Suspension Air Bags?

[buckdaddy]

I'm thinking of adding air bags to the rear suspension on my 06' Ram 2500 since I started pulling an 8300lb 5th wheel. Any recommendations on brands & gotchas as well as psi settings. Did it make a difference in handling, ride quality, or stance of vehicle? Right now its a little squat when pulling.

[Racine96]

I installed Air Lift in my 2500 Chevy and work fine. Like them.

[Cummins12V98]

john&bet wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

buckdaddy wrote:
I'm thinking of adding air bags to the rear suspension on my 06' Ram 2500 since I started pulling an 8300lb 5th wheel. Any recommendations on brands & gotchas as well as psi settings. Did it make a difference in handling, ride quality, or stance of vehicle? Right now its a little squat when pulling.

At that weight you should not need anything!

X-3. I pull a 12,000 5th with a '04 2500 and have only a 2" drop in the rear. No squat. Just nice and level.

Yup some think if it ain't azz end high it's squatting!

[rhagfo]

buckdaddy wrote:

g4sbrg wrote:
did the system take the bounce out on those road level changes. that's about the only thing in my new to me 5ver setup seems to need improvement on, pulls straight, handles well just that one bounce at hwy speed could be improved, or do they mostly do that anyway???

This is the main issue I would like to see improvement with also: bounce. Thanks for your input guys; the jury is in, now all i have to do is decide Ride-rite or Pacbrake.

The bounce get a full set of Bilstien 4600/5100's your choice! I run 5100 and they are great. I also installed shocks on my 5er.

[john_bet]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

buckdaddy wrote:
I'm thinking of adding air bags to the rear suspension on my 06' Ram 2500 since I started pulling an 8300lb 5th wheel. Any recommendations on brands & gotchas as well as psi settings. Did it make a difference in handling, ride quality, or stance of vehicle? Right now its a little squat when pulling.

At that weight you should not need anything!

X-3. I pull a 12,000 5th with a '04 2500 and have only a 2" drop in the rear. No squat. Just nice and level.

[P_Kennedy]

No it is less efficient for stability because as you go into a turn the air will go to the bag opposite side of the lean. On my truck we added 2 stainless case oil filled gauges to the system by the Schrader valves showing each bag air pressure. Then it does not matter what you use for an air supply you have a guage already built in.

[crcr]

N-Trouble wrote:
The advantage of separate lines is air volume will stay constant in each bag. When using a T or compressor feed from a single line air can travel back and forth between each bag as load shifts.

The downside of course its a bit more work to fill.

So are the air bags more effective if air can't shift between the two bags?

[N-Trouble]

The advantage of separate lines is air volume will stay constant in each bag. When using a T or compressor feed from a single line air can travel back and forth between each bag as load shifts.

The downside of course its a bit more work to fill.

[AZ_T_T]

crcr wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I'm very happy with the Firestone air bags I have on my Dodge dually. Separate air valves and fill with an air bubble.

What is an "air bubble"? My truck's air bags also has separate air valves, so I find it hard to get the exact same pressure in each side.

I put a T in my system to tie both lines together, so I just fill both bags at the same time. No worries about getting the bags to the same psi.

[crcr]

fj12ryder wrote:
I'm very happy with the Firestone air bags I have on my Dodge dually. Separate air valves and fill with an air bubble.

What is an "air bubble"? My truck's air bags also has separate air valves, so I find it hard to get the exact same pressure in each side.

[Mpr68rt]

I added a set of Air Lift airbags. 2 hours is all it took. Removed the bumpstops and put in the airbags.

[buckdaddy]

avvidclif1 wrote:
Try new shocks for the bounce.....

Shocks r relatively new.

[avvidclif1]

Try new shocks for the bounce.....

[buckdaddy]

g4sbrg wrote:
did the system take the bounce out on those road level changes. that's about the only thing in my new to me 5ver setup seems to need improvement on, pulls straight, handles well just that one bounce at hwy speed could be improved, or do they mostly do that anyway???

This is the main issue I would like to see improvement with also: bounce. Thanks for your input guys; the jury is in, now all i have to do is decide Ride-rite or Pacbrake.

[C-Bears]

I installed Firestone bags on my F350. Have the on-board compressor in the cab. Not only does it level the truck out when hooked up, but I can adjust the ride a little while going down the road. I generally run between 25 and 30 lbs in them when towing but on extremely windy days I have ran 45 - 50 lbs.