Do I need airbags?

[davisenvy]

I just purchased my first FW last week. When hooking up, the rear of my truck squats around 4-5 inches. I have towed the FW on a short camping trip and the FW towed very nice, but the rear does sag quite a bit compared to my last TT set up. I bought some Timbrens and installed them earlier on this week. They absolutely ruined the way my truck drove unloaded so I didn't even try to tow with them.
How many on here are running air bags? From the pics in the "Your Rig" section everyone seems to be pretty level in their towing. Do they ride rough when towing?

[rhagfo]

laknox wrote:

redfire2002 wrote:
Heck I throw 300 lbs of firewood in the bed and still only have 30 lbs of air in bags to sit level. As long as you have E rated tires your good to go!

Not really. The stock 245 E tires on my 2500HD put me about 500 lbs =under= the RAWR. By going to 265 E's, I pick up over 800 lbs in tire capacity, which puts me =over= my RAWR.

Lyle

:h :h :h

Not sure how that can be? Usually the tire is the limiting factor on that generation of truck.
My stock listed 245/75-16E have 3,042# capacity ea. for an axle rating of 6,084.
The factory Optional 265's take that to 6,830# tire capacity, but doesn't change the sticker still 6,084#.

[laknox]

redfire2002 wrote:
Heck I throw 300 lbs of firewood in the bed and still only have 30 lbs of air in bags to sit level. As long as you have E rated tires your good to go!

Not really. The stock 245 E tires on my 2500HD put me about 500 lbs =under= the RAWR. By going to 265 E's, I pick up over 800 lbs in tire capacity, which puts me =over= my RAWR.

Lyle

[shadows4]

davisenvy wrote:
The third post took care of my weights so I didn't further elaborate. I installed new struts and air bags this weekend. I'm going on a short trip this next weekend and I'll report back on my experience.
Jayco Eagle HT 29.5bhds

I didn't give Cat Scale weights, I didn't give the model of the FW, I didn't tell what kind of tires are on my truck because I didn't ask if those items were in check. "Get a new truck", "Get a smaller trailer" aren't an option or realistic advice. Thank you to those who actually answered my question.

After reviewing many pages of "Your Rig" it seems that my truck doesn't squat any more than most of the pictures I saw, including the DRW trucks. I guess they need a bigger truck!;)

As stated before, this is my first FW, this is all new to me and I'm not used to the rear squatting at all. Just looking for a little help, not an overall evaluation on what YOU would've done with MY money.

Yep, there seems to be several on here that would love to spend your money!!! Will be looking forward to hear your towing report with the new equipment. Good luck, John

[rhagfo]

redfire2002 wrote:
Good deal. Just go and in joy.

davisenvy wrote:
The third post took care of my weights so I didn't further elaborate. I installed new struts and air bags this weekend. I'm going on a short trip this next weekend and I'll report back on my experience.
Jayco Eagle HT 29.5bhds

I didn't give Cat Scale weights, I didn't give the model of the FW, I didn't tell what kind of tires are on my truck because I didn't ask if those items were in check. "Get a new truck", "Get a smaller trailer" aren't an option or realistic advice. Thank you to those who actually answered my question.

After reviewing many pages of "Your Rig" it seems that my truck doesn't squat any more than most of the pictures I saw, including the DRW trucks. I guess they need a bigger truck!;)

As stated before, this is my first FW, this is all new to me and I'm not used to the rear squatting at all. Just looking for a little help, not an overall evaluation on what YOU would've done with MY money.

X2!

Seems we have those getting newer TV, and feel all of us need newer TV.
I don't think you rig sounds that bad, but the way you tow is your choice, take it out and see how it all feels, likely far better than the old TT.

[redfire2002]

Good deal. Just go and in joy.

davisenvy wrote:
The third post took care of my weights so I didn't further elaborate. I installed new struts and air bags this weekend. I'm going on a short trip this next weekend and I'll report back on my experience.
Jayco Eagle HT 29.5bhds

I didn't give Cat Scale weights, I didn't give the model of the FW, I didn't tell what kind of tires are on my truck because I didn't ask if those items were in check. "Get a new truck", "Get a smaller trailer" aren't an option or realistic advice. Thank you to those who actually answered my question.

After reviewing many pages of "Your Rig" it seems that my truck doesn't squat any more than most of the pictures I saw, including the DRW trucks. I guess they need a bigger truck!;)

As stated before, this is my first FW, this is all new to me and I'm not used to the rear squatting at all. Just looking for a little help, not an overall evaluation on what YOU would've done with MY money.

[davisenvy]

The third post took care of my weights so I didn't further elaborate. I installed new struts and air bags this weekend. I'm going on a short trip this next weekend and I'll report back on my experience.
Jayco Eagle HT 29.5bhds

I didn't give Cat Scale weights, I didn't give the model of the FW, I didn't tell what kind of tires are on my truck because I didn't ask if those items were in check. "Get a new truck", "Get a smaller trailer" aren't an option or realistic advice. Thank you to those who actually answered my question.

After reviewing many pages of "Your Rig" it seems that my truck doesn't squat any more than most of the pictures I saw, including the DRW trucks. I guess they need a bigger truck!;)

As stated before, this is my first FW, this is all new to me and I'm not used to the rear squatting at all. Just looking for a little help, not an overall evaluation on what YOU would've done with MY money.

[redfire2002]

Heck I throw 300 lbs of firewood in the bed and still only have 30 lbs of air in bags to sit level. As long as you have E rated tires your good to go!

