Bilsteins, Roadmaster, or both?

[dog_and_cat]

I have a 2021 F-150 that tows our 27" GT FB. There is noticeable porpoising on a variety of road surfaces that I'm looking to reduce/eliminate. Any thoughts on the relative benefits of upgrading the factory shocks to Bilsteins vs. installing the RAS?

I'll add that we use a ProPride P3 hitch and tow with the TV/TT both level (no TV squat) with the WD properly dialed-in and verified via a 3-pass run through the CAT scales. Payload and axle weights are all well within rated capacities.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

[Fungus]

You must not carry much cargo in the truck bed.

Full fuel, two smallish humans, and 1000# tongue weight put me near the payload capacity of my 2020 F-150 with max tow. 1610# payload. ProPride 3P. Roadmaster active suspension. 2017 International 25FB. Multiple CAT scale runs too.

[wulfraat]

Bilsteins alone will not solve your issue with that much weight in play.

Look to RAS or supplemental air springs to increase spring rate in the rear (I use AirLift + bilstein 5100s on my 2500)

[dog_and_cat]

Originally Posted by Fungus

You must not carry much cargo in the truck bed.

Full fuel, two smallish humans, and 1000# tongue weight put me near the payload capacity of my 2020 F-150 with max tow. 1610# payload. ProPride 3P. Roadmaster active suspension. 2017 International 25FB. Multiple CAT scale runs too.

The payload of our "21 Lariat (also max tow) is 1812# and we manage to keep the loaded/hitched weight a couple of hundred pounds below that.

Our GT's tongue weight is typically 880# (full fresh tank & propane). We went with lithium batteries and that lightened the load a bit.

How do you like the RAS?

[dog_and_cat]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

Bilsteins alone will not solve your issue with that much weight in play.

Look to RAS or supplemental air springs to increase spring rate in the rear (I use AirLift + bilstein 5100s on my 2500)

Thanks - I'll check out AirLift. Did you keep the factory shocks in the front or did you upgrade those as well?

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat;

Thanks - I'll check out AirLift. Did you keep the factory shocks in the front or did you upgrade those as well?

I upgraded to bilstein. They helped smooth out the ride some - stock ranchos on the gmc trucks are pretty cheap and mine were shot after 45k miles

[daleyocum]

I have a similar setup to yours with a 2019 F150 XLT Supercrew, 2018 FC25 and little tolerance for porpoising. Mine has 1850 payload but in the end we have around 1,100 lbs of tongue weight so there’s not room for much error. We have the BlueOx WD hitch.

The first thing I did was upgrade to Bilstein. That helped quite dramatically. Didn’t solve it but it sure helped. Do that first. It could be with the ProPride that’s enough. The stock shocks are designed to give a soft ride unloaded during a test drive, not for towing near max payload.

Second I installed the Roadmaster and that got it down to the place where we don’t notice porpoising. In my last truck, a 2016 F150 XLT Supercrew, I had installed Airlift and that did the job as well. That’s a more expensive and complex system but I did like being able to adjust the stiffness from the cab (get the remote+pump if you do it.) It’s a hard choice between the two.

People will say, “just get a F250” and they are probably right were it not for my need for this truck to also be a daily driver when not towing. Driving the much larger F250 around the city would not be fun.

By the way, if you do go with air suspension assist don’t make my mistake and get the Firestone. While the bags are fine, the remote was complete garbage from a UX and range standpoint. The remote had to be very carefully positioned in the cab for it to even hear it. I ended up ripping out the electronics and putting in Airlift, with the Firestone bags/compressor. Just start with Airlift.

[dsatwork]

I towed a 27 FB with a Silverado stock height 2WD max tow package and 2150 payload and Bilstiens 4600 no need for 5100 unless you have a lift, they are the same shocks otherwise. I also added the Airlift 5000 with joust bumper and a the remote air compressor. That allowed me the ability to either add air on smooth roads to loosen the suspension or release air to tighten the suspension. We were using them with the Equalizer hitch. We ultimately upgraded to the RAM 2500 4x4 Big Horn with but it was because I wanted 4x4. As many others have experiences we actually lost some payload capacity with 1950 lbs payload. Ultimately I liked the bilstiens so much I added them to the RAM as well because the Big Horn only uses stock shocks and the Airlift 5000 with the remote air compressor gives the same advantage I did with the Silverado. Now we have a 30 RB and the weight balance of the 30RB required some more tweaking of the system. Nice to have options. Although I go completely by manual observation and have never been on a CAT scale.

[Spaggs]

I’ll answer your question first with a simple yes, yes and yes.
I have a 2000 Ford Excursion with Bilstein 4600 shocks, Roadmaster Acitive Suspension (RAS) and Airlift Airbags.
The shocks are for ride quality, meaning they are designed to dampen the harsh ride of a truck.
The RAS is for added spring strength. You could go with stronger springs, but I decided to go with the RAS because I could adjust my unweighted ride height.
For ride height weighted, I selected the air bags to level the rear end.
I would not rely on any of these to artificially increase your caring capacity. One reason is because if you get in an accident, no matter what you have done to help your vehicle support more weight, if you are over the max capacity, you will loose the court battle.
My reasoning to do all three was to make my rig and trailer as stable a platform as possible so it makes the towing experience easier in my brain.

[ROBERT CROSS]

[QUOTE=dog_and_cat;2514401]I have a 2021 F-150 that tows our 27" GT FB. There is noticeable porpoising on a variety of road surfaces that I'm looking to reduce/eliminate. Any thoughts on the relative benefits of upgrading the factory shocks to Bilsteins vs. installing the RAS?

