Using Firestone airbags with WD hitch?
First off, let me say that I have searched through the forums….and I’ve found some good info on this topic, but nothing really concrete. And a lot of the info I found was from way back in the early 2000’s….but who know, maybe the answers are the same.
I’ve got a properly set up WD hitch on my Dodge Ram 1500 that I use for towing my 19ft Zinger camper (4,400lbs loaded). It tows good, but I do get a good amount of wallowing/bouncing in the rear of the truck when hitting bumpy sections of highway. The shocks on the truck are good, so I think it’s just the soft factory leaf springs.
I recently installed a set of firestone airbags on the rear axle of the truck, allowing me to adjust pressure as needed with the small compressor the kit comes with.
Our first trip towing the camper after adding the air bags went great……I put about 20psi of air in the bags, and it made for a much firmer and more controlled ride. No more bouncing, it had a much more solid feel when towing.
The only question I have is that with 20psi in the air bags, it will raise the bed of my truck a little bit….throwing off the “proper” measurements for how my WD hitch should be set up. I’m wondering if I could run one more link of chain on each bar of the WD hitch to get the bed back down to the proper height….or will that in turn take too much weight off of the front of the truck?
I will say one thing for sure…….that one time I towed the camper with 20psi in the air bags and no other changes to the WD adjustements….it towed great.
It’s not that I need the airbags for load capacity…..it just tows so much better ,and has a more solid feel with a little air pressure in the bags.
Any thoughts? Info? Tips?
I’ve got a properly set up WD hitch on my Dodge Ram 1500 that I use for towing my 19ft Zinger camper (4,400lbs loaded). It tows good, but I do get a good amount of wallowing/bouncing in the rear of the truck when hitting bumpy sections of highway. The shocks on the truck are good, so I think it’s just the soft factory leaf springs.
I recently installed a set of firestone airbags on the rear axle of the truck, allowing me to adjust pressure as needed with the small compressor the kit comes with.
Our first trip towing the camper after adding the air bags went great……I put about 20psi of air in the bags, and it made for a much firmer and more controlled ride. No more bouncing, it had a much more solid feel when towing.
The only question I have is that with 20psi in the air bags, it will raise the bed of my truck a little bit….throwing off the “proper” measurements for how my WD hitch should be set up. I’m wondering if I could run one more link of chain on each bar of the WD hitch to get the bed back down to the proper height….or will that in turn take too much weight off of the front of the truck?
I will say one thing for sure…….that one time I towed the camper with 20psi in the air bags and no other changes to the WD adjustements….it towed great.
It’s not that I need the airbags for load capacity…..it just tows so much better ,and has a more solid feel with a little air pressure in the bags.
Any thoughts? Info? Tips?
