Air ride air bags

[DHaas]

Has anyone used air bags while towing a fifth wheel, and if so how much air do you put into the bags while towing?

 

[RAMN4EVR]

I have Airlift bags & a Lance Camper that weighs 3800. I run 75 lbs with the camper on. 5 lbs without. Hope that helps.

Gary

 

[ScottLewis]

I also have the Air Ride's and run about 80 psi. when towing. It depend on the tongue weight of your trailer. My 11K+ 5th wheel has about 2k on the truck bed. The bags have really leveled the truck out under load. Drop them to about 5 psi when empty or you'll hate the ride.



Dan

 

[CLAYTON]

I have the Firestone Ride Rites and they work great. I only put about 45psi in the bags and that seems just right. Makes a HUGE difference in driveability and stability. My father in-law has the AirLift bags and the install on both where just as easy and both seem to work equally as well.





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[jelag]

I use the air lift brand bags on my trucks... . we have them set up to use air from the pacbrake air compressor... . as we change the load on the trailers, we change the regulator and level the truck... . we will run from the 5 psi min to a max of 100 psi... ...



With the 3500 dually's level they ride better and at night the headlights do their job... .



We purchased the 5000 lb kit from summit racing... . 219 a kit as I remember... .

 

[RankRam]

I use the air lift brand bags on my trucks... . we have them set up to use air from the pacbrake air compressor... . as we change the load on the trailers, we change the regulator and level the truck... . we will run from the 5 psi min to a max of 100 psi... ...



With the 3500 dually's level they ride better and at night the headlights do their job... .



We purchased the 5000 lb kit from summit racing... . 219 a kit as I remember... .

Hi Jim, could you pm me the price of your kit?



Does your kit have the regulator too?



I'm thinking of doing the same thing with my Pac-Brake.



Thanks!

 

[tandersen]

Sorry to butt in here but does anyone have a suggestion as to where to mount the gauges for the bags in an '06? Also where did you pick up the power for the compressor and dash lights? I paid $404 for the bags and gauges at Summit Racing.

 

[CPG]

Its best to inflate the bags to the pressure that will maintain the level of the trailer to balance both axles. Too much "rake" on the trailer results in two much weight being shifted on the r. axle.

I learned this the hard way on my old 1st. gener. resulting in the two rear tires being blown out with too much weight on the rear axle.

To be really accurate,weigh both rear trailer axles individually on a "Cat" scale to have a balanced ride. Do this loaded as you usually travel.

 

[jelag]

Since we don't change the air pressure all the time. . only when we change loads we mounted the regulator and gauge under the hood next to the firewall just to the right of the master brake cylinder..... we installed a one way check valve... . so that if the compressor quits we will hold the air in the air bags...



We run our compressors hot... to a battery... through a 10 amp fuse... that way there is always air..... my 05 only has 42,000 miles and might sit 2 or 3 weeks at a time... we've had no problem with this... if there were a lot of air leaks. . you might expect to run the battery down... . if you worry about this... use a relay and start the compressor only when the engine is running. .



CPG - you have a good point... all my trucks are dually's and we don't exceed 11,000 lbs on the rear axle..... this would change with a SRW truck...



Hope this helps... .



Jim / Pacific Clutch

 

[Cattletrkr]

all my trucks are dually's and we don't exceed 11,000 lbs on the rear axle.....

I don't know what my rear axle weighs, and I don't think I want to either. Figuring 25% of the trailer weight, I'm adding 7500lbs of tongue weight to whatever the empty rear weight is. I should probably weigh it sometime... eh.



Loaded I run 90-100psi. Empty trailer or no trailer I go down to 5psi. I also have 4 extra springs on each side, 2 leafs and 2 EXTRA overloads (4 overloads). I won't hurt my bags by running them down when the trailer is empty 'cause the springs keep the bags from squishing.