Added air bags...

[Desert_Captain]

Today was my first opportunity to try out the new air bags I had installed a couple of weeks ago. I bought the Air Lift Load Lifter 5000 Ultimate system {$270 for the bags and $269 for the install}. In 5 years and 50K+ miles I never felt the need for bags but I recently added a nice 6 X 10' {14'overall} cargo trailer to haul my Indian Springfiled - 862#.

Being a single axle trailer I have more tongue weight than a tandem coming in at 485# with the trailer loaded with the bike and misc gear that I moved out of the coach {BBQ, Compressor, firepit, LP Cylinder etc.}. Bike and trailer weigh 2,220 fully loaded on a GVWR of 2,990. My E-350 is rated to tow 5,000# with a hitch weight of 500 but given the way Nexus overbuilt the hitch I'm sure it would handle far more.

When I hook up the empty trailer my rear bumper at the hitch drops an inch from 24" to 23". Load the bike and it drops another inch to 22 but... pump the air bags to a mere 50# {max pressure is 100 so I have plenty of room to work with} and lo and behold the bumper is right back to its original, unloaded height of 24".

We leave in the morning headed up to the Pinegrove CG about 20 miles south of Flagstaff at 8,400'. Five days of goregous camping and motorcycle riding {South Rim, Route 66, Sedona, Jerome, Cottonwood etc} should make for a fine trip. This will give me a great opportuinity to test the performance of the air bags as we will be doing the interstate {I-17} going up and the back country 2 lane highways coming home.

I'll report back next week when we return but am expecting a good result.

:C

[j-d]

Great trip report and thanks.

[Desert_Captain]

Just returned from our 5 day 4 night adventure to Flagsatff/Pine Grove CG for some serious motorcycle and camping fun. The air bags were an overwhelming success. With just 50 psi the rear of the coach does not drop at all when I hook up my single axle cargo trailer {1,360#} even when I add my 862# Indian Springfield motorcylce to the trailer.

The ride is as smooth and stable as ever with passing trucks having little to no effect. I checked the pressure when I got home an it was down to 45 after 5 days so I bled it down to 15 and put the trailer to bed.

After our Grand Canyon South Rim Adventure on Monday we headed to Sedona on Tuesday morning. The new asphalt from I-17 to the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon was awesome and after passing the only car on the road we were able to briskly ride the canyon all the way to Sedona withnout seeing another southbound vehicle. My bride described it as the ultimate bike ride we have ever taken and when I suggested repeating it the next day she said no. She wanted to remember the perfect ride knowing we could never get it that right again.

After a great breakfast that the HP Cafe in Sedona {reputed to be the oldest restaurant in Sedona} we rode south to and through Cottonwood and up {and I do mean "UP"} to Jerome. From Jerome 89A quickly becomes one of the finest motorcycle roads in America... not for the feint of heart or any RV combo more than 50' {that is the law and very good one}.

We dropped down to the Prescott Valley and headed north through Chino and the Chino Valley up to I-40 at Ash Fork before returning east through Williams and back to Flagstaff. "Altitudes" Bar and Grill served up amazing half pound burgers with all the trimmings before riding back to our camp at Pine Grove.

Wednesday morning we took lake Mary Road south from Pine Grove 36 miles to highway 87. Turning left and heading north to Winslow I finally got to check this stretch out and found it to be fine for bikes or RV's of just about any size. At Winslow we turned west for Flagstaff on I-40 once again and found the best BBQ in Flagstaff at a hole in the wall... "Satchmo's" which we highly recommend.

We hit the weather perfectly with not a drop of rain the whole week. Last year at this time we were entertained by daily, violent Monsoon thunder storms but this trip temps in the mid 70's with lows in the mid 50's proved delighful. Took the scenic route home down Lake Mary Road to 87, south to and through Strawberry and Pine and ultimately into Payson. Continuing south on 87 we routed east on 188 along the western shore of Lake Roosevelt coming out at Globe.
Highway 77 saw us all the way home through Winkleman,Mamouth and Oracle and our dirveway is one mile east of 77 on the north side of Catalina.

We drove 460 miles roundtrip from home to Pine Grove and rode the bike another 620 miles exploring some of the finest roads Arizona {or anywhere else for that matter} has to offer. The air bags were the final touch to the new cargo trailer equation and all is good!

:B

[klutchdust]

bobndot wrote:
Yes thank you , about 1"-2" would be about right. I wasn't sure how much I would gain.
One of the driveways I just encountered was at a campground. Go figure, I guess they were trying to deter business . :h
It could have been easily fixed too, it was a packed dirt driveway full of potholes. The owners use the same driveway coming and going every day. I guess they don't mind potholes.