I'll add that we use a ProPride P3 hitch and tow with the TV/TT both level (no TV squat) with the WD properly dialed-in and verified via a 3-pass run through the CAT scales. Payload and axle weights are all well within rated capacities.

Thanks in advance.

Chris
+++++++++++++

Confirm your WD.
Post your 'three ticket' numbers, overweight and poor loading you can fix, oscillation in the road...not so much.

Disclaimer...Hensley since '07, it has only happened when the TV FAW is light & tongue low.

Bob
🇺🇸

[dog_and_cat]

[QUOTE=ROBERT CROSS;2514804]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

I have a 2021 F-150 that tows our 27" GT FB. There is noticeable porpoising on a variety of road surfaces that I'm looking to reduce/eliminate. Any thoughts on the relative benefits of upgrading the factory shocks to Bilsteins vs. installing the RAS?

I'll add that we use a ProPride P3 hitch and tow with the TV/TT both level (no TV squat) with the WD properly dialed-in and verified via a 3-pass run through the CAT scales. Payload and axle weights are all well within rated capacities.

Thanks in advance.

Chris
+++++++++++++

Confirm your WD.
Post your 'three ticket' numbers, overweight and poor loading you can fix, oscillation in the road...not so much.

Disclaimer...Hensley since '07, it has only happened when the TV FAW is light & tongue low.

Bob
🇺🇸

Thanks. My three latest tickets below and the spreadsheet I use (borrowed from this forum!) to calculate the results.

x654 - truck only
x652 - truck+trailer w/ no WD applied
x655 - truck+trailer w/ WD applied

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

I have a 2021 F-150 that tows our 27" GT FB. There is noticeable porpoising on a variety of road surfaces that I'm looking to reduce/eliminate. Any thoughts on the relative benefits of upgrading the factory shocks to Bilsteins vs. installing the RAS?

I'll add that we use a ProPride P3 hitch and tow with the TV/TT both level (no TV squat) with the WD properly dialed-in and verified via a 3-pass run through the CAT scales. Payload and axle weights are all well within rated capacities.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Chris, that is a great AS for sure! The F150 is marginal at best for the payload with 27+ size AS's if your looking to carry any gear, generator, etc. The porposing can get worse depending on the road and speed; so elimination is the goal. The hitch set up is key here, so start there for sure. Airbags just give false sense of level; do nothing for payload or suspension. I moved up to an F250 when I got my 28'. There is a world of difference towing vs with a F150 on the 27+ AS's; many here will agree on that. The F150 is a great truck for 25' and smaller, and we all would love to drive the smaller 1/2T around town, for sure.

I was told by many to move to the Bilstiens, and I just did after putting 110K on my F250; I do have a much smother ride. When I experienced porposing in the past (I have the Blue Ox) I tightened down the spring sway bars, and it went away. Set up for your hitch may be the issue. (but, also consider the larger 3/4-1T TV for more payload, power, control!

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by Fungus

You must not carry much cargo in the truck bed.

Full fuel, two smallish humans, and 1000# tongue weight put me near the payload capacity of my 2020 F-150 with max tow. 1610# payload. ProPride 3P. Roadmaster active suspension. 2017 International 25FB. Multiple CAT scale runs too.

If you read the manual carefully they consider a 150lb driver and a full tank of fuel as part of the truck. it doesn't count against payload.

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

I have a 2021 F-150 that tows our 27" GT FB. There is noticeable porpoising on a variety of road surfaces that I'm looking to reduce/eliminate. Any thoughts on the relative benefits of upgrading the factory shocks to Bilsteins vs. installing the RAS?

I'll add that we use a ProPride P3 hitch and tow with the TV/TT both level (no TV squat) with the WD properly dialed-in and verified via a 3-pass run through the CAT scales. Payload and axle weights are all well within rated capacities.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

I just got the roadmaster suspension system. I got the HD set up and it works wonderfully. No proposing. I also use the PP3. Remember that the PP3 will take away from the tongue weight due to the leverage on the system.

The problem with airbags are 1) Cost. 2) They can get damaged.

It is complete nonsense to say that from a 25' to a 28' you need the F250. The difference in weight is so small it makes NO SENSE. The base weight of 25' is 5500lbs. The base weight of a 28' is 400lbs more. To think that a 400lb difference means going to a F250 is just the biggest load of garbage. The only reason to go to an F250 is if you are really loading up the bed of the truck with stuff whether it be an 25' or a 28'.

[ROBERT CROSS]

[QUOTE=dog_and_cat;2514830]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Thanks. My three latest tickets below and the spreadsheet I use (borrowed from this forum!) to calculate the results.

x654 - truck only
x652 - truck+trailer w/ no WD applied
x655 - truck+trailer w/ WD applied

Is the TV and AS level when towing?

Bob
🇺🇸

[dog_and_cat]

[QUOTE=ROBERT CROSS;2514854]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

Is the TV and AS level when towing?

Bob
🇺🇸

They seem pretty level to me.

[fran&frank]

Upgrading to Bilstein's helped my ride but also consider upgrading to true LT tires, most F150's come with passenger car tires.--Frank

[dog_and_cat]

I went on Bilstein's web site today and their product selector said that they have no product match for a '21 F-150. So I called Bilstein's tech support line and was told that Ford changed something in the suspension (?) and so Bilstein had to do a small redesign that would not be available until at least the end of this year. He also said that the shocks that fit the '20 F-150 should not be used on a '21 model year truck.

That's a bummer....

[jacqui]

Could you provide a link to the spreadsheet... thanks

[new2trailer]

I don't have a Ford truck but I had Bilsteins on my pickup with a pro pride and no porpoising. I found the Bilsteins enough.

Mike