About seven weeks ago I ordered a set of custom leaf springs from Alcan Spring Company in Grand Junction Colorado. I requested OEM height and an additional 1100 lbs carrying capacity. Prior to placing my order, I weighed the truck and camper, fully loaded, water, food, propane etc. I was 600 lbs over the GVWR. So I thought getting an extra 1100 lbs of capacity would be good. I also put the camper and truck on a diet. I removed the rear seat and some other misc stuff. All total, I removed over 120 lbs.
Last week I got an email saying my springs were ready. Alcan needed me to measure my U-bolts so they could fabricate new U bolts. Thursday I drove to the Alcan factory to get my springs and have them installed by Shawn at Top Notch Garage, which is just down the road from Alcan. Bill, the owner of Alcan, was intrigued by my F150/FWC combination. When he found out I was having Top Notch do the install, he volunteered to load my new springs into his pickup truck and drive them to Top Notch. Talk about customer service. WOW.
By noon, Shane had removed the airbags and installed the new springs and U bolts. I was on the road heading back to my summer location near Fairplay, CO. The truck now sits about an inch higher than factory height and rides like the camper isn't even on the truck.
I kept the airbags, but really don't see why I would ever put them back on. They served their purpose which was to carry the camper for 10 months until I could get to Colorado and get the springs. I wish I couldn't avoided the air bag expense, but that's another story.
Cost: $1,100 for the springs, $39 for U bolts and $400 for install. Piece of mind: Priceless
I highly recommend Alcan, they will ship the springs. I had a set on my previous Ford Ranger FWC combo for 3 years and so it was a no brainer to do it on the F150.
Edited by larryqp, 09 September 2020 - 11:30 AM.
2016 F150, FX4, XLT super cab
2019 FWC Hawk Shell
2009 Ford Ranger 4x4, XLT, Supercab total loss on 7/30/19
2014 FWC Shell total loss on 7/30/19
Towed behind our home which is a 2005 Kountry Star Diesel Pusher