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04-15-2013, 10:40 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 19
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Air Bags or Not
Hey there,
New Laredo 310 RE 5er behind F250. Trailer rides level but truck squats slightly.
Question is whether or not to install air bags.
Thoughts/comments appreciated.
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Oflag
2012 Laredo 310 RE
2011 F250 SC 6.7 Powerstroke
Quality of life is 10% what happens to you.....90% how you react
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04-15-2013, 10:53 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Yeah... I would
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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04-15-2013, 11:13 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 80
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Supersprings.
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04-15-2013, 11:18 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 616
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The BF got airbags and we both have been really happy with them. The main thing is our landing gear is low and it raised it up so they don't hit the bumps and all that, they were really low. The other thing is when I use the truck to put real heavy stuff (like bricks), it really helps.
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"just ride away into the black and white sunset"
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04-15-2013, 11:27 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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I'm one of the lucky ones don't need them. But if i did i would want the bags not the springs. that way i can reduce the air and my eyeballs won't bounce so much when the truck is empty
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BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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04-15-2013, 11:49 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Carlsbad, Calif
Posts: 212
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I agree with the others and would definitely like to see the rear of your truck up. It looks like you're a little "steering light" like that. You'll then have to adjust the hitch so that you can get the trailer level again. Hopefully you still have some adjustment left in your hitch to accommodate that and maintain a good 6 inches between the truck rails and the trailer overhang. I went with the Firestones and on board compressor and love it. Congrats on the rig. It looks awesome!
__________________
Paul "Poppy" Cervone
2015 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
2011 Cougar High Country 299RKS - SOLD
2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison CC 4x4
2007 Corvette Z51
2009 Cadillac CTS
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04-15-2013, 12:14 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: New Athens
Posts: 246
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Do it you won't reget it.
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God is great, beer is good and people are crazy
Dave and Julie
2008 F-250 6.4L 4x4
2012 Cougar RES 327
2000 Jayco 264 Bunkhouse
1995 Starcraft pop-up
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04-15-2013, 03:22 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 19
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Thanks all for the input.
Question though, if hitch pin is directly over rear axle, how would raising the rear end with air bags help with a "steering light" condition? It certainly doesn't feel like it's "steering light". My memory of college physics says there's no difference if vertical load is applied at the fulcrum. I supposed during acceleration some of that load could be applied radially rearward but by raising the pin above the axle would actually increase that force not lessen it. I might be thinking too hard here.
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Oflag
2012 Laredo 310 RE
2011 F250 SC 6.7 Powerstroke
Quality of life is 10% what happens to you.....90% how you react
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04-15-2013, 03:56 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,985
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Woster,
You're thinking correctly. The only significant thing air bags will do is increase the height of the bed, causing the angle of approach for the front end to be slighlty more horizontal. ie: It will point your headlights down toward the ground rather than up toward the sky. Otherwise, the weight on your rear axle and the transferred weight to the front axle will remain essentially unchanged from your current configuration.
It won't "reduce light steering" but it will make your truck look like it has "less light steering potential"
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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04-15-2013, 06:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 120
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I would go with the air bags. I think your rear suspension will love you.
You actually have the rear squatted pretty good. I think the addition of air bags will allow the rear suspension to work better and will enhance the ride and the way the truck handles.
It may feel ok to you now but I will bet you will be impressed how much better it all feels with the air bags.
__________________
2016 Ram CTD 4x4 CC
2016 Forest River Surveyor
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04-16-2013, 02:24 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 865
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Quote:
Originally Posted by warsw
I would go with the air bags. I think your rear suspension will love you.
You actually have the rear squatted pretty good. I think the addition of air bags will allow the rear suspension to work better and will enhance the ride and the way the truck handles.
It may feel ok to you now but I will bet you will be impressed how much better it all feels with the air bags.
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Ditto
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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04-16-2013, 06:07 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Vernon
Posts: 330
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I have used Firestone Riderite bags for many years both on my Titan with a 26' TT and on our 3500 Sierra HD pulling our Cougar 331MKS. The bags eliminate the squat, stop most of the bounce when driving over dips in the road and help prevent spring sag and dammage as the rear axle load is now taken over six points not four. I run with around 25 psi when loaded and use 2 seperate fill valves, I have never used the auto level kit from firestone as a small portable tire compressor works fine.
