Air Helper Bags

[C.MILLER]

I have done an extensive forum search the last couple of days on these systems, and I am still unsure of which route to go. I plan on hauling about a 3800lb camper and have a couple questions. Will the Firestone air bags work in conjunction with the factory overload springs without any problems? Has anyone tried the Timbren system, and will this sytem actually keep your ride height level while under load? I also am planning on a Hellwig sway bar to help with sway. Input on any of these systems would be greatly appreciated!!



Thanks,



Chris

 

[JWhitcomb]

I haul about 5K and the air bags do a good job. Rancho 9000 shocks should be considered also. My camper is heavy on the slide side and the air bags level it well. I also have some spring slippers that allow the overloads to take some of the load and let me use less air in the bags. One thing, the air bags cut down your spring travel if you leave the overloads on and you bottom on big bumps. I plan to add a second overload leaf to help that. DC, in order to save a buck, left the second one off my truck.

 

[RAPID RICK]

I had air bags along with my 2 leaf overloads & I hated them . Took them off & gave them away to somebody I didn't like.

Went to dealer & bought the overload springs that fit my 3500

& added them to the 2 leaf overloads already on the truck & I love it .



Rick

 

[JWhitcomb]

Rick, so you have two or four overload springs on each side? And do they touch the bumpers unloaded?

 

[rrl989]

C. Miller,

Haul your camper first, you will see that you don't need the airbags. You will probably be +2 inches high in the rear with a 3800lb. load. Once you add the bags on top of the overloads, you have to use them or you will have NO rear axle travel,(air bags now act as the new bumpstops), but, to get a firm ride you end up at 90+ psi and the rear now at +6 inches over the front. I have the Super duty Air-Lift system and regret installing it. You will find that with a slide-on, that you want to keep it as low as possible for best drivability.



Ron

 

[C.MILLER]

I'll give it a try with the camper in before I decide if I need to use helper bags or just add some more overload springs. It will be about a week before I get this camper though. Sounds like the way to go, if necessary, is air bags in with the overload springs taken out, or adding some more overload springs to the current set up without the air bags. I just don't want my headlight pointing up in the trees with a heavy load. So I'll just wait and see how much 3800lbs will squat the back of the truck. Anyone using a Hellwig sway bar on their truck?

 

[Dean Upson]

I like the Timbrens as much as the airbags (I've had both) and they are much easier to install and there is no worry about a puncture.



Dean

 

[RAPID RICK]

over load springs

JWHITCOMB,



I have 4 leaf overload springs on each side. No they don't touch the overload bumpers when empty,but they are close. 1" from the front ones & 1 1/2" from the back ones. If you hit a bump very hard you feel it twice. It's worth it to me for all the extra load control (sway control) I have over 2 leaf overloads or air bags. Just my humble opinion.



Rick

 

[Bill Stockard]

I use the air bags on my present '00 3500 and will use them on the '03 3500 DRW along with the on board compressor and dual gauges. The '00 truck sets level with the camper loaded; however, I use the air bags to firm up the suspension when driving in strong crosswinds. I can pump up the air bags going down the road to limit the effects of the cross winds.



With 10 PSI in the bags the camper has the truck setting with the frame stops touching the overloads which makes for a more "bouncy" ride with the Ranchos set on "5". Normally I run 25-35 PSI in the bags to keep the overload springs from "banging" on the frame stops and let the bags absorb some of the road shocks. By watching the air pressure fluctuating in the gauges tells me how much of the road shocks the bags are absorbing. With 55 PSI in the bags, even 30-40 MPH cross winds don't bother me.



In the middle 80s, we had a smaller Lance camper on a SRW truck without the air bags and even a 10-15 MPH cross wind had me all over the highway. Don't care to repeat that again!!



Bill

 

[C.MILLER]

Bill,



Have you ever had the problems that some of the other members are having, with clearance issues between the air bags and overload springs? I probably need to get something figured out to help keep the truck level, I have the front-end leveling kit in, and a 3800 lb camper is probably going to squat the truck pretty good.

