above. Yes... a 3/4 ton truck would tow it better. A truck does not suit our lifestyle right now. As for current SUV’s, it doesn’t get any better than the Expedition. I wish they still had the Excursion but I got the best new model I could find. It will have to do. With 1600 lbs of payload, it will get me by until I can justify the investment in a dedicated towing platform.


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[Edistobob]

See...that’s the thing. I may be assuming more squat than will really happen. I expect to be right at 900 lbs on the tongue with sufficient remaining payload to cover passengers. . .

Yes, hopefully you are assuming more squat than will really happen. Your tongue weight is less than 10% difference from mine and as noted, we have not had any issues getting it level whatsoever. Actually I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of squat when I had it on the CAT scales without the WD hooked up. It was not nearly as much as I would have thought.

Good luck and be sure to post again when you've tried it. I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Dr0idattack]

You could also try spring inserts, like SumoSprings. I have those in my 2013 rear springs. As mentioned, making sure the tongue weight and WDH are set correctly will help. Then you might want to get different tires, like E load light truck tires.

 

[shane_th_ee]

What Edistobob said. We’re at 930lbs tongue weight and an inexpensive Ea-z-lift WDH and just used the WDH to get rid of any squat.

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, anyone towing with a 900+ tongue weight and NO WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH needs to get their head examined ! The whole point of a WDH is to spread the load so that the rear does not sag.

Second, keep up with the technology ! From Wikipedia

For the 2014 model year, a Nivomat adaptive hydraulic suspension system with self leveling, payload leveling and trailer load leveling replaced the pneumatic system.
​

The biggest issue with Expeditions and towing is exceeding the cargo capacity of the Expi itself.

 

[CaptOchs]

Totally agree with theoldwizard1. If you look the weight capacity of the hitch differs for WD use or not. Usually it's 5000/500 without or 10,000/1,000 with.

I tow 7000# Keystone camper. The tongue weight is right around 850 lbs.

 

[TomL]

First, anyone towing with a 900+ tongue weight and NO WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH needs to get their head examined ! The whole point of a WDH is to spread the load so that the rear does not sag.

Second, keep up with the technology ! From Wikipedia

For the 2014 model year, a Nivomat adaptive hydraulic suspension system with self leveling, payload leveling and trailer load leveling replaced the pneumatic system.
​

The biggest issue with Expeditions and towing is exceeding the cargo capacity of the Expi itself.

First. Stop yelling at me. I don’t believe anyone especially me is advocating towing without a WDH. I plan to use the most capable hitch possible in the ProPride hitch. I also clearly state I will not be exceeding Expy load limits.

Second. As for keeping up w technology, I am an Executive at a very well known Tech company. I don’t need a lecture about keeping up. The Nivomats were not used in the 2018 models and as far as I know, are not fitted for the 18.

However, if you can prove me wrong, I am more than happy to stand corrected as that was the purpose of my post.


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[TobyU]

First. Stop yelling at me. I don’t believe anyone especially me is advocating towing without a WDH. I plan to use the most capable hitch possible in the ProPride hitch. I also clearly state I will not be exceeding Expy load limits.

Second. As for keeping up w technology, I am an Executive at a very well known Tech company. I don’t need a lecture about keeping up. The Nivomats were not used in the 2018 models and as far as I know, are not fitted for the 18.

However, if you can prove me wrong, I am more than happy to stand corrected as that was the purpose of my post.


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He wasn't yelling at you; just emphasizing 4 words and an abbreviation for previously used words.

THIS IS CONSIDERED YELLING. EVEN THOUGH SOME DO IT WHEN THEY ARE POSTING ABOUT UNIMPORTANT, MUNDANE EVERYDAY CONVERSATION!

Hard to read. Almost hurts the eyes and hard a heck to do punctuation. I guess they use caps lock or its' stuck on.
I have an aunt that does it on facebook...don't know why.
Ahh, I think it might be easier for some people with vision issues to read better. They just don't realize it's harder for most everyone else.

But he wasn't yelling. Maybe being a little critical, but we should be able handle that. Good skill to have for anyone that spends much time online esp in forums and facebook.

Me: I'm just the king of segue, maybe off topic too. Don't they go hand in hand?

What were we talking about anyway? Yelling? No. Trailers? No.... Helper springs and air bags.

DING DING DING!!! (oh sorry, I'm shouting. But I was even as i typed it)
I remembered . Winner winner...chicken dinner. Yum
Had chicken ealier. KFC AYCE Buffet. Weekly adventure for my belly.

10%. That's typical for tongue weight I think. Much over that you need a "special" hitch.

I never knew them as that fancy WDH stuff. I just called em "special" like mama always call me.

If I can't lift it and move it around a little. I don't want to tow it anyway.
I towed with a riding mower Huskee and a Polaris 600 4 wheeler before, moving stuff around.

I'm gonna go eat my candy. CandyGram for Mongo! Maybe yell some more.