While at Overland Expo Mountain West this year I was drawn to the Ford Super Duties at the Liquid Springs display. I had never seen a rear suspension like what they had on display and talked to the company’s representatives about it for a while. Living in Texas, this big diesel truck with a suspension that makes it ride like a luxury car seems like it would be the dream setup for ranchers and cowboys hauling those heavy 5th wheel trailers full of cattle or horses going to a rodeo.
For you campers, not only will this suspension give you a smoother ride, but it can level your truck when you make camp. No need to add blocks or traction boards under your tires to level it.
LiquidSpring is an active hydraulic suspension system that uses a compressible fluid and an electronic control unit (ECU) to constantly monitor speed, steering, and braking to optimize ride quality and handling. The system works by using a closed hydraulic system with silicone fluid that moves between the struts and reservoirs, controlled by valves to adjust spring rates and damping on-the-fly. This allows for a luxury-like smooth ride when going straight, but it stiffens rapidly to control body roll and improve handling during cornering or bumps, all while providing driver-selectable ride modes and automatic height adjustment.
How The System Works
- Sensing inputs: Sensors at each wheel and throughout the vehicle constantly monitor speed, steering, braking, and road conditions.
- Making real-time adjustments: An onboard microprocessor processes this data up to 1,000 times per second. It analyzes the inputs and sends instructions to each wheel’s liquid-based strut and reservoir system.
- Varying fluid volume: Inside each strut, specialized valves adjust the amount of proprietary compressible fluid.
- To soften the ride, the system allows more fluid to fill the strut. The increased fluid volume allows for more compression, resulting in a softer spring rate. This is ideal for smooth roads.
- To stiffen the ride, the system reduces the fluid volume. With less fluid to compress, the spring rate becomes firmer, which improves stability during turns, braking, or wind events.
- Maintaining ride quality: By continuously varying the fluid volume, the system can instantly switch between a soft and stiff ride as needed, providing both comfort and stability without compromise.
Advantages over conventional suspension systems
- Superior adaptability: Unlike air ride systems that have a fixed spring rate, the LiquidSpring system constantly adapts to road conditions and vehicle load.
- Optimal handling: The real-time adjustments eliminate common issues in large vehicles, such as body roll when cornering, nosedive during braking, and sway from wind or passing vehicles.
- Adjustable ride height: The system allows drivers to raise or lower the vehicle’s height from the cab for clearance over obstacles or easier loading.
- Leveling ability: If you have a camping setup mounted on your truck this system can level the truck for you when you make camp.
- Consistent performance: Because the system is sealed, its performance is not affected by changes in temperature or humidity, a common issue for air suspensions.
- Lower maintenance: The self-contained, sealed hydraulic system requires less maintenance compared to air suspensions, which can be prone to leaks or compressor failures.
When I talked to Fluid Suspension, we discussed the truck being displayed at the Texas State Fair and some of the bigger rodeos such as Fort Worth. Hopefully it will show up there.
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About The Author
Growing up, my father always believed that every family needed a truck—there’s just something about having a vehicle capable of hauling anything at a moment’s notice. That philosophy stuck with me, and it’s been the foundation of my lifelong passion for Ford trucks.
While I’m best known for my work with Ford Rangers, I’ve owned a wide variety of Ford trucks over the years—including F-150s, F-250s, F-350s, and even larger rigs like the Ford Excursion, Ford Expedition, and a 1982 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile camper van. I’ve used these vehicles for everything from family transportation to towing car trailers and campers, and each one has fueled my love for Ford’s versatility and durability.
I especially enjoy the styling of 1970s and 1980s Ford trucks—the bold designs, rugged presence, and classic charm are timeless. Sharing my passion for Ford trucks, vans, and SUVs with other enthusiasts online brings me a great deal of joy, and it’s why I created Blue Oval Trucks.
This website is dedicated to helping Ford truck enthusiasts explore, learn about, and celebrate these incredible vehicles. While I share my expertise and experiences here, Blue Oval Trucks is an independent enthusiast site and is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
