2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Air Bag question

[AWallace]

Any one using airbags do you have to have an onboard pump to maintain a constant pressure? I have factory load springs but still have some sag carring my truck camper. I can have a leaf added to my load springs but it would make the ride rougher running empty and when they hit the bumpers it makes a lot of noise to and another leaf would even put them closer to the bumpers . One person said the bags would lose pressure if you did not use the pump. I figured if you pumped them up it would stay until you decreased the pressure. It is a 95 2500. Is there another solution?

 

[BJMarshall]

I've got a set of Firestones on the 03 and they work great. I added the compressor when I did it just to be able to adjust the pressure on the fly. I find that some driving situations require a different amount of pressure even with the same load. I have not had any problem with them holding air. Once the pressure is set it stays there. It gets left alone at 10psi for days at a time and doesn't change. If you didn't have the compressor, you could find your optimum pressure and just leave it there. It shouldn't leak down unless there is a problem.

 

[Bob4x4]

I like my truck as simple as possible. I don't use any on board air system with mine but I do carry a compressor with my on trips. I haven't had any issues with maintaining air pressure with my custom bag set-up

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Bob

 

[NoSeeUm]

Air bags work well on my truck. I carry a slide in camper and tow a boat that uses a 14 hitch extention. The air bags take all the sag out at 40 psi.



I now have onboard air, but just for my PacBrake. Before I used a $40 re-chargable battery powered air compressor I got from Home Depot. The air bags use only a little air. It was actually easier to use that compressor vice my current set up, because the compressor had a gauge and I would just air up to the pressure I want. With more air pressure, its a trial and error to get it just right. The on board air is nice for airing up bigger tires for my truck or trailer though. That is impossible with the smaller one.



Make sure to leave 5 - 10 psi in the bags with the truck empty.



Jim

 

[Pacbrake]

the only way you should lose air pressure is if you have a leak, This applies to both manual and in cab inflation.



If you already have a Pacbrake with an air compressor its nothing to add our in-cab air control kit to your bags

 

[AWallace]

Thanks for the information. I thought it would be like airing up a tire when you put the air in them up it should stay. I also have a 5th wheel with hitch weight of about 1600 lbs and the truck drops about a inch which is find. But the TC weights loaded 20 lbs over my GVWR I weighted it.

 

[NoSeeUm]

Thanks for the information. I thought it would be like airing up a tire when you put the air in them up it should stay. I also have a 5th wheel with hitch weight of about 1600 lbs and the truck drops about a inch which is find. But the TC weights loaded 20 lbs over my GVWR I weighted it.

I am up around 11K GVW with everything loaded and hooked up... .



Jim