I have an '07 F150 S.Crew and I would like it to tow my 7000# camper better. I have a K&N and dual exhaust installed..Any other recommendations..

 

I tow a 6K travel trailer and I'm also looking for a better towing experience... it sounds like the best option is a programmer with a custom tow tune. I might bite the bullet and get one this Spring for towing.

 

ill throw in a vote for the EDGE.

 

I am in the same boat. Everything I have read has pointed to a tuner or gears. Since gears are going to cost at least 1000 bucks if you have a 4x4 a tuner for 400 or 500 bucks is worth a try first.

 

WD hitch, trailer brakes, and air bags.

 

What can you tell me about air bags? I've been looking on line for info. Air ride and Firestone primarily. Any recomendations? I put a 2" AS leveling kit on, I don't want to be jacked up when I'm hauling or towing. (08 Lariat SCrew 4x4 5.4L 3.73 gears)

 

What specifically are you looking to upgrade? Suspension, cooling, power?
What is your budget?
If you're towing much, re-gearing is going to help quite a bit, but expect to pay $1200-1500 depending on the shop. It's not a backyard mechanic job.
A tuner will help a decent amount if you run a 91 or 93 octane towing tune, it will also help the shifting by firming the shifts and raising shift points.
Better shocks and airbags will help a lot. I would go with Bilstein HD's and airbags in the rear. A good brake controller (prodigy) will make a world of difference in braking over a cheaper setup.
If you get a tuner, get an edge or gryphon with a display, to monitor coolant and transmission temps. If you don't get one, look at a scangauge 2, which will pull codes, and temps from all kind of things.

 

Sorry, not enough info included prior. I have the Banks monster exhaust and Banks CAI, and the Edge programer. My primary interest right now is upgrading the rear suspension. I have considered AAL, but am leaning toward the air bags. I have no experience with the air bag suspensions on the market. I don't know anything about the Firestone or Air Ride kits. I know I want to have the compressor with tank, and guages with it. Since I put the leveling kit (2" AS) I know my geometry is going to be off loaded or towing. I guess I want the best of both worlds, I don't want to wreck the ride, make it too stiff, but I want it leveled out under a load. Any info you can give me on what to look for, stay away from etc, on the air bags would be great. The trailer brake will be next.

 

I have gears and a tuner and towing improved but it's still a gasser. If you want a tune I would get a custom tune. I did not like the Edge personally.

 

Yeah, I'm hearing that alot. I will get the Gryphon upgrade and headers on it soon.

 

I was also going to suggest sending the tuner to have it converter to the "gryphon".
I think either air bag kit will be fine, they are both pretty common. Most people just run the air lines to the license plate mounting holes and fill them up there, works well. The kit with compressor, gauges and everything would be nice, but it's also something that could easily be added later.
Are you running over-sized tires with the leveling kit or just stock? If you're running over-sized tires, gearing is really the only way to go, imo.

 

10 ply tires, sway bars on hitch (unless 5th wheel)

 

I just installed the AirLift 1000 bags and compressor...waiting on the pillar gauge pod to do a custom mount of the gauge/switches.

So far I've been pleased. I'm running a 97 Expy with tow package. When I pull our loaded FD 16' trailer, it was a bit 'soft' on the rear. I'm running 10lbs now just to dial them in...will be towing our trailers again late Feb and I'll update how they work under load.

Here's a shot with no bags installed:


Just a bit of sag (maybe 1/2" to an 1") but too soft on the freeway. AirLIft 1000 claims 1000lbs of stiffness at 35psi, so we'll see...I'm thinking I wouldn't need to run much more than 15 to take away the sag and stiffen it up. With an F150 you'd probably need a lot less considering you don't have the weight as the Expy does and with the differences in rear suspension (leaf vs. spring).

 

Without the air bags



With the air bags at 50psi



the firestone bags can handle up to 100psi