 

[Bill Stockard]

C Miller,



No problems at all with the air bags mounted on top of the spring pack on the '00 3500.



I haul a 11' 6" 4,200 lb camper now that adds only 120 lbs to the front axle. All the rest is on the rear axle.



What you really need to do is load your camper and take it to a truck scales and weigh the axles to see how much you are carrying.



You might try hauling the camper without the air bags to see how it handles. You can add the air bags anytime.



Bill

 

[HavinFun]

I have a set of airbags sitting on the shelf in the shop. they gather dust. Now the camper is bigger and I am happier than before.





Did you guys get an additional overload spring from DC or have one made? I have only one on my 3500.

 

[RAPID RICK]

overload springs

HavinFun,



You can get springs from your dealer or a lot cheaper from a wrecking yard. Get the overloads from a 99 or 00 because they are 2 leaf instead of single leaf. Hope this helps.



Rick

 

[SMorneau]

Airbags = yes

I can understand people telling you they don't need them. Maybe they don't have a lot of weight or the 3500 trucks handle a camper a lot better than my 2500. But I cannot understand the feedback simply says, "I hated them" or "there sitting on the shelf". What good is that?



I have used airbags for several years and they are by far the number one option for anyone hauling a slide in camper. They will greatly improve handling. The factory overloads are lame, You have to sink the rear end several inches before they come into play. Adding a leaf to the springs is an option but, unlike the airbags, that will affect your ride when unloaded.



I have been so happy with the airbags, I laugh when I read about people going through all of the trouble to add leaves and such, I just don't understand it.

 

[HavinFun]

I installed my bags on the 97 cc 4x4 2500 to help with camper and trailer load. I ordered the truck with trailer tow and camper packages. Installed per directions and with separate air lines, and with Rancho 9000 on various settings I was unhappy with the ride. Empty was fine, with camper loaded (9. 5 ft), there was less than 2" between mounting brackets, this was filled with the bag (no pressure in it to lower tailgate) acting as a bump-stop. Add air to get an adequate space for suspension travel, viola, sway, nose down attitude and poor ride, handling. Less air, better handling, but then the airbags would bottom out over freeway bumps. After many different combinations of air, shock settings, with trailer and w/o trailer, I yanked them off. First trip without them I had better ride and handling with the factory overloads doing what they are supposed to do.



My opinion, I don't like them. Friends who don't have the factory overloads like them. Now they reside on a shelf.



Current truck is a dually and camper has grown to 11. 5+ I keep looking at them to level the ride, hmmmmm same clearance issues as on the 2500. I am going to try beefier overloads to level the truck.





Just re-read thread, with my camper, I weigh 11,500 with just camper, rear axle 1s 7500

 

[D. Showan]

Havinfun,



Sounds to me like you may not have enough space between your brackets then you installed them. On my Air lifts the directions said to have 5" to 7" between the brackets when unloaded. I set it at about 6 1/2" but noticed that the bags were going to bottom before the bump stops. I raised the distance to 7 1/2" and things looked much better. I don't want my truck to be all the way up to unloaded height when its loaded down with my camper. I usually add about 50psi to raise the rear so that there is still about 2 1/4"of space before the bumpstops will touch. If I add enough air to put it back up to normal unloaded ride height the ride does suffer (much more stiff).

 

[C.MILLER]

Anyone have any more info on the Kelderman Rear Air Suspension. There site says that they do not increase load carrying capacity. I don't think I really need to increase my capacity, but I would like to keep the truck level with a 3800 lb camper on it. Will the Kelderman system do this, or at least come close? It seems like the Kelderman system will give a much better ride than the air helper bags, I just want to help keep the truck level without sacrificing ride quality to much. Thanks!!



Chris

 

[jerryrigg]

Here is my "Lessons Learned" with Firestone and Airlift airbags



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61539

 

[wcjp]

Has anyone considered any type of kit for extended the overload bumpstop? If a clamp on style was used it could be "quick disconnect" style for varying loads.

 

[JWhitcomb]

WCJP, I use spring slippers which do what you were wondering about.