Awesome Upgrade / Low Cost Big Results / Lower Spring Control

With such a heavy slide in truck camper our Ford truck needs some help to control and support the load. In this video Todd makes a custom modification to help control the squat of the lower leaf springs. He also shows how to drill holes in the leaf springs and bolt on the support blocks for the added support. Take a guess if it works to help?
As always, we hope you find the video useful and informative!
Thanks for watching!
The Runaway Roses
#RunawayRoses #LanceTruckCamper #Torklift #Etrailer #TruckCamperLife #CATScales #HeavyHauling #Payload #ANumbersGame @Kennyofalltrades
►►►►►►PRODUCTS INSTALLED IN THIS VIDEO◄◄◄◄◄◄
Below are the products we used in this video:
►Husqvarna 589388002 OEM 8" Felling Wedge Replaces 608201000 3 Pack (we bought these at Tractor supply for $8.99 each if you want to get them quicker) - amzn.to/3T3Gz9C
►BOSCH CO2155B 7/16 In. x 5-1/2 In. Cobalt M42 Drill Bit - amzn.to/3la10VM
►►►►►►AFFILIATE LINKS◄◄◄◄◄◄
If you click the links below and buy something, you will help to support our channel. Thank you in advance!
►Solis Wifi Hotspot: soliswifi.co/p...
►Travel 4G 2.0 OTW Signal Booster Kit - Use the code: Roses www.hiboost.co...
►Amazon: amzn.to/38fwePZ
►Buy a FROLI using this link and get 15% off: nickleatlantic...
►E-Trailer: www.etrailer.c...
►Home Depot: homedepot.sjv....
►►►►►►LIST OF OUR CAMPERS (PRESENT AND PAST)◄◄◄◄◄◄
►2020 Lance 1172 - We purchased from Southland RV in Atlanta, GA - August 2022 before our 3 week trip out west.
►2020 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper - We got our 2020 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper in October 2021. We were contacted by a couple of subscribers (now good friends) who had theirs up for sale in Upstate New York so we headed out on an adventure. We sold our 2014 Bigfoot 10.4 within one day of listing it online.
►2014 Bigfoot 10.4 Truck Camper - We got our 2014 Bigfoot 10.4 in August 2021 from RVOne near Charlotte, NC. Todd was headed to buy a brand new Bigfoot 10.4 just before we got the Lance 975 but when he got to Southland RV, it was sold. That's when we decided to go to the Lance 975. We knew at some point in the future we'd have a Bigfoot again.
►2021 Lance 975 - We got our new 2021 Lance 975 from Chattanooga Fish n Fun in Hixson, TN in August 2020. After looking at several models, we decided on the Lance 975 (Check out Brad's channel from Chattanooga Fish n Fun, he gives great, thorough overviews of some really nice boats and campers.) We sold the Lance 975 in August 2021.
►2019 Northern Lite 10-2 Truck Camper - Bought and delivered from Mountain Motors in Troy, MO on 12/2019 and sold it in 01/2020.
►2005 Northern Lite 10-2 Truck Camper - Picked up on 8/10/2019 we did major repairs, maintenance and renovations to this one and sold it in 12/2019.
2008 Bigfoot 21RB - Sold 12/2019, we went across country to purchase from a dealer in Pueblo Colorado.
►2006 Casita Spirit Deluxe - Sold 07/2018 when we bought our Bigfoot.
►2002 A-liner - Sold 05/2017 when bought our 2006 Casita Spirit Deluxe.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

I watch Kenny to he’s one laid back dude .😊

[@dougcore2784]

I’ve used these for 6 years without any problems.

[@joshbent653]

Ive used these and used a hammer drill to get them all they way in there front and rear side of the spring they work wonderful

[@toddmccue1823]

I used 10" felling wedges, drilled lower overload. Tapped hole for grade 5 bolt.Tack welded 90 degree bent thin steel plates to overload spring to insure wedge does not pop out sideways. Tack welds, to not loose temper in springs. Air up bags to 60lbs to insert.

[@allenmccarriston5834]

Nice job. I also took Kenny’s advice with theses felling wedges. I used a tee nut pressed in from the top of the wedges. Then a bolt from the bottom. This option is so inexpensive and easy to do. 👍

[@KennyOfAllTrades]

Great video! The pry bar is a top tip! I'm on 3 years and 80 thousand trouble-free miles with the wedges installed. When I took them out this fall, there were no signs of wear. I think having the lower overload spring engaged sooner has helped my ride. I'll be curious to see your final thoughts!

