Airlift 5000 airbags and WDH

Come'on Ron! You're one of the brighter guys on this forum with common sense.

Apply the same common sense to this thread!

RinconVTR wrote:
There are two ways to set up WDH with air bags.

1. Load the TV as you would for travel and use the air bags to bring the rear to the original height. THEN set up WDH.

How do you define "original height"? I see two possibilities --
1) Is it the height with no occupants and cargo in the TV, or
2) is it the height the TV fully loaded for a camping trip?

Do you use the air bags to bring the rear to the original height and then attach the trailer?
Or, do you attach the trailer and then use the air bags to bring the rear to the original height?

There are two ways to set up WDH with air bags.

2. Set up WDH without air in the bags (as if you didnt have any) while loaded for travel and set up WDH by the book. THEN add air to the bags only for added support/spring rate.

What do you mean by "set up WDH by the book"? There are significant differences between what TV manufacturers say and what some WDH manufacturers say.
Are you saying that, after adjusting the WDH, the pressure in the air bags can be increased without causing the rear of the TV to rise?

3. THE WRONG WAY. Use air bags to correct a poorly set up WDH to correct rear end sag.

What constitutes a "poorly set up WDH?
If the WDH, without air bags, is set up so that 1-1.5" of rear end sag remains, is that a poor setup?

It sounds like you'll need to try this yourself to believe, but for the initial PSI put into the bags, I doubt most are getting any lift. In my case, I dont get lift while unloaded until I go over the minimum of 5psi. I found with WDH attached, I can easily add 10psi and not induce any extra lift. Again, the air bags with WDH are just adding spring rate at this point which translates into reduced suspension travel.

According to Firestone, "As a general rule, the air helper springs will support approximately 50 lbs. of load for each psi of inflation pressure (per pair)".
That suggests that, if you add and additional 10psi to each bag, you will add an additional approximately 500# of upward force against the chassis.
Are you saying this does not cause the rear of the TV to raise?

Ron

Ron Gratz wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
They are not in disagreement if you add air for added spring rate (or added support from bottoming out, or excessive travel...however you want to view it), NOT adding air to the point you induce lift when WDH is attached.

If you attach the trailer to the TV and then apply load to the WD bars,
the rear end of the TV will rise up to a certain level.

How can you then increase the pressure in the bags without causing the rear of the TV to raise more?

Ron

There are two ways to set up WDH with air bags.

1. Load the TV as you would for travel and use the air bags to bring the rear to the original height. THEN set up WDH.

2. Set up WDH without air in the bags (as if you didnt have any) while loaded for travel and set up WDH by the book. THEN add air to the bags only for added support/spring rate.

3. THE WRONG WAY. Use air bags to correct a poorly set up WDH to correct rear end sag.


It sounds like you'll need to try this yourself to believe, but for the initial PSI put into the bags, I doubt most are getting any lift. In my case, I dont get lift while unloaded until I go over the minimum of 5psi. I found with WDH attached, I can easily add 10psi and not induce any extra lift. Again, the air bags with WDH are just adding spring rate at this point which translates into reduced suspension travel.

Each set up, each type of air bag, will be different. The concept always remains the same.

RinconVTR wrote:
They are not in disagreement if you add air for added spring rate (or added support from bottoming out, or excessive travel...however you want to view it), NOT adding air to the point you induce lift when WDH is attached.

If you attach the trailer to the TV and then apply load to the WD bars,
the rear end of the TV will rise up to a certain level.

How can you then increase the pressure in the bags without causing the rear of the TV to raise more?

Ron

Ron Gratz wrote:

batman99 wrote:
---Now, add previously recorded air back into the Vehicle's Air Bags. This will get your Tow Vehicle and Trailer to the scale.

At the legal scales, adjust the WDH system until proper amount of weight is distributed across the Tow Vehicle. Record the air bags lbs. Record the WDH adjustment (like number of links or number of showing threads). Put this paper in your TV's glove box. Next time your load up Tow Vehicle and Trailer with similar loading, use the same adjustments.

First you are saying that you add air back into the bags and then, when at the scales, you adjust the WDH.

batman99 wrote:
If wondering… If one buys a Vehicle that has factory air bags, its factory manual clearly states to adjust the trailer's WD System with NO air in the air bags.

Now you are saying that one should adjust the WDH with NO air in the bags, and then add air.

These two are in disagreement. Which is correct? :h

Ron

They are not in disagreement if you add air for added spring rate (or added support from bottoming out, or excessive travel...however you want to view it), NOT adding air to the point you induce lift when WDH is attached.

batman99 wrote:
---Now, add previously recorded air back into the Vehicle's Air Bags. This will get your Tow Vehicle and Trailer to the scale.

At the legal scales, adjust the WDH system until proper amount of weight is distributed across the Tow Vehicle. Record the air bags lbs. Record the WDH adjustment (like number of links or number of showing threads). Put this paper in your TV's glove box. Next time your load up Tow Vehicle and Trailer with similar loading, use the same adjustments.

First you are saying that you add air back into the bags and then, when at the scales, you adjust the WDH.

batman99 wrote:
If wondering… If one buys a Vehicle that has factory air bags, its factory manual clearly states to adjust the trailer's WD System with NO air in the air bags.

Now you are saying that one should adjust the WDH with NO air in the bags, and then add air.

These two are in disagreement. Which is correct? :h

Ron

batman99 wrote:
Me thinks the posted Chev manual is wrong.

As stated within Trailer Towing site (which is specialized in towing), the vehicle's air bags (air shocks) are deflated, WDH is then attached / adjusted. Then, if desired, air bags (or air shocks) are aired up - to give "suppliment" support. re: http://www.etrailer.com/question-9425.html

If wondering, I've been doing this method for years. Again… Air Bags / Air shocks is for the Tow Vehicle's factory soft rear suspension. WHS is for the trailer tongue weight. And, both are adjusted (for confirmed weight distribution) within legal scales.

.

I'm with the batman...the methods described in this thread and on etrailer are what I've always known for air bag use and WDH's.

I don't think Chevy's statement is correct.

Me thinks the posted Chev manual is wrong.

As stated within Trailer Towing site (which is specialized in towing), the vehicle's air bags (air shocks) are deflated, WDH is then attached / adjusted. Then, if desired, air bags (or air shocks) are aired up - to give "suppliment" support. re: http://www.etrailer.com/question-9425.html

If wondering, I've been doing this method for years. Again… Air Bags / Air shocks is for the Tow Vehicle's factory soft rear suspension. WHS is for the trailer tongue weight. And, both are adjusted (for confirmed weight distribution) within legal scales.

.

batman99 wrote:
---If one buys a Vehicle that has factory air bags,
its factory manual clearly states to adjust the trailer's WD System with NO air in the air bags.

If one buys, for example, a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban,
the online manual clearly states on page 9-45:

If a weight-distributing hitch is being used,
it is recommended to allow the shocks to inflate,
thereby leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the hitch.

Ron

The air bags is for the Vehicle. The WDS (with properly rated bars) is for the Trailer's tongue weight.

When adjustment, use the air bags lbs for the Tow Vehicle. When adjustment, use the WD System for the trailer. Simply follow the process - to get the TV & TT to the legal weight scales. Them, use the weight scale to make fine adjustments to the WD system.

If wondering… If one buys a Vehicle that has factory air bags, its factory manual clearly states to adjust the trailer's WD System with NO air in the air bags.

Over studying physics creates a headache.

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