Hope that helps
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2013 Cougar 331MKS
2007 GMC 3500 Sierra Duramax
RideRite air bags
Mor/Ryde XFactor and Wet Bolts
1982 BMW R100
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04-16-2013, 10:33 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 59
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Another one here for air bags!
Raising the rear of your truck higher will increase weight on the front axle ever so slightly. ( physics/ gravity) Picture raising the rear 45 deg. to see the front get heaver, 90 deg and 100% of the weight will on the front axle.
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09 Heartland Sundance XLT 5'er
08 F-250 CrewCab, 4x4, 6.8L V-10, 5Star tuned.
10' Ram 1500 4x4 Crew Cab, Hemi
08 Viper SRT-10 Coupe
10' Cyclone enclosed car hauler
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04-16-2013, 10:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
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Just got the trailer out of storage. Does anybody think that I should not be adding a set of airbags to the truck?
__________________
'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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04-16-2013, 11:28 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveC7010
Just got the trailer out of storage. Does anybody think that I should not be adding a set of airbags to the truck?
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Looks like you need to raise the 5th wheel about 2"- 3 ", and truck about 1 1/2". Try leveling both while disconnected then take measurments.
Also looks like you have the snow plow front springs so that raised the front of your truck 2 1/2" over stock. (same as my 250)
I raised my 5er 3" to get bed rail clearance (only way to do it and keep things level)
__________________
09 Heartland Sundance XLT 5'er
08 F-250 CrewCab, 4x4, 6.8L V-10, 5Star tuned.
10' Ram 1500 4x4 Crew Cab, Hemi
08 Viper SRT-10 Coupe
10' Cyclone enclosed car hauler
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04-16-2013, 12:07 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoSRT10
Looks like you need to raise the 5th wheel about 2"- 3 ", and truck about 1 1/2". Try leveling both while disconnected then take measurments.
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The fifth wheel is already as high as it can be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoSRT10
Also looks like you have the snow plow front springs so that raised the front of your truck 2 1/2" over stock. (same as my 250)
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Nope, no snow plow package on the truck. It does, however, have the 10K# GVWR option. If you look at the pic in my signature area, the whole thing sits high and level without the trailer.
In the pic, it's not parked on level ground, but the rear end is still clearly squatted a bit more than I'd like. I'll get the tape measure out when the rain stops and start to accumulate some numbers.
__________________
'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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04-16-2013, 12:52 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 59
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Steve, I raised a friends Cougar 5th wheel and it was rather easy DIY. (2" spring blocks and longer U-bolts)
The pic is my 5th with 2" blocks. I can custom make any height needed but 3" IMO is the max. for safety reasons.
Rear Leaf Spring Drop/Lift Block Kits can be bought @ Jegs or Summit racing
__________________
09 Heartland Sundance XLT 5'er
08 F-250 CrewCab, 4x4, 6.8L V-10, 5Star tuned.
10' Ram 1500 4x4 Crew Cab, Hemi
08 Viper SRT-10 Coupe
10' Cyclone enclosed car hauler
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04-16-2013, 02:21 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 616
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I love your truck and rv and do you want to give me the house?!!
__________________
"just ride away into the black and white sunset"
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04-16-2013, 02:46 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 89
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+1 for airbags. Even with my dually, I appreciate having the ability to vary the ride depending on my load.
I have the Airlift Loadlifter 5000. Only issue thus far was failure of the one way valve (installed in 2008) which Airlift quickly replaced for free. No questions asked... Customer service is great.
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CampJKL
2007 Dodge CTD MegaCab Laramie 4x4 Dually
2012 Cougar 324 RLB
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04-16-2013, 05:41 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chico, California
Posts: 296
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The airbags are too easy and versitile NOT to install, in my opinion. Firestone #2535. Bolts straight in, no drill.
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2011 F-350 C.C. 4X4 LWB 6.7PSD
2010 Montana Mountaineer 345DBQ
2005 F150 FX4
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