In cab controllers for air bags...help?

[ENafziger]

I recently installed a Lorenz 2. 25" suspsension system with dual leafs. Because of carrying about 800 lbs in the bed and towing heavy occasionally, I've decided to add a set of Carli long travel airbags.

However, I'm having trouble sourcing a good in cab control unit to provide air to the bags.

From doing some reading, it seems that if the two rear bags are connected together with a common air line and a single controller, sway is not reduced at all, and may actually be worse than without bags. Does anyone have first hand experience with this?

If a dual system is needed to help eliminate sway, I guess what I'm looking for is a way to inflate/deflate each bag separately from the cab, and verify pressure with a gauge.

I've found Firestone and Ride Rite both seem to make dual kits, but I can't find any information on how they work, or how they are intalled. I also ran across several digital controllers, but feedback seems to indicate that they are somewhat problematic.

I will probably use a 5 gallon air tank, and go with an Air Zenith or Viair 550C electric 100% duty cycle compressor for the air supply for the bags, as well as inflating an occasional tire, etc.

Is there a reliable system available that will show pressure of each bag, inflate/deflate each bag separately (or together if sway is not a problem)? What is everyone using?

I can put together a system on my own if I had a schematic to go off of, but I'm not real familiar how these systems are normally set up.

Any help would be great!

Thanks, Eric

 

[CDonaldson]

I got my in-cab air bag controller from PacBrake. They can be plumbed up either as a single line to both or dual line controlling each. I have the single gauge, dual control.



Contact member Jelag, that's where I got mine. Great people to deal with, prompt shipment, good prices-best of everyone who sells them.



You can go to PacBrakes website and in their technical information there is the install for the control units AND schematics.



Hope that helps.



CD

 

[ENafziger]

Thanks for the information. I believe I'm going to try to make my own system, but the pacbrake info sparked some ideas.

Thanks again...

Eric

 

[DonTX]

I sort of done my own (Air-lift stuff) and have learned as I go. I changed over from separate to connected bags, and did not find the effects others and I feared, I will leave it that way. I am about to upgrade mine again, and put a pressure switch on the compressor with a tank for holding some air, and most of all a regulator so that the bags will be reinfladed whenever they are below what you have set the regulator for, with no input from operator.

Thanks for the information. I believe I'm going to try to make my own system, but the pacbrake info sparked some ideas.



Thanks again...



Eric

 

[JHardwick]

It's kind of hard to see in this pic, but I have the Firestone Dual Command mounted in my shifter concole. I ran the air lines up through the floor. #ad

 

[PToombs]

When I do mine, I'm going to put on a leveling valve from a big rig. Keeps the rear at the same height no matter the load. I'll have a dual needle guage, 1 for tank pressure, 1 for bags.

 

[DShore]

Check out StreetRidePro.com. They have the complete plug & play units all-in-one metal box including hose, wiring & controller with or without tank from $495 to $795. Worth a look.