[@RunawayRoses]

Hey Kenny, I look forward to seeing how they do in the future. I know with all four of the wedges in the truck it is definitely a stiffer ride unloaded but that’s ok i’m sure they will help with the camper on. Thanks for the idea!

[@RunawayRoses]

Btw @kennyofalltrades if you would, please email us an address that we can send something to you. We got something at a camping rally we want to send to you. It’s not a big deal but just a little something. Thanks, Todd [e-mail]

[@trekfortruth2841]

Many thanks to both of you. I just installed a set on the front yesterday (have the Roadmaster Active Suspension on the rear). Raised the rear about 3/4's of an inch. Now for a test drive!

[@mysticjedi6730]

I really like the timbren overload springs. Under load ride quality is lower but squat it much less, more stability in bumpy and windy conditions.

[@patriot8087]

Todd, very cool, I'm anxious to see how this works out for you going forward.

[@dalerobillard]

Just noticed this post and I guess the idea of wedges is finally getting out. I’ve used them for years and zero issues. Originally is used lower stable loads and instantly thought they were poorly designed as you described. Nothing I’ve tried matches the performance of the wedges (in my case I tapped 9/16” holes with a 5/8” tap and used a grade 8 bolt to hold the wedges in place. Obviously, the application doesn’t require that strong of bolt but I did it so I can add torque to hold in place. As an aside, I also replaced the 600lbs upper (single) overload spring with a 3600 lbs spring pack (super stable and rides great with camper on - best mod even for the 450). When driving without the camper I simply add a bit of air in the airbags to ensure upper spring pack doesn’t engage (smooth ride on my 450)!

[@theartsunnyshow2748]

Great video. I liked how you did all the measurements and how you countersunk the bolts as well as showed what drill bit worked for the steel.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

I used stainless carriage bolts and stainless nylocker nuts and little counter sink to make them heads level .

[@brentmcmahon8188]

The wedges work great and make a lot of difference and easy to remove whe not hauling a load. You will like this cheap and easy .

[@brentmcmahon8188]

Man that staircase sure does set low to the ground . Looks like a crunch in the making and not to wish you bad luck. Do you remember back in the day where they had thin mettle rods that would make a noise when get to close to the curb.

[@glenstratton9363]

Great Job! I installed a set of Torklift Stable loads only because I already had them. Thanks for sharing the tips and trick for drilling through the springs, most helpful. Keep on Truckin' !

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks Glen, Glad it helped!

[@herb7877]

Great idea. Never would have thought of it; or I would have tried it as well.... I installed air bags a few years back. I thought about several varieties of bump stops & simular products; but in the end just decided to bite the bullet and went with air bags. Really not difficult to DIY. They work GREAT. Fully aware they do not add to load cap, but take the squat totally out and end the porpoising when going over train tracks or wavy roads & pot holes. Thru trail & error adjusted the air pressure to get the correct ride given different loads.

[@dougclark6696]

Hi Todd, thanks for sharing your experiment with us. It took me a while to realize that the orange wedges were plastic; I thought they were cast iron at first 🙂

[@bob_frazier]

We've been in the Southwest for three weeks, and in a number of situations we've needed way, way more clearance than you have under that step to get to the boondocking spots we've wanted.

[@ReganMalcolm]

We have the same truck/camper and put on airlift 7500lb bags (independent), stableloads/hellwig springs on the upper overloads. Looks like this setup achieves the same goal in a slightly different way!

[@brentmcmahon8188]

On my Dodge 3500 the door sticker says to run 40 lbs air in rear tires when empty and then air them back up when haul your camper and it does soften the ride a little. Might help you a little doesn’t hurt to try and with my 7000 lb air bag with compressor and air tank with a air Chuck mounted on running board and the kit comes with bag for storage and curly air hose and gauge so makes a nice up grade and a way to air you tires up if need be .

[@randygreen7871]

That is so ingenious! Probably way cheaper then Stableloads too.

[@charlesb4267]

Stableloads are way over priced for what's there, that is their downfall but otherwise the concept works the same as these falling wedges.

[@randylester1219]

Great video with a DIY project. Wondering if you're still thinking about Airbags as well. 👍

[@dougclark6696]

I'm also wondering about whether airbags are in in their future...

[@scottkarjala]

Nice Geargia drill press!

