Rear Air Lift Bags For Trailer Pulling

[evldsl]

Who has the best air bag kit for my 3500 srw, 4x4 with a Kore suspension kit to rid my truck of the rear drop when I load my trailer?

 

[DonTX]

I love my Air-Lift bags.

 

[Regcabguy]

Carli long travels.

Who has the best air bag kit for my 3500 srw, 4x4 with a Kore suspension kit to rid my truck of the rear drop when I load my trailer?

If you want to retain spring travel when unladen,Carli's long travel's are the way to go. I had Firestone Ride Rites prior to these. Even constantly loaded as I am,spring travel is undeterred.

 

[Bob4x4]

There is only one choice that will retain the full travel.



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Bob

 

[JCasper]

There is only one choice that will retain the full travel.



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Bob

Those sure are nice looking. I kinda wish I would of looked around before buying my ride rites.



For a pavement rig though I haven't had any issues. During hunting season I did seem to have some limited travel with the Firestones.

 

[Bob4x4]

The limited travel with the std airbags is mostly just a pain. The more serious down side is when they get pulled apart at full droop. I can't say how much it takes to do that but I see it quite a bit in the trucks I service. Customers don't always like to admit how hard they beat their rides ,but I am not that shy



Bob

 

[JCasper]

The limited travel with the std airbags is mostly just a pain. The more serious down side is when they get pulled apart at full droop. I can't say how much it takes to do that but I see it quite a bit in the trucks I service. Customers don't always like to admit how hard they beat their rides ,but I am not that shy



Bob

Yeah, I am kinda worried about what will happen if the truck goes on a lift. Will they pull apart or not, we will have to wait and see?

 

[Bob4x4]

Yeah, I am kinda worried about what will happen if the truck goes on a lift. Will they pull apart or not, we will have to wait and see?

Thet doesn't happen often. I think it will take a more abrupt yank. like a tire dropping into a deep pot hole or something similiar.



Bob

 

[CDonaldson]

Worries regarding pulling the Firestone Ride Rites or any air bag apart with a full drop or shop lift can easily be solved by installing limit straps. Limit straps are also used to protect suspension other than air bags and do a fine job.



I have the Firestone Ride Rides and they have lived up to my expectations and those advertised by the manufacturer. I would put another set on my next truck and recommend their use.



Pac Brake also offers a set of air bags, their are very nice as well. You can get an in-cab controller that works the same for/with all of the different air bags offered.



CD

 

[jelag]

I have the "air ride" kits on 3 of my trucks but would have put the pacbrake units on... . and have now upgraded my mounts to the pacbrake design... . we bent the air ride mounts... . we pull heavy work trailers and use the air bags powered off the pac brake compressor to level the trucks... . trailer weight up to 22K lbs... we use a regulator to raise or lower the pressure to level out the truck and load... we have no other suspension upgrades... .

Before this upgrade... . we had problems keeping the trucks level... hope this helps. .

 

[Bill Stockard]

Jim,



I haul a very heavy slide-in camper and I too have bent the Air Lift 5000 air bag support brackets/plates on my truck. I've had no problems with the air bag itself even though the bag isn't vertical after the plates bent. They have done a good job. I removed the air bags and installed Timbrens. The Timbresn support the load very well and returned the original empty ride to my truck. Since I installed the Timbrens, I haven't been on any long trips with the slide-in on the truck. I have read reports of a problem with the Timbren bags rupturing when hauling a heavy slide in camper over rough highways.



Does the PacBrake air bag have a more robust mounting bracket/plate that the Air Lift 5000 air bags?



Bill

 

[jelag]

Bill

I was at PacBrake with one of my trucks and they were doing the design work on their air bags... . they looked at my truck and decided to upgrade their mounts... . they than sent me a sample of them to install on my trucks... . we've had no problems... the bags are a great design and their mounts are very strong... . so their upgraded design seems to be better.....

One of my trucks has a flat bed... . and we've had up to 4000 on it with no problems... one of the additional things we've done on this truck is to install a 2x2x3 square tube on the snubber for the overloads so they contact 2" sooner... .

We don't run any of these trucks empty... . mostly loaded, and more often over loaded... my 04 now has close to 300,000 miles on it... . and I don't think its gone one or two tanks of fuel empty...

 

[Bill Stockard]

Jim,



Thanks for the reply.

One of my trucks has a flat bed... . and we've had up to 4000 on it with no problems... one of the additional things we've done on this truck is to install a 2x2x3 square tube on the snubber for the overloads so they contact 2" sooner. .

The after market has recognized the problem:



SuperSprings - For Work



Torklift :: The Stable Load



Bill

 

[TAllen]

Jim , If you're a PacBrake dist. I guess you sell there airbag set up. I just bought a set of timbrens for my new 08, and I can't get out of my garage with my camper on. My old truck (04. 5) had bags and I could let the air out to get in and out. Are the bags about the same and just the brackets different? I guess I'll have to call you.



Tim

 

[CUMMINZ]

Try this on your truck

Allows main spring pack to contact your bottom overload sooner. Has worked great on my 07. 5 dually.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/towing-hauling-rv-forum/190810-extremely-expensive-add-suspension-3500-a.html

 

[CUMMINZ]

TA Would air bags work on your garage??

 

[TAllen]

Cumminz, 2 great ideas! I know I need airbags(on the truck) but that wedge idea is greatOo. . Even with the bags, I'm going to try it. I forgot, what holds them in, safety wire, or plastic ties? And the garage is 3 months old and I'm not putting airbags under it. I screwed up and built the center door 3 or: 4" to low#@$%!



Tim

 

[CUMMINZ]

I stood the wedges up sideways and drilled 2 3/8" holes all the way thru. I then took the heaviest plastic ties I could find and used 2 ties per hole. Pull them up good and tight. I sprayed undercoating on them and they almost disappear. You are only out less than $25. 00 if you don't like it.



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[TAllen]

Looks good, It's such a simple idea, but it should take some sway out of the ride, even with airbags.



Tim