Air bags?

[Jas1234on]

Does putting air bags on truck and leaving at 5lbs make your truck ride rougher? I am looking at firestone air bags..


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[chuckster57]

I have Airlift 5000 on my DRW, and can't say it rides any stiffer. Since I have on board air with solenoid, they stay at 5 or 10 PSI with no load, can't remember what it is, installed in 2008.

[Ken / Claudia]

You do not list your truck. It may or may not ride differently than mine. Both the F250 and the F350 that I have had them on, NO. 20psi or higher and it rides like sitting on a bouncy ball. Really not more harder just uncontrolled bounce.

[slow]

Unloaded at 5 psi on my F250, I do not find he ride any harsher. Actually smoother over larger bumps since I suspect I do not hit the overload springs as quickly.

[Jas1234on]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

You do not list your truck. It may or may not ride differently than mine. Both the F250 and the F350 that I have had them on, NO. 20psi or higher and it rides like sitting on a bouncy ball. Really not more harder just uncontrolled bounce.

Sorry 2016 CC gmc 3500 SRW


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[Jas1234on]

Thanks for the help. Do you think getting the compressor integrated or is license plate fill adequate. Might be some benefit with watching pressure in veh.


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[chuckster57]

On board air allows you to adjust the ride for road conditions, and you don't have to find air or stand in the cold with a portable compressor plugged into the dash to refill.

[slow]

Originally Posted by Jas1234on

Thanks for the help. Do you think getting the compressor integrated or is license plate fill adequate. Might be some benefit with watching pressure in veh.


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I have run with both an on-board compressor and the license plate fill setups. I would find it hard to go back to a license plate fill setup because of the on-board compressor convenience when touring the country. When touring the TV becomes the family "sedan" once the TT is setup in the CG. Being able to easily drop the pressure and re-inflating when hooked up again makes it worth the extra cost to me.

If a weekend warrior, license plate fill setup is fine.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Jas1234on

Sorry 2016 CC gmc 3500 SRW

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I have a 2016 GMC Denali 1 ton diesel and just put them on and didn't see a ride difference with just 5 psi. Haven't towed enough to yet but about 40 miles I have towed it had 25 psi while towing. I will say that rides so much better than the Ford 1 ton I traded in. That maybe because the GMC has a 11 inch longer wheel base than the Ford I had and the different in the front suspension.

[Jas1234on]

Originally Posted by slow

I have run with both an on-board compressor and the license plate fill setups. I would find it hard to go back to a license plate fill setup because of the on-board compressor convenience when touring the country. When touring the TV becomes the family "sedan" once the TT is setup in the CG. Being able to easily drop the pressure and re-inflating when hooked up again makes it worth the extra cost to me.



If a weekend warrior, license plate fill setup is fine.

Cool...I think I have same truck. Thanks for advice!


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[Ken / Claudia]

Having a on board compressor is a added cost. If you want to spend the extra money do so. It is a nice handy item. I would not worry much about loosing air but being able to adjust it in the cab. I just have the valves at the license plate to fill and that is a good spot. I carry a small compressor. Here's another good point about having it on board. Lets say you start at sea level and by end of day your at 4,000 ft or just the opposite. You will need to adjust the psi to keep the truck at same level.

[chuckster57]

My reason for on board air: I have been on decent highway and set the bags at 35 PSI for a decent ride, then hit a stretch of not so good road. Up the air to remove the bounce, and once on smooth pavement I let air out so the ride isn't so stiff. On our cross country trek I was adjusting the pressure a few times a day as I turned onto different roads.

[Jas1234on]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

My reason for on board air: I have been on decent highway and set the bags at 35 PSI for a decent ride, then hit a stretch of not so good road. Up the air to remove the bounce, and once on smooth pavement I let air out so the ride isn't so stiff. On our cross country trek I was adjusting the pressure a few times a day as I turned onto different roads.

Good point.....Do you think with a stiffer ride on rough road does that stress out veh or coach more then having a bit of a bounce.


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[chuckster57]

Didn't seem to bother the truck as much as my back LOL. I only added enough air to stop the bouncing.

[bitten]

Does airbags change the ride when not towing?

[slow]

Originally Posted by Bugbitten

Does airbags change the ride when not towing?

My air bags require a minimum of 5 psi to prevent damage. Some are available that do not need any pressure (0 psi) to prevent damage. So if you have the type that can run at 0 psi, there is no change in ride when not towing.

5 psi would bring your tail end up to normal ride height if you had about 400 pounds in your bed over the axles. My box is never empty since I have a bed cap and totes with tools etc in the bed. To get back to regular empty ride height I actually run a minimum of 7 psi when not towing. When towing I run the air bags at 20 psi that is with about 830 pounds of tongue and hitch weight. Both "empty for me which is actually loaded" and when towing, by getting to regular ride height, I find the TV to handle much better and the ride to be very good. The ride is actually better than stock IMO since it does not have the harshness when contacting the overload springs without air bags over larger bumps.