[@kenj.8897]

Nice ingenuity. Have you looked into the Roadmaster Active Suspension? Just a thought .👍

[@mikebutler8043]

Timbrens is way to go

[@nospark8514]

I see the Lance is up for sale, what’s next for the Runaway Roses..

[@paulhudson8321]

I’ll stick with my airbags. When the camper is off I can release some air so my truck doesn’t ride like a tank it’s still a rough ride though. I’m arranging for insurance on my camper before we head out this spring. Around $2000🇨🇦per year Full replacement cost for 10 years.

[@charlesb4267]

I did end up having a look at my brothers truck which is a 2006 F350 with the stableloads and I had forgotten that the way those springs were designed ( and a different spring pack then a more recent super duty ) , the available gap to stack wedges is far less in front of the axle vs behind the axle on the overload leaf. So not that this will compare to a newer truck, I measured from the tip of the top of the overload spring to the underside of the leaf above. In front it was only 5/8" where as behind the axle it was about 1-1/4 and these measurements are as the camper sits on the truck and the stableloads are definitely in contact with the springs above. That averages to just under an inch so much the same as the falling wedges. I am guessing the springs must be thinner then a newer truck and they are 3" wide, it started out as a 4+1 main pack and he had two more leafs stacked on both sides so its now a 6+1, and the upper overload is only one leaf spring so it didn't do all that much with the upper stableloads.

[@dalerobillard]

Hey Charles, my truck is a 2020 F450 but I did the same mods to my 2016 GMC 3500. The picture is of how I typically travel with my rig! Working outside on my 450 at the moment but happy to share my setup and thoughts. 66234327645__66D9E3CD-3D4B-4339-A535-FECED8FBA201 image0.jpegimage1.jpeg Dale

[@charlesb4267]

@@dalerobillard I am probably doing something wrong but can't bring up the photo link you posted.

[@dalerobillard]

@@charlesb4267 today is the first day I’ve ever replied to a youtube post, so I’m unfamiliar with inserting pictures. If you want me to share pics maybe send me a text able # or email address and I’ll send pics along!

[@charlesb4267]

@@dalerobillard I am so far behind in technology or knowledge and I believe there is myself and one other person on this planet that doesn't text !. I would give you my email but not here on a social media platform, that is never a good idea. However all is not lost as you could give a brief description of how many leafs you added as I am to understand that the spring pack on the F350 is actually the same as the 450 from what has been said ( have never confirmed that by visually looking at both though )

[@dalerobillard]

@@charlesb4267 I got rid of the single upper overload for what the local Spring company calls the commercial pack (3600 lbs four leaf spring pack)! With the camper on i corner like an Indy car.

[@richm2923]

You could probably just tape the plastic wedge, it's only so the wedges don't slide out.. I made mine out of Aluminum, They work great, stops a lot of the swaying..

[@skoffco]

I have 3,670 pounds of pin weight on the rear of my 2022 F450 from my fifth wheel camper and don’t need any help of any aftermarket parts. The truck barely touches the aft overload rubber pad. The front pad is still approximately an 8th inch above touching. my truck still has a bit of a rake on the rear end which means it can handle a little more weight and ride level. That must be one heavy camper to need all that help to level your load. With my current situation, I am looking for a truck camper, but I will not go over a wet weight of 4000 pounds. All problems solved from the get-go. no after market parts needed. Would it be nice to have a massive truck camper with three slides for comfort, absolutely, but we will make do with a smaller truck camper just to keep things simple…. Since you’re in the process of throwing a bunch of aftermarket mods to your truck, I would suggest a better set of shocks as well.

[@charlesb4267]

In reading the comment about the pin weight of you're trailer and how well it carries that weight ( I almost get the idea that the F450 has the same rear spring pack as the F350 depending on the year ), I went back to review a prior video Todd made about the current camper weight and he mentioned the figure of 5500 lb with most supplies in the camper but no water in any of the holding tanks. That means with a full fresh water tank and not counting any water in the sewer holding tanks, add few other items and it would easily reach that 6000 lb level which would max out the gross payload of this new Ford. Obviously Todd would know all the details but that should help give you a ballpark as to what the springs are holding up in this video, at least 5500 lb of camper and it seems none of the pickups up to a one ton can actually carry the max gvw without their rear almost dragging on the ground unless they are helped one way or the other with more springs, Timbrens etc etc. Dare I say false advertising from all of the big three ?

[@skoffco]

@@charlesb4267 yes you are correct. Same rear spring pack. But larger brakes and heavier half shafts in the axle on the F450.

