Air bags/shocks and the anticipated ride.

N-Trouble wrote:
I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

Do you recall the total price for the Bilstein and Timbrens? Just curious...ball park.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
I can dump the air and it will ride exactly like it did before I put the bags on.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

That's what I was hoping for. ie. dumping the air and getting back to a normal ride. My truck doesn't sag....but the rake (if that's the right terminology) is gone and it looks like it's level.

Do bags replace shocks or are they additional?

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Ok, here is MHO.
But, I have no idea what you mean by "movement?" Ya you're going to feel movement. You have a heavy 35' 5er in back of you. You're going to feel movement.

If I were you I would start by put a set of Bilstein shocks on. Chevy OEM shocks are junk right out of the factory IMHO. Start with that and see how the ride is.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

Can you describe what you're feeling or what you want your truck to do better?

The movement is minor. In an attempt to characterize the movement...I guess I feel tugging on the truck when going over dips in the road and some slight side to side pulling in cross-wind towing. To be honest, I may be too picky because the ride is quite comfortable. I'm trying to tweak it a bit. I thought maybe the movement I'm feeling is a result of weak shocks.

I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

dockmasterdave wrote:
I've had air shocks in the past and will probably be adding another set soon.
They are easy to adjust pressure up or down. If the pressure is low it will ride just like before, pump the pressure up and the rear goes up and stiffens a little.
Still not a horrible ride when pumped up.

I don't want my backend to go up at all. With the trailer attached, the trailer and truck look like they are riding level. If I raise the backend, the trailer will ride high and shift weight to the rear axle of the trailer. Do you have control so you can provide stability with the shocks without raising the backend?

Ok, here is MHO.

Air shocks belong on a 67 Camaro not a HD truck.

Airbags are a TOTALLY different story.

But, I have no idea what you mean by "movement?" Ya you're going to feel movement. You have a heavy 35' 5er in back of you. You're going to feel movement.

Back to the airbags. I put a set on my truck a few months ago and I'm glad I did. I have a TT with a LOT of tongue weight. The truck was sagging a lot. Towed fine but the back end was sagging. I put the air bags on it and never looked back. Does it tow any better? Nope, but it's not sagging anymore and the ride is level. I can dump the air and it will ride exactly like it did before I put the bags on.

If I were you I would start by put a set of Bilstein shocks on. Chevy OEM shocks are junk right out of the factory IMHO. Start with that and see how the ride is.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

Can you describe what you're feeling or what you want your truck to do better?

I've had air shocks in the past and will probably be adding another set soon.
They are easy to adjust pressure up or down. If the pressure is low it will ride just like before, pump the pressure up and the rear goes up and stiffens a little.
Still not a horrible ride when pumped up.
A LOT cheaper than air bags and I'm not looking to add 1000 lbs of payload, just level out the truck.
Nothing you do to your truck will legally change it's rated payload, but it can make it more comfortable and ride level.