Do I need Air Bags?

[Sarge]

OK guys, here is the situation. I am about to start pulling a new 5ver that will weigh in about #13,000. My 3/4 ton Ram should handle the weight easily, but I am pondering weather I need (or should) invest in a set of air bags to help with the ride while towing.



And if so, what brands have you had good experience with? And what about an on board air pump to inflate from the cab?



Thanks for your input,



Sarge

 

[BIGNASTY]

Have Firestone with air pump on mine and wouldnt be without THEM.

 

[jelag]

I had PacBrake air bags on the trucks I used to tow with... my current truck is a 3500 dually and I use the air bags to level the bed each time I hook up... I wouldn't be without them. .

 

[RonD]

Yes, you will like what they do, also it takes a lot of the bounce out when you go over an overpass with a dip, a great investment, currently have Firestones, no air pump, just add 22 LBS when unloaded, prior Ram had PacBrake bags, the PacBrake bags are better built, and easier to install, but both do the job

 

[gerry]

my question is two fold: is that weight dry or working, and if that is working weight then I would expect around 3,000 pin weight. What is your rear axle max? Many forget air bags DO NOT increase carrying capacity. My 2001 3/4 Dodge had a max of 6035lbs for the rear axle and just with me and a full fuel tank had 2,850 on the rear. With the 5er you're talking about it would have been over loaded.

 

[Sarge]

That is MAX working weight. I am down around 10K dry. If necessary I will re-spring and gear. I will know better when I get it home and get it loaded.

 

[Jim W]

That is MAX working weight. I am down around 10K dry. If necessary I will re-spring and gear. I will know better when I get it home and get it loaded.

What gear set do you have? 3:73 gear set is OK for what you are pulling the 3:73 gear set is a good all around set for fuel economy when not towing. The 4:10 Gear set only helps you in getting the heavier loads moving without too much strain on the truck.

When you say that you are going to re-spring the truck are you stating that you are buying the additional leaf spring that makes up the 1 ton spring pack?

I would leave the extra spring leaf out and just add air bags to the truck for leveling purposes. The additional leaf spring will only add 1000 LBS more for GCVW rating that would equal a 3500 SRW truck. I test drove both trucks when I bought my 2008 Mega Cab 2500HD and I did not like the ride of the 1 ton SRW truck too harsh. I do have air bags on my truck with the on board air compressor and the ride is good with and without the trailer attached. The bags do help in damping out the bounce that you get with the trailer attached.

Just my opinion.

Jim W.

 

[mfurrh55]

Sure go with the airbags, i run firestone bags with an airlift onboard compressor and incab controller, once you get it adjusted to your load, drive it and put air in, let some out, get a nice feel to the ride, you'll be amazed at the difference, matter of fact i ran across a firestone kit yesterday on CL. ,and i got an incab controller and compressor for 50. 00 ,I think i'll give it to my brother ,i don't need it, but for 50. couldn't pass up, good luck, and your 3/4 ton should handle about anything you put behind it, Monte

 

[Wertles]

1 more vote for PAC brake air bags. It took me a lazy 3 hours to install with my 6 year old son. I could have done it myself in less than 2. I don't have the on board air option. I kep a cheap, small air compressor in the trailer to fill them. I would not tow anymore without them but my trailer ranges between 15 and 18K depending on what I pack and how much water I need. I can't comment on the gearing as the 48 and 68 are two different animals. I would just say don't be afraid to manually shift into 5th or 4th gear if you feel you need it. Forget about trying to squeeze every last mile per gallon and keep your rpm's in the sweet spot.

 

[AH64ID]

I have firestones and wouldn't be without them. The truck could easily handle the weight, but the bags improve braking, steering, lighting, and handling.

If you also pay attention to how much air it takes to level the truck, or set it where you want it, you can determine if you are overloaded as well. On my truck if it takes more than 50 psi to keep the truck level I am more than likely above the 6390lbs my tires are rated for.

 

[mwilson]

Exactly!!!



Many big rigs are packing this gauge or something similar to get the axle weights right. Some loggers up here have one for the truck and another gauge for the air ride tri axle trailers.

This one is fancy but you can take a standard air pressure gauge and do as AH64ID describes. This gauge just does the conversion for you.





http://www.digital-auto-gauges.com/products/Load-Weight-Gauge-for-Trucks.html



Standard gauge most are using up here... .

Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

If you get the right kit the Bags/pump and gauge come as one no need to add other products to the game.



