How do airbags help a tow vehicle?

I added Air-Lifts to my '05 3500 SRW to help with road humping while pulling a TT. They really helped with bounce and leveling a tongue wt. of 1300#. There was a better ride without the TT too.

Also if they are plumbed separate from each other they will help reduce side to side rocking. I had Air-Lifts on my old truck for 10 yrs without any problems. I modified an compressor from a Buick ride leveling system, mounted in front of the rear tire passenger side in the wheel well (rough environment). I had separate gauges and regulator mounted under the dash and could adjust them on the fly to tune the ride for the conditions. Loved them especially with a 100 gal aux fuel tank, 10' popup, 19.5" tires going up the AlCan.

coolbreeze01 wrote:
If you need air bags, you probably don't have enough truck for the load.

Mmmmk

Those that say they don't increase load capacity are typically referring to not being able to actually increase the published mfg/class rating gvw limit.
Those that use them realize they add load carrying capability to the vehicle. Or they wouldn't use them. They're not a fashion accessory or status symbol. Lol

My truck is overloaded by the GVWR with my truck camper. The air bags keep the suspension from bottoming out when going over bumps at highway speed. They also keep the truck level instead of having the back end squatting. I've had the same set of airbags for over 5 years. The bags haven't given me any problems despite being on an overloaded work truck that sees off road duty some times. All the add-on plumbing, gauges, and lines were prone to leaks. I ripped all that out and just inflate now with a bicycle pump.

If you need air bags, you probably don't have enough truck for the load.

I tried them on my welding truck years ago, did not like the pogo stick effect on rough roads, due to the rapid inrease/decrease of pressure on bumps. They were easily damaged by ice and debris on construction sites.
After market air bags are not intended to, do not increase your payload. They are a leveling helper device. Purely aesthetics,as they were on my welding truck.
Your payload remains the same, dependent on your tire and braking capacity

My in laws and us have the exact same tv, we both pull a 35' 5th wheel, he has air bags I don't. The only difference is the Rock and roll of the bouncing truck bed, longer trailers tend to emphasize the forward rock bounce on the truck bed, air bags absorb some of the bounce and as explained to me by a mechanic that is the purpose of them, and remember I said help with not eliminate, they are also cheaper than extra springs

I have had air bags on my trucks for years and love them. They help stabilize the load on the truck and keep the truck planted to the road. It reduces bounce and stops from bottoming out. My current truck has factory airbags that automatically level the truck when I hook up to my fiver. Works great. Smooth stable ride.

They can level out the truck when hauling a heavy load. Even when a truck isn't overloaded it may squat to the point it handles odd, looks goofy or the headlights are doing an owl search.