2007 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Diesel 6.5' bed 4wd 1994 Northland Grizzly 860 2355 pounds.2002 Cobalt 226 boot. 6000 lbs with 600lb tongue weight (estimated) most likely with a 24" supertruss extension.I gave all that for reference.Have the trailer on the truck. Compressed the rear suspension 4" approximately. If I wasn't going to add the boat to the back end of the truck, air bags wouldn't likely be a priority. But, I intend to tow the boat with the truck and camper which is why I bought it.So, I am considering air bags to help level the truck out and to potentially provide some level of side to side control in the wind. I got one quote from a place and they quoted 88275 air bag kit and a 2168 Dual air command controller. Is anybody familiar with them enough to know the benefits of the combined and more expensive option they recommended vs the all in one kit w217602808 from firestone?All in one kit88275 Bags2168 Dual ControllerAs part of this conversation, are air bags the best solution to this problem? Are there better and much more cost effective solutions? I know a hellwig sway bar is advised and if I can find an option that combines the sway bar and something else to support weight on the suspension for a similar cost, that would be cool.This is also a frequent daily driver so taking that into consideration is important.

I had air bags on my flatbeds and loved them. But 600lb tongue weight will squat F250 alone, so with camper you are walking thin lane. Will you need hitch extender? For side to side control timberines (?) might be better and if you don't have rear sway bar, get 1 for sure

One of the main things with air bags is you don’t want to unload your springs, if you do you your sway and bounce will increase. I did air bags on my 2013 2500HD with a 3000+lb commercial work cap and the ride was too bouncy and I had more sway, I ended up going with a set of 3500lb helper springs and then the bags were just used to level side to side. The problem with upping the springs is unloaded ride suffers so that might be a deal breaker for you, my truck has a load 95% of the time so I can deal with the harsh ride with the small amount it is unloaded. I did have 19.5 tires so that did contribute Some to the harsh unloaded ride.

S Davis wrote:One of the main things with air bags is you don’t want to unload your springs, if you do you your sway and bounce will increase. I did air bags on my 2013 2500HD with a 3000+lb commercial work cap and the ride was too bouncy and I had more sway, I ended up going with a set of 3500lb helper springs and then the bags were just used to level side to side. The problem with upping the springs is unloaded ride suffers so that might be a deal breaker for you, my truck has a load 95% of the time so I can deal with the harsh ride with the small amount it is unloaded. I did have 19.5 tires so that did contribute Some to the harsh unloaded ride.^^^ ThisI added a set of bags to my truck and the truck felt like it was bobbling down the road. Added a set of Helwig Load Pro helper springs and the sway is much better. I still have the bags and use them but at a much lower pressure so the springs take most of the load.

Kayteg1 wrote:I had air bags on my flatbeds and loved them. But 600lb tongue weight will squat F250 alone, so with camper you are walking thin lane. Will you need hitch extender? For side to side control timberines (?) might be better and if you don't have rear sway bar, get 1 for sureI'm actually going to measure the trailer today. I'm hoping the tongue on the trailer is long enough that I may not need an extender. It would save me over $1K? Even if I have to remove the tongue box I installed a number of years ago. It also brings up the question, would it be cheaper and better to have the trailer tongue extended than to put on a 20K hitch and get an extender? I might have to go to a fold away tongue if I do that, but other than some wiring extensions, it shouldn't be too rough to have done.

Airbags and dual controller for sure.ALSO, if you want a nice ride install a Bigwig Hellwig sway bar. (best thing I installed)

Air bag question and suspension in general I guess

49 Replies

mountainkowboy
Explorer
Jun 12, 2020
Airbags are a bandaid for not enough spring. Add a progressive overload and see. I went the gambit on an F350 SRW, there ain't no substitute for suspension.
billtex
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2020
Had airbags, supersprings, and sway bar on last truck. Won’t do airbags again. There are better options, less hassle, more robust. With the tongue weight you are suggesting, I don’t think airbags are necessary.
FWIW; I question the weight of that TC also.