Sorry for the bad picture but hanging upside down looking under the drivers seat on one leg is a pretty tough thing to do IN THE SNOW AND RAIN

Compressor is under the rear seat compartment drivers side

 

[mwilson]

If you get the right kit the Bags/pump and gauge come as one no need to add other products to the game.



Sorry for the bad picture but hanging upside down looking under the drivers seat on one leg is a pretty tough thing to do IN THE SNOW AND RAIN

Compressor is under the rear seat compartment drivers side

Not bad for upside down... ..... :-laf Did'ja get dizzy????



If one were to use the Freightliner gauge instead of the Firestone the COOL factor goes right off the chart. Then the TelTek gauge would take things to a whole new level... ... .



Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Not bad for upside down... ..... :-laf Did'ja get dizzy????

If one were to use the Freightliner gauge instead of the Firestone the COOL factor goes right off the chart. Then the TelTek gauge would take things to a whole new level... ... .

Mike.

Wife seen me go hopping from house to outside (had my leg off) then it took me some time to figure out her little camera. She came out to see what the heck is going on?? seen my butt in the air, on my head under the seat and a couple of flashes from under the seat and thought!!!! She knew it was going to happen but didnt expect me to go CRAZY this early in life.

 

[ABennin]

With the compressor setup can you isolate the left and right airbags so the pressure doesn't transfer over to the other side when turning and such. Or is this not a big deal. My father has some firestones and is thinking of a onboard compressor. He has no regrets about installing them, work great.

 

[BIGNASTY]

With the compressor setup can you isolate the left and right airbags so the pressure doesn't transfer over to the other side when turning and such. Or is this not a big deal. My father has some firestones and is thinking of a onboard compressor. He has no regrets about installing them, work great.

I heard of someone on site asking about the dual bag pressure one time and I thought WHY??? found out that they had a in-bed overhead camper with a slide on one side and with the separate air adjustment they could off set the weight difference of the slide to make it level. Good idea dont know if it worked or not but just what I was told. I think that there is NOW a switch set-up that has the seperation on the switch along with the compressor on/off and the gauge

 

[mwilson]

With the compressor setup can you isolate the left and right airbags so the pressure doesn't transfer over to the other side when turning and such. Or is this not a big deal. My father has some firestones and is thinking of a onboard compressor. He has no regrets about installing them, work great.

Please see the gauge panels, starting on Page 59 of this PDF. Fairly big, give it a few minutes to load.



http://www.firestoneip.com/site-resources/ride-rite/pdf/2012FinalPDF_RRCatSM_USE.pdf



Then page up to see the various compressor options.



Mike.

 

[wcjp]

Have you check out Torklift Stable loads? I added these last to my 06' Mega w/truck camper. Had they been available this would've been my first mod. Airbags can unload the springs. They activate the factory overloads right away. If airbags are still needed recommend the Pacbrake airbags. Install is very easy. They are very durable.

Before the Stable Loads I ran my airbags at 80psi. I now run them at 45psi. I would go lower but, it's recommended by Torklift to maintain some air in the bags to avoid damage.

Torklift Stableloads

 

[NIsaacs]

Have you check out Torklift Stable loads? They activate the factory overloads right away.

I don't think I would like that style. They take away the progressive spring rate and cause a harsh ride. My '01 had the oem hard rubber contact pad on my bottom overload that makes contact on the main spring pack, about a foot from the eye end, so at contact the load stopped, no give. With them removed my top overloads make contact at the same time as the bottom without a hard jar/stop. The bottom overload can now become progressive like all the rest of the springs.



Nick

 

[AH64ID]

I heard of someone on site asking about the dual bag pressure one time and I thought WHY??? found out that they had a in-bed overhead camper with a slide on one side and with the separate air adjustment they could off set the weight difference of the slide to make it level. Good idea dont know if it worked or not but just what I was told. I think that there is NOW a switch set-up that has the seperation on the switch along with the compressor on/off and the gauge

Even without a big camper I would run the bags independent. When it's a single fill port you have one bag, so air moves side to side as the truck sways or leans into a corner. Even empty the truck has some roll on a corner. So when you are loaded (even if it's a equal and low load) and you go around a long corner the air moves from the outside bag, now there is more air in the inside bag and less on the outside. When you stop turning the air takes a little time to move back, so the truck isn't level and what if there is another corner the other way?

You also remove the secondary feature of the bags which is sway control, and as I mentioned can actually make sway worse.

The only people I have talked to that are unhappy with their airbags performance are the ones with the bags plumbed as one and they live in curvy mountainous areas.