Air Bag Suspension

Air bags are only useful to level your truck

popeyemth wrote:
Air bags are only useful to level your truck

I agree. Might even make your listed problem worse. Shocks would be my first guess if the problem could only be solved with mechanical parts and not proper loading and securing.

popeyemth wrote:
Air bags are only useful to level your truck

I don't think that's true. They effectively increase the spring rate of the rear suspension so can help on trucks with soft springs (like the F150). They helped mine quite a bit with bouncing, but I think shocks will be more effective. The stock shocks on the F150 are junk. Very floaty. I just installed some Bilstein HD (4600) shocks this weekend on my truck and they have really firmed up the ride nicely. No more "70s Cadillac" floaty feeling. I haven't towed with them yet, but I think they will help immensely.

The airbags did help a fair amount though and aren't worthless. Even with my hitch properly set up, big dips on the freeway had my trucks rear end bobbing up and down. With the airbags this was reduced quite a bit and the truck felt more planted. But there was still some bobbing that felt like the shocks not being up to the task of damping that much weight.

Dont know why theres so many airbag haters on this site. I put them on every truck i own.

6dot6 wrote:
Dont know why theres so many airbag haters on this site. I put them on every truck i own.

Don't consider ME a "hater" I have bags on my truck
But I'm also aware they don't cure everything :)

Thanks for the responses.

My reason for going the air bag route is the adjustability they provide. If I install shocks, I feel it's pretty much a done deal. I know there are adjustable shocks available, but it seems it would be easier to adjust the bags if needed. More air if I have the bike loaded and less without the bike.

I get the feeling that there are "air bag folks" and there are "shock folks" and each have their own preference.

They each do different jobs. One is not a substitute for the other.
Barney

Sometimes the bounce is the metal springs over compressing, then launching you back up to over compress again. The airbags can help in this case by making it harder for the springs to over compress in the first place.

I use my air bags to help with the WD system. I can change the ride when towing. yes they will allow you to adjust for when the bike is loaded.

rightyouareken wrote:

popeyemth wrote:
Air bags are only useful to level your truck

I don't think that's true. They effectively increase the spring rate of the rear suspension so can help on trucks with soft springs (like the F150). They helped mine quite a bit with bouncing, but I think shocks will be more effective. The stock shocks on the F150 are junk. Very floaty. I just installed some Bilstein HD (4600) shocks this weekend on my truck and they have really firmed up the ride nicely. No more "70s Cadillac" floaty feeling. I haven't towed with them yet, but I think they will help immensely.

The airbags did help a fair amount though and aren't worthless. Even with my hitch properly set up, big dips on the freeway had my trucks rear end bobbing up and down. With the airbags this was reduced quite a bit and the truck felt more planted. But there was still some bobbing that felt like the shocks not being up to the task of damping that much weight.

Well said!