[@charlesb4267]

@@skoffco Ok good to know, and as to your train of thought to keep a slide in camper weight down to 4000 total pounds ready for the road even for the 450, that is an excellent idea as it would have decent stability and not be over stressing the truck. For example I met a couple along the Dalton "highway" in Alaska years back and they were returning from Prudhoe and they had an older 8' camper slid into the back of their 1 ton dually. I asked them about their combination and he said they purposely bought a small camper like that so they had all sorts of truck under it for the crap roads such as the Dalton. No it would not have much room nor storage but it was just the two of them and it just played with the camper. If a person plans to stick to smooth non frost heave highways and so forth then one can get a bit more hefty and work with it but if one plans to venture off the beaten path or travel in the northern states or certainly up here in Canada and on to Alaska with our horrible sections of frost heave pot hole roads, heavy has bad written all over it. And I suspect that is why that Dodge truck split in half in Mexico, it was put beyond its limits and there it is. My brothers 2006 ford 350 dually was rated for 13000 and with the camper he bought ( and yes the manufacture was full of it for the actual weight it ended up being ) , he sits at 13500 loaded with fresh water and gear and he never would have bought the camper had he realized what a pig it is ... yes its a really nice camper but oh is it not going to handle adverse roads. The only reason it could carry it and do a reasonable job initially is due to the extra springs he had installed right off the bat along with air bags ( and the air bag topic is a whole other thing, that was a down grade for handling he found out ) but it was just scary on the road with any sort of side wind or around curves so I urged him to buy the largest sway bars he could to replace the stock front and rear units and he put the stableloads in as well. Its so much better after all those mods, but realistically its still a heavy pig, no getting around that.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

The insurance for my Bigfoot was just added on to truck insurance was only 45 bucks a year and that’s for when it’s not on truck and if the camper is on the truck the truck insurance covers it. That’s what my insurance broker told us and showed us the policy where it shows any thing in the bed of truck is covered and I had to bu insurance for when it was not on the truck.

[@randpamadventures8374]

Question I’m using air bag with a onboard compressor, just wondering why your not using air bags.

[@RunawayRoses]

Hey Randpam Adventures, I'm planning on installing some airbags but thought I would give this a try first. I think it's really going to help but they won't replace airbags for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@horsetrader1991]

Ok, I bought a 2022 Dodge 3500, quad cab dually, to haul my new 2023 Northern lite. We don't travel heavy. NOW you switched again. We can't afford to with truck. So HONESTLY, it's the gas better than the diesel. I know about payload and I know the gas has MORE payload. Our camper weights 35,400 pounds leaving the factory. A little help here after all I've been following you off and on for some time.

[@RunawayRoses]

Hi Bill Dixon, Both gas and diesel are good options it just depends on your needs. For us the 7.3 gas seems to be fine for our needs and gives us a higher payload. Thanks for watching!

[@horsetrader1991]

@@RunawayRoses We like your video's, very informative ! Anyone looking to haul or buy a truck camper should contact you. I know why you went with a Lance, that model has a lot of room. For us, we want no more slides. Dodge sites says my pay load is 62 hundred pounds but it's not. 52 hundred. Northern lite as you probably know weigh their campers at the factory. So we should be alright with a few hundred pounds to spare. WE DO not travel like you. Ours is more of a motel room. lol, expensive motel room. Keep up the good work and thanks!

[@horsetrader1991]

I think I delete everything I wrote. lol, anyway good work on the video's and compare gas MPG to diesel please. I pay a lot of money for my 2022 Dodge Limited dually. Keep up the good work!

[@Nomadiccamping]

I put sumo springs on the rv

[@genecappelletti6691]

Hey Todd, I am about to do this mod to my truck so I re watched the video. I know you changed trucks but did you leave the wedges in and how many miles did you have on them? Thanks, Gene

[@joepedersen-by1gl]

Hey Todd. Why don't you add a leaf in the same place and eliminate the wedge. Add a Leafs are cheap. You might need u-bolts. Still fairly cheap.

[@Joe-N-Kat]

Have you checked out Sumo Springs?

[@brentmcmahon8188]

I know a couple of people that have done this and was sponsored by I think Toque lift I think that’s who it was and they going send the kind that spin to unlock so you get a stock ride with no camper so let’s know the empty or loaded ?

