Towing with a 2012 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L Cummins w/ 4.10 Gears. Crew cab 6.5' bedUsing a B&W Slider Companion and love it.Trailer is 2014 Cougar 333MKS max weight is 12,600 average tow weigh is 11,600, and Pin wight is 1,850. All my numbers are well with in my trucks weight limits.When hooking up the trailer i get roughly a 2.5 to 3" drop in the rear suspension, so i'm not worried about the drop but I've heard they "smooth out the ride". Question is those of you who've added Air Bags are they worth the effort?

I put Firestone bags on my 2010 F150. Because of the way they mount on it I need 10 to 15 psi in them when empty. It raises the truck up higher than I would like. However when towing it made a big difference with ride and handling. I didnt have a compressor when I installed them but just got a Airlift 72000 wireless to install as it was a pain to manually adjust them. With your truck this may or may not be an issue.

I had them on my last truck (different 5er) and they did improve the ride. Without them larger bumps would give a harsh ride and bounce more than I thought it should. I added the Firestone bags and an on-board compressor and it made a difference for sure. It smoothed the ride out so I didn't cringe before hitting dips in the road. And with on-board compressor I could adjust them from inside the truck according to the roads I was on.

I use air bags to keep my headlights properly aimed.

I have a 12 Ram 2500 CC LB and tow a 5'er with a 17-1800lb pin. I only sag 2" max. I put Timbrens on. They sit 1" off the axle when empty so when hitched up the rear drops 1"+. They provide a more stable ride. Less body roll. They didn't improve the ride any just body roll. I've towed with and without them and there' not really much difference. I'm thinking of maybe adding bags next year. I still get some chucking even with the MorRyde king pin. Pin weight is 20% so I know I'm good there. Just not sure if bags will be all that much different. Timbrens are way cheaper and easier to install.Your pin weight seems kinda low for the trailers loaded weight. You could be getting some chucking from that.

Air Bags or No Air Bags? | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
Bags, Timbirn's don' need them! Stock 01 Ram Camper and Tow packages. Yep over GVWR, but still 600#+ under axle ratings both front and rear.
Full set of Bilstien 5100's tows great and level. This 5er tows at 11,000# don't see the need.

My 98 4x4 looked exactly like yours towing a 32.5' Avion Platinum. 20.5K combined load.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2014
Bags, Timbirn's don' need them! Stock 01 Ram Camper and Tow packages. Yep over GVWR, but still 600#+ under axle ratings both front and rear.
Full set of Bilstien 5100's tows great and level. This 5er tows at 11,000# don't see the need.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2014
Javi1 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Dr_Holiday wrote:
Towing with a 2012 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L Cummins w/ 4.10 Gears. Crew cab 6.5' bed

Using a B&W Slider Companion and love it.

Trailer is 2014 Cougar 333MKS max weight is 12,600 average tow weigh is 11,600, and Pin wight is 1,850. All my numbers are well with in my trucks weight limits.

When hooking up the trailer i get roughly a 2.5 to 3" drop in the rear suspension, so i'm not worried about the drop but I've heard they "smooth out the ride".

Question is those of you who've added Air Bags are they worth the effort?

Your truck is designed to sit "level" or higher in the rear with a load that is within specs. Drive it and don't listen to people that tell you that is bad and you need bags.

Pic below is with 4,500# pin weight. I do run bags at 30psi just for ride improvement. They don't change ride height at that pressure.

Might just be the angle but it looks like you're going coon hunting... :D

I hate it when my low beams shine up into the trees.. and I will pull over and salute anyone behind me with headlights shining in my mirrors.

I measure my rear wheel well height unloaded with no air in the bags and then adjust the loaded height to be the same by adding air.

Could be the shadow line. It does sit level. The bottom of the truck is paralell to the ground.

My point is this is not squat. Squat is when the rear is lower than the front.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 19, 2014
C Schomer wrote:
30 psi equals about 1500 lbs of lift. How does that not raise the back end? What does it look like w/o any air? Craig

Looks exactly the same.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Oct 19, 2014
30 psi equals about 1500 lbs of lift. How does that not raise the back end? What does it look like w/o any air? Craig
Javi1
Explorer
Oct 18, 2014
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Dr_Holiday wrote:
Towing with a 2012 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L Cummins w/ 4.10 Gears. Crew cab 6.5' bed

Using a B&W Slider Companion and love it.

Trailer is 2014 Cougar 333MKS max weight is 12,600 average tow weigh is 11,600, and Pin wight is 1,850. All my numbers are well with in my trucks weight limits.

When hooking up the trailer i get roughly a 2.5 to 3" drop in the rear suspension, so i'm not worried about the drop but I've heard they "smooth out the ride".

Question is those of you who've added Air Bags are they worth the effort?

Your truck is designed to sit "level" or higher in the rear with a load that is within specs. Drive it and don't listen to people that tell you that is bad and you need bags.

Pic below is with 4,500# pin weight. I do run bags at 30psi just for ride improvement. They don't change ride height at that pressure.

Might just be the angle but it looks like you're going coon hunting... :D

I hate it when my low beams shine up into the trees.. and I will pull over and salute anyone behind me with headlights shining in my mirrors.

I measure my rear wheel well height unloaded with no air in the bags and then adjust the loaded height to be the same by adding air.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2014
Dr_Holiday wrote:
Towing with a 2012 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L Cummins w/ 4.10 Gears. Crew cab 6.5' bed

Using a B&W Slider Companion and love it.

Trailer is 2014 Cougar 333MKS max weight is 12,600 average tow weigh is 11,600, and Pin wight is 1,850. All my numbers are well with in my trucks weight limits.

When hooking up the trailer i get roughly a 2.5 to 3" drop in the rear suspension, so i'm not worried about the drop but I've heard they "smooth out the ride".

Question is those of you who've added Air Bags are they worth the effort?

Your truck is designed to sit "level" or higher in the rear with a load that is within specs. Drive it and don't listen to people that tell you that is bad and you need bags.

Pic below is with 4,500# pin weight. I do run bags at 30psi just for ride improvement. They don't change ride height at that pressure.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2014
Duplicate
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 18, 2014
Dr_Holiday wrote:
Towing with a 2012 Ram 2500 HD 6.7L Cummins w/ 4.10 Gears. Crew cab 6.5' bed

Using a B&W Slider Companion and love it.

Trailer is 2014 Cougar 333MKS max weight is 12,600 average tow weigh is 11,600, and Pin wight is 1,850. All my numbers are well with in my trucks weight limits.

When hooking up the trailer i get roughly a 2.5 to 3" drop in the rear suspension, so i'm not worried about the drop but I've heard they "smooth out the ride".

Question is those of you who've added Air Bags are they worth the effort?

Your truck is designed to sit "level" or higher in the rear with a load that is within specs. Drive it and don't listen to people that tell you that is bad and you need bags.

Pic below is with 4,500# pin weight. I do run bags at 30psi just for ride improvement. They don't change ride height at that pressure.
Javi1
Explorer
Oct 18, 2014
I too pull a 333MKS and I would not be without my airbags. Level the truck, smooth the ride and when unhitched and I drop the rear tire pressure to 60-65 pounds and the bags to 10 psi they smooth out the speed bumps as well..

Forum Discussion

Air Bags or No Air Bags?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Suspension Air Bags

Air-bag Leveling

Air bag life span

Dual air bags

Air bags and Equalizer????