Air Bags?

[AlFischer]

Just bought a new (to me) Elkhorn slide in Camper. 8. 5 ft 2000 lbs (per the label).



Will probably add more weight with food/fuel/folks.



Pull a boat about 5000 lbs.



The truck looks basically level with the camper on.



At what point should I consider installing air bags? or what?

 

[DPelletier]

a 2000 lb 8 1/2 ft camper isn't too bad. Do you have the camper package with the rear sway bar and the overloads? I would only add air bags if my rear end was sagging. I think the sway bar is more important. JMHO.

Dave Pelletier

 

[AlFischer]

Yes I have the camper package and sway bar. The truck looks to be level at this point. It is sitting on the overload springs. I drove it about 300 miles with the rear Ranchos on 9 and the fronts on 5 and it seemed pretty stable.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Had a slide in camper too. With the bumper pull horse trailer (heavy steel) and the camper, the springs and overloads wouldn't hold the truck at least level. Put in air bags and it reversed the tilt and got rid of the sway in corners and heavy winds. I have the tow package and research showed shocks ease suspension reaction but don't carry the load (ie. increase payload carrying capacity).



Recommend air bags over shocks... for the rear anyway.

 

[DPelletier]

I agree that air bags have thier place. If you need something to level you out, they are probably the way to go BUT a guy shouldn't choose between air bags and shocks. They both do a different job as Turbo Horseman stated. Air bags are to take the load and level out ride height. You don't need air bags unless your springs are not heavy enough for the load you are carrying. Shocks are to control (dampen) spring (or air bag) action. Good shocks are a necessity, whether you get air bags or not. The ranchos are good units. Air bags biggest advantage over heavier springs or overloads is that they can be ajusted depending on load condition.

Dave

 

[Lordsman]

Slide-in's need stiff shocks

Here's something to think about. My slide-in weighs around 3100 lbs wet/not loaded. I use my camper about 3 times a year, or about 1 month a year. On the '99 I've had air bags on and using the stock shocks. After 2 years the ride really deteriorated when empty, really got bouncy. So I got Rancho 9000 shocks and noticed when I took off the factory shocks they were all ok. Upon installing the new shocks and setting them on 1 or 2 in the rear I still had a lousy/bouncy ride. even removed the air bags but ride remained the same. So I thought about it some more and realized maybe my leaf springs were losing their arc due to the heavy load of the camper over the last 3 years. I moved the shock setting over to 4 on the rear and no more bounce. This seemed to help eliminate the backlash and keep the rear end down. So the moral of the story is if your going to carry a slide-in. get good stiff(adjustable) shocks to keep the springs in good shape from the get go. Air bags are a good for leveling up the rear, proportioning the weight, proper steering and turns. Enjoy your camper!