[@tylervincent465]

Y’all just bought the new Ford to haul your lance 1172, but just posted the camper for sale. Why are you selling it? Does the truck actually not work with the camper? Please elaborate. Thank you

[@shanap.7188]

Install the wedges with the camper on of off?

[@brentmcmahon8188]

Just put a stainless carriage bolt they are pretty flat on top and use unpack to tighten them up.

[@mikedaley2882]

Has it held up since you made the video?

[@iana36s]

One thing to be aware off is the possibility of the wedge dislodging and contacting the tire.

[@user-vd9fz5ey9m]

You clearly didn’t watch the whole video

[@eht9373]

Waiting? Maybe I missed the update. I am thinking about doing this to my ride, and I would like to know your experience. Recommended or not? Thank you

[@RunawayRoses]

So far they have worked out great for us with no problems. Thanks for watching!

[@charlesb4267]

Todd, if anyone gives you a hard time over noticing the wedges at the campground, just whip out your Stihl hat and put that on !. I was wondering if that was what you had in the back of your mind to try and without a doubt its certainly worked on Kenny's unit. I was trying to find some information on wedge thicknesses and did come up with a figure of 1-3/8 for 12" units. What length are those ones, 8" ? . As to a comment about being concerned for the wedge slipping out to the side, a thin steel assembly could be fabricated that reaches a few inches towards the other end of the wedge with two "ears" that stick up to either side of the overload leaf spring and capture the wedge from going sideways and it would use the same bolt you installed to hold on this safety device, a similar concept to the steel band straps that contain the main spring pack. I honestly don't know what the thickness of the full pack of stableloads is.

[@RunawayRoses]

Hi Charles B, The wedges I used are 8" long and right at 1" thick. I probably should have put that in the video but didn't think about it at the time. I was thinking about making something to keep the wedges from moving side to side but we'll see. Attaching something to the bolt is a good idea. Honestly I don't think they will move especially with the weight of the camper on them but I'll keep an eye on them to see if anything happens. I haven't used Stableloads but I think it depends on how many of the metal brackets is used when you stack them up. I think they would be around 3/4" to 1" thick. Thanks for watching!

[@charlesb4267]

@@RunawayRoses Ok thanks, was just guessing at the length as you held it up and guessed correct apparently. I don't know if 12"s would be the same width or not but if they were and one thought they could get them in there and gain that extra 3/8, would have to cut the wedge tail off though and they would cost more per piece. Its on the cold side as per -12f to give me motivation to go out into the shed and lay on the cold cement to measure the thickness of my brothers lower stableloads but am curious what thickness they are for comparison sakes.

[@dalerobillard]

I’ve tested for the wedges sliding to one side or the other but the bolt in the thick end is more than capable. I have thousands of km/miles on my system (on rough roads/hwys with zero movement whatsoever). If interested I can send picks of my setup with the 3600lbs added spring pack!

[@charlesb4267]

@@dalerobillard Out of curiosity what model and year ( and make ) of pickup did you also do this mod on. The 3600 added spring pack, is that leafs you stacked into the original main spring pack ?. I have to say that its looked odd on the ford why the upper overload seems rather wimpy, would have thought there should be a bit more beef to that system, I assume they had their reasons for not doing that.

[@videocritico7241]

Was the warranty voided on the truck?

[@brentmcmahon8188]

These bits now days aren’t that good if you got two holes with one bit Iam impressed.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

And being plastic they make no noise .

[@brentmcmahon8188]

Oh I forgot use a stainless nylocker nut.

[@bob_frazier]

Oh no, big buddy, felling wedges aren't for splitting wood, they control the direction of trees when we fall them. Splitting wedges are steel. Love this test anyways. Love my airbags too.

[@RunawayRoses]

Thanks Bob, you’re right but they worked pretty well for me when I used them to split some wood. I shouldn’t have said that in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@user-vd9fz5ey9m]

Starting with a small hole and stepping up would eliminate the jack

[@oldsalt8011]

try holding that tape measure straight up and down on that second measure - fender to wheelwell. Your messing up Drilling those leafspring.

[@oldsalt8011]

My mistake...I thought you were Drilling through all of the springs.

[@oldsalt8011]

Third measure was good.

[@brentmcmahon8188]

Your wedges are used to drive in you saw cut to make tree fall in th direction of choice they are made of plastic to save you chain say chain and splitting wedges are always made of steel .

[@brentmcmahon8188]

I hope you paint them black so they disappear Ha Ha !!

[@billturner1960]

Jesus,,,,beware these ideas,,,