Air bags improved ride while not towing?

? How dos a dually contact overload springs when empty .
Frank.

Go with the air bags and Bilstein shocks - the OEM shocks were toast after 22,000 miles.

Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags
Bilstein 5100 shocks "std yellow shocks"

It depends on the truck and the load. My 97 rode best empty with 20 psi but my 03 is best w/o any air. It must have to do with hitting the OL springs. I cut the ends off the bottom OLs on my 03 so no pressure is need to keep from hitting them. I left the OLs alone on my 97 and it took 20 psi to keep from hitting them. The 20 psi was apparently better than hitting those bone-jarring things. Air bags might help yours if you are feeling the harsh rebound from the OLs. My chevy service truck at work is terrible cuz the load is just right to make it hit the bottom OLs on every bigger dip and bump. Craig

Thanks everyone great to get your perspectives. They answer my question :)

KD4UPL wrote:
Now, if you change out the rear springs and go to a full air ride suspension, that's where you'll see an improvement.

Yes, to the tune of several thousand dollars.

Air bags are not designed to and will most probably not help your ride quality when you are not towing or hauling a heavy load. They are designed to level your truck when it is under load. If you go that route, and many of of us have, be sure to keep a minimum of 5 to 10lbs. of air in the bags at all times and air them up as necessary when hauling.

If you install them, play with them. My '10 rode better(subjective I know!) at 12psi when unloaded. My '13 stays right around 7psi to get a comfortable ride. You can poll lots of people and will find that each finds a different pressure that they like. some with 5psi all the way up to 20 or so on my friend's F250. I really like having bags when towing heavy and won't tow that way again without them on my trucks.

There is no improvement to unloaded ride with air bags. If anything, the bags with their min. air pressure would make the suspension slightly stiffer.
Now, if you change out the rear springs and go to a full air ride suspension, that's where you'll see an improvement.

I think my truck might ride a little rougher when empty even with only the recommended 5 PSI. It makes the ride a little stiffer. I don't think they do anything when loaded except level the truck out. I run about 25 PSI to level it. Anything more than that and it will knock your fillings out..

B.O.

Just like Howard said, normal driving w/ 5 psi. when hooked up to the 5er all
the difference in the world at40 psi

Steve