[Me_Again]

OP has an in bed 32 gal fuel tank. So with the weight of the tank and fuel that would be an additional 300+ pounds on the truck.

So when he gets it all leveled up, then he will have to address rear tires on the truck, as he is likely well be over their limit.

He never has stated the model of the trailer. In another post he said he pulled the trigger on a Jayco Eagle! Sig line list something else.
Where is his CAT scale weights?????

Should have had at least a more modern 3500 SRW TV.

Chris

[SabreCanuck]

up2nogood wrote:

SolidAxleDurango wrote:

davisenvy wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
Post a pic hooked up. Would help tremendously if more took the time to post a pic. Can only do so much with a description that keeps changing.

How does it keep changing? No pic is needed, it's pretty simple. Truck sags in the rear when my fifth wheel is hooked up. Do I need airbags?

Every single truck on earth "sags" with weight in the bed. From an imperceptible amount with 200 lbs in bed' up to 4-5 inches with 3000 lbs in bed.

The folks are asking for a pic in order to see the rake/stance.

Rake or stance :h its either squatting or its not . 3-4 inches I certainly don't need pictures to tell him to install some airbags.

To the OP if you are around three to four inches of squat add airbags, you won't regret it. It will level the truck ,and smooth the ride up. This seems to be a hard decision from the responses you are getting from some, its actually pretty simple, yes you need airbags if it squatting 3-4 ". That or your suspension is shot.

Don't be too harsh on them asking for pictures. Although I do agree with your logic on the 3-4" squat, the OP did actually already say that may have been an exageration. So, that is where the 'changing story' comment came from and the request for pics.

davisenvy wrote:
Maybe the truck doesn't sag that much, but it does sag. I have the front leveled a little bit so that makes it look a little worse than it is. There is still a 1.25 in rake.

The Timbrens were installed without the spacer disc provided. Without the disc installed there was a 1.5 in space for suspension travel. When I would hit a bump or a bridge expansion it would feel like the truck was bottoming out on its frame.
The truck is a 2006 with 120k mi. Could my leaf springs be worn out?

If you want my advise, yes get the Air bags.

It's considerably cheaper than the DRW crowd's answer. LOL

[Cummins12V98]

If your truck sits like this bags are NOT needed. Any lower in the rear I would add bags.

FYI my bed height in pic is easily 3" maybe 4" lower than the same Dually without a load that has regular springs.

[redfire2002]

A short answer is yes air bags will take care of your problem plus give you a lot better ride. I got them on my F250 and love them. You won't be disappointed. I also have the Bilstein shocks and it rides great. It's a little bouncey when empty but not bad.

[cummins2014]

SolidAxleDurango wrote:

davisenvy wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
Post a pic hooked up. Would help tremendously if more took the time to post a pic. Can only do so much with a description that keeps changing.

How does it keep changing? No pic is needed, it's pretty simple. Truck sags in the rear when my fifth wheel is hooked up. Do I need airbags?

Every single truck on earth "sags" with weight in the bed. From an imperceptible amount with 200 lbs in bed' up to 4-5 inches with 3000 lbs in bed.

The folks are asking for a pic in order to see the rake/stance.

Rake or stance :h its either squatting or its not . 3-4 inches I certainly don't need pictures to tell him to install some airbags.

To the OP if you are around three to four inches of squat add airbags, you won't regret it. It will level the truck ,and smooth the ride up. This seems to be a hard decision from the responses you are getting from some, its actually pretty simple, yes you need airbags if it squatting 3-4 ". That or your suspension is shot.

[ACZL]

If the pin wt is 1550 and truck sags 4"-5", then IMO the springs on the truck are shot. Shocks are for motion as stated and springs are for weight. If your Timbrens are hitting the axle w/ 5er on, then yes you would get a rough ride. If still hitting axle w/o 5er, then it falls back to weak springs. By adding air bags, the bags will be supporting all the weight instead of being part of the springs. Can you take truck to a spring place and have them check your springs?

[SolidAxleDurang]

davisenvy wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
Post a pic hooked up. Would help tremendously if more took the time to post a pic. Can only do so much with a description that keeps changing.

How does it keep changing? No pic is needed, it's pretty simple. Truck sags in the rear when my fifth wheel is hooked up. Do I need airbags?

Every single truck on earth "sags" with weight in the bed. From an imperceptible amount with 200 lbs in bed' up to 4-5 inches with 3000 lbs in bed.

The folks are asking for a pic in order to see the rake/stance.

[waltbennett]

davisenvy wrote:
I just purchased my first FW last week. When hooking up, the rear of my truck squats around 4-5 inches. I have towed the FW on a short camping trip and the FW towed very nice, but the rear does sag quite a bit compared to my last TT set up. I bought some Timbrens and installed them earlier on this week. They absolutely ruined the way my truck drove unloaded so I didn't even try to tow with them.
How many on here are running air bags? From the pics in the "Your Rig" section everyone seems to be pretty level in their towing. Do they ride rough when towing?

My used F350 dually came with air bags, but unless our 38' Montana is heavy in the front & our generator is in the bed, I don't really use them. I keep 5 pounds or so in them so they don't get pinched, but the most air I've ever put in them is only 20 lbs. and that was just to get everything level. Like someone else said, maybe what you installed isn't correct? But unless you've a really soft suspension, there may be something else going on. Oh, and if I've anything like 10 or more pounds in them I've got to let it out if we unhook and go anywhere. Truck rides worse than a go kart otherwise.