Visit the scales and then report back here. Guessing at your weights isn’t very helpful.
jimh406
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2020
I use air bags and extended bump stops to engage the spring overloads. It works for me. I don’t think it’s possible with a GM 2500.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Jun 11, 2020
silverbullet555 wrote:
Kayteg1 wrote:
I had air bags on my flatbeds and loved them.
But 600lb tongue weight will squat F250 alone, so with camper you are walking thin lane. Will you need hitch extender?
For side to side control timberines (?) might be better and if you don't have rear sway bar, get 1 for sure

I'm actually going to measure the trailer today. I'm hoping the tongue on the trailer is long enough that I may not need an extender. It would save me over $1K? Even if I have to remove the tongue box I installed a number of years ago.

It also brings up the question, would it be cheaper and better to have the trailer tongue extended than to put on a 20K hitch and get an extender? I might have to go to a fold away tongue if I do that, but other than some wiring extensions, it shouldn't be too rough to have done.

If you think it's close to working with no extension, a 12-24" extension in the OE hitch will work fine unless you have alot of tongue weight.
Air bags, you're shopping for the Cadillac of automatic systems. Unless you somehow will need to adjust air frequently, you can get a set of bags manual fill for like $250.
True story on the bags unloading the suspension. Will likely want a sway bar and then some wedges and stable loads so you load the suspension up quicker in the travel range.
dwrat
Explorer
Jun 11, 2020
Airbags and dual controller for sure.
ALSO, if you want a nice ride install a Bigwig Hellwig sway bar. (best thing I installed)
silverbullet555
Explorer
Jun 11, 2020
Kayteg1 wrote:
I had air bags on my flatbeds and loved them.
But 600lb tongue weight will squat F250 alone, so with camper you are walking thin lane. Will you need hitch extender?
For side to side control timberines (?) might be better and if you don't have rear sway bar, get 1 for sure

I'm actually going to measure the trailer today. I'm hoping the tongue on the trailer is long enough that I may not need an extender. It would save me over $1K? Even if I have to remove the tongue box I installed a number of years ago.

It also brings up the question, would it be cheaper and better to have the trailer tongue extended than to put on a 20K hitch and get an extender? I might have to go to a fold away tongue if I do that, but other than some wiring extensions, it shouldn't be too rough to have done.
DWeikert
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2020
S Davis wrote:
One of the main things with air bags is you don’t want to unload your springs, if you do you your sway and bounce will increase. I did air bags on my 2013 2500HD with a 3000+lb commercial work cap and the ride was too bouncy and I had more sway, I ended up going with a set of 3500lb helper springs and then the bags were just used to level side to side. The problem with upping the springs is unloaded ride suffers so that might be a deal breaker for you, my truck has a load 95% of the time so I can deal with the harsh ride with the small amount it is unloaded. I did have 19.5 tires so that did contribute Some to the harsh unloaded ride.

^^^ This
I added a set of bags to my truck and the truck felt like it was bobbling down the road. Added a set of Helwig Load Pro helper springs and the sway is much better. I still have the bags and use them but at a much lower pressure so the springs take most of the load.
S_Davis
Explorer
Jun 11, 2020
One of the main things with air bags is you don’t want to unload your springs, if you do you your sway and bounce will increase. I did air bags on my 2013 2500HD with a 3000+lb commercial work cap and the ride was too bouncy and I had more sway, I ended up going with a set of 3500lb helper springs and then the bags were just used to level side to side. The problem with upping the springs is unloaded ride suffers so that might be a deal breaker for you, my truck has a load 95% of the time so I can deal with the harsh ride with the small amount it is unloaded. I did have 19.5 tires so that did contribute Some to the harsh unloaded ride.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2020
I had air bags on my flatbeds and loved them.
But 600lb tongue weight will squat F250 alone, so with camper you are walking thin lane. Will you need hitch extender?
For side to side control timberines (?) might be better and if you don't have rear sway bar, get 1 for sure

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Air bag question and suspension in general I guess

49 Replies

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