Air Bags! Do I need them

[NIsaacs]

Mickey, an air ride seat might be an option. Here is a pic of the low profile air ride seats in my Ford in sig.

 

[MHoge]

Hello Jack...
Thank you very much for your reply and the information. Your opinion helps me even more because you certainly
know what it is like to ride a 92 with a bad back. I was surprised to know the Kelderman made more difference with
a load than empty... . that adds to my suspicion that I still have too many spring leafs on my truck because it rides
much better loaded than empty. Your input has helped me maybe even get this truck where I can get the ride to where
I can always enjoy the truck and not have to trade and maybe not even have to spend $$$$ to get a ride that I can live
with. I am very pleased with the truck except for the ride, and you know how important that is with a tender back.
Thanks again and keep enjoying your Dodges... .
Mickey

 

[MHoge]

Hello NIsaacs...
Your truck really looks good inside! I put an air seat in mine but I believe you did a neater job than I did. The air seat helped, especially on bridges and other straight-across-the-road bumps but they still snap my back some to the tune of causing back pain for 2-3 hours. Now I would recommend air seats to anybody, sore back or not! One extra
benefit that I'm sure you enjoy and one that I didn't think about is being able to raise the seat height when driving
for a long time directly into the sun. It seems to me the cab at the top of the windshield does a much better job of
blocking the sun than the visor does.
Thanks for your help. .
Mickey

 

[JMetzger]

MHoge: I never put anything on my 02 as it really does ride fairly good even being a 4x4. I think a lot of it is that the 02 has better seats then the 92. I really do like my 02 as does my son who keeps bugging me to sell it to him. Good luc with what ever you do.

 

[MHoge]

Hey Jack...
I'm glad to hear you think most of the improvement in the Dodges' ride from the first generation trucks may be in the better seats. As you may have seen, I have already improved my seating so maybe I actually can get my truck to ride like the newer ones! After 8-10 wheel balancing jobs one wheel showed up way off and after correction the ride
is the best it has been to date. I'm more determined than ever, with help from you guys, to get his truck right, so
keep your fingers crossed for me!
THANKS...
Mickey

 

[JMetzger]

MHoge, Now that you mention wheel balance I remember when a friend of mine ran two Goodyear stores & he put on 12 new Wrangler tires on the wheels before we got 4 to be balanced. I don't know if it was the tires or the wheels. I wonder if some of the poor ride on 1st Gen's was wheels because my friend said that he had problems with other Dodge out of balance & this was just before the 2nd Gen's were out or were just coming out. Good luck.

 

[Stab]

Air bags are a very simple and functionable option on any truck, any year. I have had them on every truck I've owned. Smooth 1/2 ton ride when empty.
Remove the overloads springs and install air ride!

 

[MHoge]

Hello Jack...
After new tires and a few balance jobs, I bought aluminum wheels for the front... couldn't afford all of them! In my case, it didn't help at all. My new tires were Michelin, but one step below the top of the line... . 3-4 guys told me the only cure for first gen was the very best Michelins, so major $$$$ later, they actually did make a noticeable difference and I still am surprised! I couldn't afford the best for the rear too but they would probably make a difference too. Like you
found out... the ride can't be right if the tires aren't right.
Thanks again!
Mickey

 

[MHoge]

Hey Stab. .
Please tell me more about your air bags. Are you using air bag overloads or air bag suspension with no leaf springs?
I have tried the air bag overloads but with little results... . I took out 3-4 leafs but are you saying to get a good ride I need to maybe take out more? My sleeper weighs about 1400 pounds which I figure is about 600 pounds more than an empty bed so I might not be able to take out as many as you did. How many did you leave?
Thanks for your interest. .
Mickey

 

[NIsaacs]

The air seat helped, especially on bridges and other straight-across-the-road bumps but they still snap my back some to the tune of causing back pain for 2-3 hours.





Mickey, does your air seat have the release for fore and aft movement? Mine has that feature, in release mode it is spring loaded to center the seat as adjusted but will slide about 3" forward or back to take the jolt out of the back slaming your back.



Also, is your truck a 2wd or 4x4? I would not take any more spring leafs out of your spring pack as you need them for stability when loaded heavy. The air bag over load will become unstable if you use too much air. I would say no more than about 10# empty or they actually ride worse.



Nick

 

[MHoge]

Hello Nick... . No, my seat doesn't have the forward and back release on it ... . I sure wish it did! I rode a Freightliner
with that(I call it the rocking chair) and loved it. I couldn't believe the Freightliner owner didn't like it at all!
Thanks for the warning about taking out too many spring leafs. Looks like I have four long leafs left and haul
the 1400# sleeper plus a golf cart but I want to keep enough stability to still pull a single loaded car hauler if needed.
It seemed like about 20 # in the air bags gave the best ride but I'll sure be glad to try 10 to solve the problem!
I certainly appreciate your interest and help.
Mickey. .

 

[MHoge]

PS... . My truck is two wheel drive.

 

[NIsaacs]

Mickey, sorry, this might be a little insulting:-laf, but how about tire pressure. A dually running empty doesn't need much in the rear, maybe 40#. Are you running the stock 215/75Rx16's?

Nick

 

[JMetzger]

MHoge, I agree with Nlsaacs about taking spring leafs out. I don't think that that would be safe under a load. Have you looked at Firestone's Air Ride kit. They go between the spring & frame & sell for about $289. 00. I do not know anything about them, maybe someone on here has used them.

 

[MHoge]

Hey Nick... Nothing whatsoever is insulting to me when you are trying so hard to help! Lots of times it is the little things that cause at least part of the problem. I do run the standard tires and reduced the pressures to about 50# but I like your idea to go to 40. I got to the point that even though it might wear the tires more the difference in ride would be worth it, especially since I haven't been able to put many miles on this truck. Got it waxed for the winter today so
it already "feels" better! LOL Please keep scratching your experience for ideas!
Mickey...

 

[MHoge]

Hello Again Jack... I have the Air Lift system which sounds very similar to the Firestone system you mentioned but
I believe it is more of an overload assistance than for ride improvement. An excellent Dodge mechanic recommended it
after it helped his friend's truck ride better but even the instructions with the unit said it wasn't designed to make a better ride and could in some cases make it worse. I haven't gotten a chance to try it again on 10# yet but maybe that
will help. Maybe if I could find an air suspension system that would go between the axle and frame and completely replace the leaf springs it would solve my problem but I haven't found one yet.
Thanks...
Mickey

 

[JMetzger]

MHoge, You might try running it at 5#. I know that on my Kelderman air ride for my 92 with no load & no trailer I ran it at 5-6# & the ride was good. I have wondered about the Firestone as to if it would make it ride better but you might try the 5# to see.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I run my Pac Brake air bags 5psi empty and 25psi with 8,460 on rear axle and 4,500#pin wt.

 

[MHoge]

Hey Jack... I sure wish I had room for a Kelderman! The Kelderman air suspension evidently rides worlds better than my air over loads. I'll sure try the lower pressures again to see if I can get a better ride.
Thanks... Mickey

 

[MHoge]

Hello Cummins12v98... How is your Pac Brake system made? Do your air bags replace the spring leafs or just increase
their capacity? Are your air bags between the axle and frame or between the axle and leaf springs? You must have
a great system to ride good and carry the big loads you are carrying! Thanks for your help...
Mickey...