2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Better ride,should have done this years ago

[MikeBeggy]

After a lot of research on changing to a full air ride rear suspension, I decided to remove my overload springs and replace them with air springs. FYI. I am set-up with 3800 # on the rear and 4200 # on the front. I am (was) on the overloads all the time. I tow an Airstream with 650 # of tongue weight. I really like all aspects of the truck except the friggin ride. I must say, of all the changes I have made over the years, this was the biggest single payback item of all. The horrible jolting to the point of spilling drinks in the cup holders is completely gone. The ride is so improved it's not the same truck. My thanks to Brad in the engineering department at Air Lift for his technical assistance. I used their Super duty kit which I ordered from Summit Racing. I completely removed my overloads, made spacers etc and set the air springs to 6. 5 inches at loaded height. Again, for anyone interested in that ellusive better ride, I'd give this changed a 10.

 

[JoshPeters]

Do you run the truck empty at all? What's the ride like?

How much does a kit like this run?





Josh

 

[CumminsPuller]

I am very interested as well. I was looking at trying the kelderman sometime next year.



Jason

 

[MikeBeggy]

When I run "empty", my rig weighs in at 8000#. I was always on the overloads which was the biggest factor in the rough ride. BTW, I loaded 1200#s of silica sand today and increased air pressure to 40 psi. The ride was great compared to the days of stiff overloads. The system was $205 from Summit racing.

 

[MikeBeggy]

With the four link Kelderman system. you loose your spare tire mounting position under the bed and it costs about $3k. Their rear shackle system is a lot simpler but I read mixed reviews on the ride improvement. FYI.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Mike..........

What I was looking at on Air Lift's website runs about $2k. It is their Primary Air System: http://www.airliftcompany.com/PrimaryAir.htm#Photos



I am curious what you got for $205. And how the system works.



See if they show pics what you did to your truck on their site and let me know I would be interested to see how it looks.





Also, did you compare this system with the Firestone Ride Rite system for about the same money: http://store.summitracing.com/defau...type=bykeyword&searchtype=both&part=firestone





Jason

 

[OTRPU]

Me too, $200 sound like a hellofa deal if it's a true air ride suspension, not just air bag helpers.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Steve, Did you check out that link I provided to Air Lifts website? I like that. Oo. I bet that is smooth.



Jason



P. S.



Steve... ... ... The DTT is doing great. Best money spent so far. And the DD1's went in also.

 

[MikeBeggy]

If you contact Brad at Air Lift, he'll give you the rundown on their new Pimary air system. They are experiencing early product difficulties and the results they're after aren't up to their standards. In other words, you can't buy a Primary air syatem for our trucks. In my specific case, by removing the factory overloads and replacing with simple super duty air "helper" springs, my ride went from buckboard to 1/2 ton truck smoothness. Unless you're loaded all the time, you may not get the same results.

 

[yogibear]

My spare is mounted under the bed, its tight, but works ok.

 

[Lordsman]

Are the one's you bought the Airlift 5000's? Also, did you have to buy new u-bolts? If so what size were they. I already have the Airlift 5000 stuff on(w/ factory overloads). I need the bags when I haul my Lance camper she's heavy! Maybe I can do without the overloads.

 

[OTRPU]

Jason, yes, I checked out the airlift link, already put 800 in the mor/ryde system, don't know if I'll switch or not. Lost another alternator on the road, ran for a couple days on the batts. Means had to get new batts too. Next day hit another gator while loaded, no way to avoid it. Guy in front of me didn't turn on flashers or any notification at all. Thought no damage, fat chance. . . ended up with a small hole in the cooler fluid return line, transmission started acting funny. I checked the fluid, two qts low. 4 hours in the shop, back on the road the next day. Ran two loads of FEMA tailers from Beckely, WV to Richmond, VA. Two round trips takes 20 hours, leaves me 4 for sleep. Continuing saga of steve's folly.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Man, Steve it sounds like a Soap Opera. I haven't decided where I am going to put my money. I have been looking at the kelderman system. Have a friend who had it on his dodge and said he loved it.



I thought I wasn't gonna work last week. Went all week without a run anywhere, then on friday ended up with three. The DTT is doing good. Did you ever get your OD taken care of? Thought you said it went out on ya?



Jason

 

[OTRPU]

Hi Jason, landed in Lakewood about a month ago, ATS threw in a new transmission and TC. That fixed the OD, but still having some issues with the transmission controller. Soon as I get a chance I'm supposed to stop by TST and have them take a look. Out of trailers here now so may get there soon. Back at the same J as last night, searching the net for a load. Hate running MT.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[FDziurda]

Kelderman

I installed the Kelderman 2-Bag system on my truck last Spring and it has made a noticeable improvement when loaded or empty. My truck weighs in at 8,000# (4,300# front axle and 3,700# rear axle) 4,500# rear axle with trailer. Am running 40# in the air bags without trailer and 50# in them, with the trailer attached. Have built in a 12V Thomas air-compressor which allows me to change air bag pressures, based upon the load.



They provide a couple of shackle clamps which are used to clamp the main portion of the spring to the overloads. This prevents the overloads from contacting the rubber bumper on the frame, under normal conditions. I can't see any evidence that the overloads have ever hit the rubber bumper.



Just returned from a 6,700 mile trip towing my 27' travel trailer and had no problems, although there are some sections of I-40 in eastern Arkansas and Oklahoma that are really bad and not sure if anything would make a difference .



Frank Dz

 

[geusterman]

Ditto on Kelderman 2 bag. Nice ride with and without load. My camper special overloads are tied to main springs with U bolts provided by Kelderman so the springs are essentially a big swing arm for the airbags at the rear (like the big trucks). I haul a BigFoot and gotta tell you the ride is even better. The design does increase axle wrap when you stand on it empty. Thinking about traction bars which are reported to improve ride as well. So there. geusterman

 

[y-knot]

Mike I order the super duty kit and it came in yesterday (10-22-03), put the bags on that day and all went well. The super duty bag a much more stout then my older helper bags. And with the over loads out of the way, there was plenty of room to Mount everything. I would not get the super duty if you do not plan on removing the overload springs, they require to much room to leave them intact. The only thing that slowed me up was I have a B&W gooesneck hitch, and had to drill thru it and the frame. These bags are much thicker then my last set, very rugged looking. It will be some time before I get to test drive them (I am re-doing both ends of the trucks suspension), but I'll post when time permits.

 

[Dheadington]

kelderman air suspension

I installed mine about 1 year ago on 99 4x4 not only installed rear 2 bag system buy installed front. There is a very nice ride now with truck. front takes out the rest of bounce rides alot better than 1/2 ton truck. If you do job yourself make sure you measure front ride height first before removing front springs. This was a fairly easy job installing complete system only needed help lifting new hitch and swing arm assembly up while bolting in place.