Forum Discussion

johnm1's avatar
johnm1
Explorer
Mar 10, 2016

Do I need to install airbags?

We'll be picking up our new baby soon (2016 Vengeance 25V Toy Hauler) and I got to wondering about tongue weight and whether or not we we're good to go.

Truck:
2013 GMC Sierra, 2500HD, DA, 4x4 CC, Short box with class V hitch so I think I'm rated to 1.7k on the tongue?

Ball mount (?):
2" Reese shank with 1.4k tongue rating

Weight/Sway bars:
Reese round bars (61009??) with 1.2k tongue/weight rating

Camper:
2016 Vengeance 25V Toy Hauler with 1014# hitch weight. I assume this is unloaded hitch weight?????

Our toys are bicycles and kayaks, no motorized toys. Though I do plan on adding a couple (few?) more batteries up front which will increase the tongue weight somewhat.

For the people who have toy haulers with heavy tongues ... is my ride going to be OK or nasty? I know I could go to the next size up on the bars, but do I "need" airbags? Keep in mind that I don't have any toys in the back to offset the weight up front.

Thanks,
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Mar 10, 2016
    I would hold off on the bags. See how it rides when loaded for a trip. Hen you can decide if you want bags. Most of the time bags are to level out a vehicle such as when towing a 5th wheel. Even those can be under the ratings and still sag enough that air bags are warranted. I have a set on my X and it needs them. I run them around 30-40psi with 7 people a dog and the trailer!
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Mar 10, 2016
    BT,DT
    Been There, Done That!
    Yea. Bought too much trailer for the truck way back in 2005. Added air bags, higher rated tires. Still ended up 10,500 pounds on a 9200 GVWR truck. Pulled OK in a straight line. Mountain driving got real scary real fast. Felt out of control going down every hill. Got the correct truck for the load, and life is totaly different.
  • sunofabeach's avatar
    sunofabeach
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    yes, airbags will help your towing experience. it will help to absorb bouncing and stop any porpiosing while towing.
  • johnm1's avatar
    johnm1
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    Ahhhh ... OK. So if I have poor ride quality (as in bouncy while driving) with my current set up it's because of the way I have it set up (ie: too much weight up front, in back of RV, WD bars not set properly, too much weight in bed of truck) kind of thing ... right?

    BTW - what does BT, DT mean?
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Mar 10, 2016
    Nope. Suspension aids, whether air bags or Timbrens are supplimental suspension components. Their purpose is to increase beyond the manufacturers limits a vehicles load carrying capacity. To do that, they support XXX amount of weight in place of the springs doing their job. BT,DT, and IMHO if you need supplimental susoension aids, you really need more truck!
  • johnm1's avatar
    johnm1
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    bear,

    That's my plan since I'd rather not drop several hundred $$ on something that I may not need and when I add up the potential hitch wt with the new batteries, I think I'll need to go to a higher WD bar setup.

    Maybe I'm missing something about airbags. Isn't the main purpose for ride quality and not to increase the cargo/hitch capacity?

    My apologizes ... I'm starting to over analyze and second guess myself here.

    Thanks
  • johnm1's avatar
    johnm1
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    I didn't ask about payload. I'm well within range of that. I'm looking at ride/towing quality. It seems like people who put in airbags LOVE them and would never go without them. I don't have them and I'm asking peoples opinions ... will my ride quality be unpleasant without bags?
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    I would wait and see once you hitch up to the TH. You may be able to level out your truck using the weight distributing hitch by adjusting the tension on the chains.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2016
    It's all about IF you have enough payload to carry the tongue weight of your trip loaded trailer (not dry).

    Airbags will not increase your payload.

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