Keep in mind if the bags are full of psi it changes the smoothness of the ride.Bags are to keep the distance between the frame and the rear end at a more consistent distance. I use the angle method for driveways that are questionable. Had a camp site in Oregon that was just ridiculous, last one in a state campground and I could see why.Gouges in the pavement and parking area.

[S1njin]

I didn’t like dealing with the airbags - I had the truck spring shop by me pull them out. I than had them add 2 additional rear leafs per side.

Got me a lot more caster too !

[bobndot]

Yes thank you , about 1"-2" would be about right. I wasn't sure how much I would gain.
One of the driveways I just encountered was at a campground. Go figure, I guess they were trying to deter business . :h
It could have been easily fixed too, it was a packed dirt driveway full of potholes. The owners use the same driveway coming and going every day. I guess they don't mind potholes.

[klutchdust]

bobndot wrote:
DC, I'm thinking if you happened to park on a slight slope, do or would (if you had an on-board compressor) the airbags help front to rear leveling. Like at a roadside rest stop.
If they do, then it would be beneficial for the fridge operation to be able to fine tune the leveling during short parking stops.
Do you think they offer you enough lift if you were able to air them up to 90# in order to clear a driveway apron ?

Bob

Air bags can keep the coach level and improve the ride if there is additional weight added to the rear.
Dragging when entering a driveway will not be prevented by airing the bags up, at best you may gain an inch or two with maximum pressure in the bags.

[bobndot]

DrewE and DC, ok thank you .

When I bought my rig I used my jacks to get it level, then while it was level I installed a set of levels inside the MH. ( on the dash and the other to the right of the passenger seat)
Whenever I pull off for a roadside rest, I just drive around giving those levels a quick glance and park it as close to being level as I can . I think I suffer from 'fridge paranoia syndrome' :B

[Desert_Captain]

Bob, I think trying to use the air bags for any significant leveling would be more trouble than it is worth. I use the yellow Leggo’s blocks as needed but never needed to go more than 2 high.

:C

[DrewE]

bobndot wrote:
DC, I'm thinking if you happened to park on a slight slope, do or would (if you had an on-board compressor) the airbags help front to rear leveling. Like at a roadside rest stop.
If they do, then it would be beneficial for the fridge operation to be able to fine tune the leveling during short parking stops.
Do you think they offer you enough lift if you were able to air them up to 90# in order to clear a driveway apron ?

Bob

If the slope is small enough that you could even it out front to back with air helper springs, then it's fine for the fridge as it is without doing anything (per the fridge manufacturer's specifications).

[bobndot]

DC, I'm thinking if you happened to park on a slight slope, do or would (if you had an on-board compressor) the airbags help front to rear leveling. Like at a roadside rest stop.
If they do, then it would be beneficial for the fridge operation to be able to fine tune the leveling during short parking stops.
Do you think they offer you enough lift if you were able to air them up to 90# in order to clear a driveway apron ?

Bob

[Desert_Captain]

Thanks for all of the input...

We are just south of Flagstaff at the Pinegrove CG, drove up yesterday from Tucson. WOW do those bags make a difference! It was so smooth coming up, I am back to not even feeling passing trucks, two finger steering is awesome.

Looks like 50# is going to be the sweet spot as the rig is dead level. My installer routed both air lines to a single Schrader valve as they will always be aired up equally. Yep you have to periodically top them up just like tires but by using 78 percent Nitrogen they seem to hold their psi pretty well... :W

Rode the Torque Monster Indian to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon this morning. By leaving early (0730) we enjoyed perfect weather and a light crowd arriving at 0930.
The ride home was a bit more exciting as we had 35, gusting to 50 out of the southwest but once we got back up into the mountains the trees provided some relief.

Tomorrow we will do the big loop down through Sedona (for breakfast) and on to and through Cottonwood, Jerome, the Prescott Valley and old Route 66 to I-40 and back to camp. Wednesday will probably be a ride up to Snow Bowl for a ride on the chairlift to the summit.

The air bags are a huge success initially and I think they will just keep getting better as I continue to fine tune and dial them in.

:B

[klutchdust]

OFDPOS wrote:
Not to mention they are NOT a put air in them and forget about them after you find the sweet spot, they will bleed down over time. 😉

And the sweet spot changes depending on the load in the rear. Sometimes I have my scooter, or maybe small trailer or even 16ft. trailer. All different. Also keep some air in them all the time to prevent wrinkling. 5psi or so.

Using a level it helps to find a starting point. Air bags don't seem to help with the big butt overhanging. Keeping an eye on driveways and entering at an angle is my method, go slow, traffic will wait.....

[OFDPOS]

Not to mention they are NOT a put air in them and forget about them after you find the sweet spot, they will bleed down over time. 😉

[garyhaupt]

The only suggestion I will make is...install a compressor with controls mounted to the dash. Makes such a difference. Mine is under the dinette seat that also has the water pump and all the electrical bits n pieces.


Gary Haupt