Air Bag Recommendation needed

[arhayes]

We've been full-timing for a little over 2 years now with a 2014 F350 6.7L 4x4 long bed and been happy with the towing/poser/etc. The weighed pin weight of my 43' TH is 4250 lbs - well within the capacity of the truck. However, it does squat about 2 inches measured at the wheel well under load which caused the trailer to be slightly nose down. This isn't a huge issue, but my front landing gears will occasionally drag coming out of a gas station or some parking lots.

What recommendations do you have on brand/type for rear bags - or some other levelling device that would not stiffen the ride? This, other than our motorcycle, is our everyday driver, so I don't want to do anything to further harshen our unloaded ride.

[Grit_dog]

arhayes wrote:
The hitch is already in its uppermost position. I failed to mention that I originally installed Timbren spacers, but when I had new tires installed recently, I noticed that one is missing. The truck doesn't seem unlevel, but I figure I've got to do something as I don't want one spacer on and one off. I don't think air bags will cost me a lot more $ at this point. I'm also hoping they will help some with the bouncy ride when not towing.

Airbags Will do nothing to help the unloaded ride of your truck, only hurt it.
If you get on board air, they could assist you when you need to raise up the back to keep the jacks from draggin. Or could restore some ride ht if you think it's too low.
Honestly, you are set up correct,y now IMO if you get only a couple inches of squat though.

[arhayes]

Follow up....I did wind up ordering the Airlift 5000 Ultimates, received them and got them installed this past Thursday. Since we full time and our truck and trailer always weigh the same, I am starting with just the manual valves. Installed the Schrader valves together by the license plate. I've only driven the truck unloaded and only for about 20 miles, but with 10 lbs in them I can tell there's less bouncing on the road wwe were travelling back and forth on here. We'll be loading up and hitting the road Monday so I'll get to see then how they perform under load, but I definitely think they'll accomplish what I wanted.

Thanks again for all the input and suggestions!!! Appreciate all the partnership!

[Sinbadman5024]

Pacbrake or Firestone air bags. I have had good luck with both.

[arhayes]

I agree now...though at the time I went with the Timbren's based on a friends recommendation. Seemed okay at the time, but after 20,000 miles towing in 2 years I know I need something else.

To date most recommendations have been for the Firestone 2535, but the Airlift Ultimate looks like a comparable product and the installation seems pretty straightforward. I'll start sourcing and see what I can find. Appreciate everyone's suggestions and advice!

[tinner12002]

Timbrens in my opinion are junk, get rid of them and get a good set of air bags.
You can get the airlift 5000 ultimate setup for under $350.

[KKELLER14K]

Something for you all..

[KKELLER14K]

My call is onboard air controller and a set of bags of your choice...not only does an onboard compressor offer on the fly control of the airbags but you got spare air if needed to blow up anything...once you have one you'll ask why did it take me so long to get this? Don't install the compressor in a dirty environment like under or outside the truck...mine is in my cab. The filter will clog in no time and burn it up. That's a pretty heavy pin weight but your truck has overload springs right? How heavy do they engage? Have you seen the bump stops for the overload springs?...I'm guessing here I'm not familiar with your trucks suspension. A piece of advice is not all air bag installations on a dually is straight forward though. That's for another conversation when we get there...Brackets can be generic and suspension travel has to be considered.

[Grit_dog]

arhayes wrote:
The hitch is already in its uppermost position. I failed to mention that I originally installed Timbren spacers, but when I had new tires installed recently, I noticed that one is missing. The truck doesn't seem unlevel, but I figure I've got to do something as I don't want one spacer on and one off. I don't think air bags will cost me a lot more $ at this point. I'm also hoping they will help some with the bouncy ride when not towing.

It's a fine line between riding hard when empty and being stable when loaded.
Shore it up so rock solid when heavy towing can mean you're sitting on a lot of springs or close to them when empty and rough ride. Leaving room for sag means not as solid when heavy. 80 psi in the tires don't help empty ride either, but again if you're running loaded and empty changing frequently, airing tires down and up every few days is annoying too.
By trying jus the bags first you can have a stock ride with no air and hold the truck up when loaded.

[Grit_dog]

mkirsch wrote:
If the rear is only compressed 2" from unloaded height, then the truck isn't even riding level yet.

You don't need airbags, you need to adjust the pinbox on your trailer or raise the hitch so it tows level.

2" squish with Timbrnes makes more sense. Fords are tough, but a 4200lb pin weight would drop a F 350 a little more than that.
So, yes, put some airbags on it. IMO they all fit the bill.
In cab control and onboard air is nice if you are filling and dumping the bags frequently.
Otherwise, a dinky plug in 12V air comp will air them up easily while on the road. Just plumb the lines to somewhere convienent.

Note, using the timbrens, presume they were set where you were riding on them when loaded, will have a more stable "harder" ride than being on air. Depending on how soon your overloads engage, you may want to add stable loads or similar to go with the bags if you're bouncing on the bags.
Try it first with bags only and it's easy to throw some stable loads or home made spacers on it if needed.

[arhayes]

The hitch is already in its uppermost position. I failed to mention that I originally installed Timbren spacers, but when I had new tires installed recently, I noticed that one is missing. The truck doesn't seem unlevel, but I figure I've got to do something as I don't want one spacer on and one off. I don't think air bags will cost me a lot more $ at this point. I'm also hoping they will help some with the bouncy ride when not towing.

[mkirsch]

If the rear is only compressed 2" from unloaded height, then the truck isn't even riding level yet.

You don't need airbags, you need to adjust the pinbox on your trailer or raise the hitch so it tows level.

[wcjeep]

Also check on Torklift Stableloads

[amxpress]

Airbags would probably help with getting your headlights back down on the road instead of into oncoming vehicles.
I like my Firestone Ride-Rite airbags, helps keep me level, well, the truck, not me.

[clarkster]

Firestone Riderite.

http://riderite.com/