Air Bag Pressure

[Crespro]

Hi,

For those of you with air bags on the rear axle and a fifth wheel, how much pressure do you use?

I started with 30 PSI and now increased to 38 PSI. About 2,750# of pin weight.

Crespro

[fj12ryder]

Super_Dave wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Around 50-55 psi gets the rear off the overloads on mine.

I want mine on the overloads for stability and I pressure for level and nothing else, about 10 - 15 psi when unloaded works best for me. I haven't measured what it is when loaded.

The ride is horribly harsh when the truck is on the overloads, and by a happy coincidence, the truck is level when it comes off the overloads. Win, win. 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

Durb wrote:
15 PSI, 2,000# on the pin, 41 gallon auxiliary tank and 300#+ hitch. I need some truck squat to get everything level.

Level is good! I see too many people running down the highway with their rear at or higher than their unloaded ride height and front of 5er way nose high because of overinflated air bags. Then they wonder why they have chucking and a poor ride.

[Cummins12V98]

TXiceman wrote:

garyp4951 wrote:
I run 20psi just to help the coil springs on the dips at bridges.

TXiceman, my air bags say I can carry 5,000 lbs more. LOL

The air springs DO NOT increase the load capacity of the truck.
All you can say is the air springs an carry 5000#.
The truck is rated for what is stamped on the stickers inside the door jamb.

Ken

On paper no but reality is YES. Simply look at the weak springs and tell me bags don't add capacity. Axle is rated at 9,750#.

[Durb]

15 PSI, 2,000# on the pin, 41 gallon auxiliary tank and 300#+ hitch. I need some truck squat to get everything level.

[JRscooby]

TXiceman wrote:

garyp4951 wrote:
I run 20psi just to help the coil springs on the dips at bridges.

TXiceman, my air bags say I can carry 5,000 lbs more. LOL

The air springs DO NOT increase the load capacity of the truck.
All you can say is the air springs an carry 5000#.
The truck is rated for what is stamped on the stickers inside the door jamb.

Ken

But all that means is if the manufacturer can prove you went over their rating they don't pay warranty claims. The only rating the law will enforce is the tires.

[TXiceman]

garyp4951 wrote:
I run 20psi just to help the coil springs on the dips at bridges.

TXiceman, my air bags say I can carry 5,000 lbs more. LOL

The air springs DO NOT increase the load capacity of the truck.
All you can say is the air springs an carry 5000#.
The truck is rated for what is stamped on the stickers inside the door jamb.

Ken

[Cummins12V98]

Crespro wrote:
Hi,

For those of you with air bags on the rear axle and a fifth wheel, how much pressure do you use?

I started with 30 PSI and now increased to 38 PSI. About 2,750# of pin weight.

Crespro

Bottom line add enough air to keep truck setting level to slightly rear high. This keeps you ON the overloads.

My 2011 DRW RAM I ran 30psi LOADED with 4,500# pin weight. The ride was AWESOME!!!

[MFL]

garyp4951 wrote:
I run 20psi just to help the coil springs on the dips at bridges.

TXiceman, my air bags say I can carry 5,000 lbs more. LOL

[Super_Dave]

fj12ryder wrote:
Around 50-55 psi gets the rear off the overloads on mine.

I want mine on the overloads for stability and I pressure for level and nothing else, about 10 - 15 psi when unloaded works best for me. I haven't measured what it is when loaded.

[momentum_rv]

Load up everything and then air up the bags until the truck is back to level.

[garyp4951]

I run 20psi just to help the coil springs on the dips at bridges.

TXiceman, my air bags say I can carry 5,000 lbs more. LOL

[LadyRVer]

40-50 when I had the fifth-wheel loaded.

[TXiceman]

No two trucks and trailers are the same. You have to adjust the air pressure to what is right for your rig. Generally you want to run the pressure up to the point that you are just lifted off the overload springs and the ride is comfortable.

Remember that you have a 3/4 ton truck and they are limited on cargo carrying or payload capacity. The air springs do not increase the trucks capacity to carry a load.

Ken

[ford_truck_guy]

I'm right at 40..

[fj12ryder]

Around 50-55 psi gets the rear off the overloads on mine.