add more spring leaves or airbag ??

[rgreen]

I have a 33ft Golden Falcon. Aprox 2200lbs on the fifth wheel hitch. When I hook up the truck the rear lowers to aprox 2" from the spring stops. I would like to level it out but am not sure the best way to go.

Ron

 

[Paul Somers]

Air bags gets my vote. I had air bags with onboard compressor on a 1/2 ton chev and loved it. Pump up to 70 psi when towing and let air out to 10 psi when not towing. Worked great. I could actually back under 5th wheel and lift landing jacks off ground by inflatting bags. Friend has F**d that he put springs on and he is unhappy with how harse it rides unloaded.

 

[Groover]

Air Bags !!!

Get the bags unless you are loaded all the time. Your backside will thank you for the improved empty ride over add a leafs.



If you constantly have a load on it the springs might be a better option.



If you are like most you do a lot of empty driving. Then when you tow you tow heavy. The adjustability of the bags is worth it.



my . 02

 

[rgreen]

Appreciate the response. Are all of the air bags pretty much the same??

 

[RVPILOT]

air bags/ air ride

There air bags for overloads and air bags for air ride, about 1,200 dollars difference. The air ride gives you the ride of a half ton pickup when empty, the overloads are mainly for overloading conditions.

 

[Deezul1]

I had the airbags on a 3/4 ton truck with a 3200lb slide in camper and it carried the load real nice. Pump them up and the headlights are back in adjustment again. Its the way to go for a variable load.

 

[rgreen]

Has anyone heard of the Poly-Air brand??



Ron

 

[Mtngoat]

Air bags!!! The only way. Stiffer springs will kill ya when its empty.



Robin

 

[JWhitcomb]

Just curious, do your '95 have overload leafs above your spring pack? And if you do is it one or two leafs? Are they carrying weight?

 

[rgreen]

No overload springs on the 95. Just a single pak of 4.

 

[JWhitcomb]

Thanks, didn't know for sure. Sounds like air bags are a good idea for you. I like Firestone. I use them for a slide in, not so much to carry weight but to level up fore and aft plus side to side as my camper is heavy on one side. I don't use a on board compressor and find manual fill to be fine.

 

[Bill Stockard]

rgreen,

Are all of the air bags pretty much the same??

Yes, if you are comparing the Air Lift 5000 and the Firestone Ride-Rites. Both give good service... just depends on which brand you can get for the best price. Get only the 5,000 lb. capacity type(2500 each side). The 1,000 lb. ones are a waste of money and won't last like the heavier ones.



I know a couple TDR members who tried the 1,000 lb bags on '95 2500s towing 5th wheels and they were disappointed in them... ended up buying the 5,000 lb. bags. One member has towed over 200,000 miles with his 5,000 lb bags without a problem with them. They manually air them up before traveling with the 5th wheel.



Bill

 

[rgreen]

Thanks for the info. Ordered my airlift 5000s today and having installed tomorrow. Then I'm off for a week on a quick 2000km treck to pickup my 5TH wheel. Long story but had to leave it with the wife in Throis Rivieres about 8hrs from home. The trip down hauled great but my lighting was a bother to oncoming traffic. It doesn't take much to throw your lights up off the road. Looking forward to the bags.



Ron

 

[JWhitcomb]

About the lights being too high. I carry a long Torx driver to adjust the beams up and down as conditions require.