Air bags for a smoother ride.

[snowpeke]

I have a 2002 Chevrolet Dmax and tow a 25.5 rls jayco and hoping to get a less of a bumpy ride with air bags. Will that help?

[mr_andyj]

Air Bags WILL NOT leak "eventually".
Everything is prone to manufacturer's defects, so I say this as an almost certainty.

Air bags are used on big semi rigs and trailers for millions of miles, they would not use a weak and leaky method, only something dependable. Same technology just in a smaller package.

Air will ride smooth when loaded, it will do nothing for your daily driver unless you remove some of the factory spring.

Likely you do need new shocks. Are yours original 2002? Any cheap shock will improve over your 19 yr old shocks, but for added weight of towing get the upgrade ones as advised above.

[snowpeke]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
First thing put a set of Bilstien shocks on it. Inflate tires based on load using weight/inflation chart for your tires.

Air bags can help but do the above FIRST.

. They have many different ones do you have a a favorite? How much are they?

[amxpress]

I also had Firestone air bags on a 2500 for over 10 years with no problems. I only needed to inflate them to 15 psi when towing, but they improved the ride and stability substantially.

[Lwiddis]

I too agree with Cummings.

[fj12ryder]

I've got the Firestone air bags, manual fill. They've been on the truck for over 10 years, and no issues whatsoever with leaks. They help the ride tremendously for me since they get the truck off the overloads. YMMV.

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
First thing put a set of Bilstien shocks on it. Inflate tires based on load using weight/inflation chart for your tires.

Air bags can help but do the above FIRST.

X2!

[SweetLou]

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
Air bags will eventually leak. Look into installing Sumo springs in place of your standard bump stock.

Either these or Timbrens. Either one will not change your stock ride unless loaded and then these kick in to handle the load as your regular bump stops would. Air bags have issues and I have had my share.

[Grit_dog]

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
Air bags will eventually leak. Look into installing Sumo springs in place of your standard bump stock.

And sumos will eventually wear out so same thing, but a request for a “less bumpy “ ride doesn’t actually explain what the OPs issue is so reccomendations are semi useless based on the info presented.

[Grit_dog]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
First thing put a set of Bilstien shocks on it. Inflate tires based on load using weight/inflation chart for your tires.

Air bags can help but do the above FIRST.

This^. And no need for airbags with that size trailer even if you don’t have a wdh unless the springs are sacked out.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

Air bags will eventually leak. Look into installing Sumo springs in place of your standard bump stock.

[Cummins12V98]

First thing put a set of Bilstien shocks on it. Inflate tires based on load using weight/inflation chart for your tires.

Air bags can help but do the above FIRST.