Do I need to install airbags?

[johnm1]

We'll be picking up our new baby soon (2016 Vengeance 25V Toy Hauler) and I got to wondering about tongue weight and whether or not we we're good to go.

Truck:
2013 GMC Sierra, 2500HD, DA, 4x4 CC, Short box with class V hitch so I think I'm rated to 1.7k on the tongue?

Ball mount (?):
2" Reese shank with 1.4k tongue rating

Weight/Sway bars:
Reese round bars (61009??) with 1.2k tongue/weight rating

Camper:
2016 Vengeance 25V Toy Hauler with 1014# hitch weight. I assume this is unloaded hitch weight?????

Our toys are bicycles and kayaks, no motorized toys. Though I do plan on adding a couple (few?) more batteries up front which will increase the tongue weight somewhat.

For the people who have toy haulers with heavy tongues ... is my ride going to be OK or nasty? I know I could go to the next size up on the bars, but do I "need" airbags? Keep in mind that I don't have any toys in the back to offset the weight up front.

Thanks,

[donn0128]

Nope. Suspension aids, whether air bags or Timbrens are supplimental suspension components. Their purpose is to increase beyond the manufacturers limits a vehicles load carrying capacity. To do that, they support XXX amount of weight in place of the springs doing their job. BT,DT, and IMHO if you need supplimental susoension aids, you really need more truck!

[johnm1]

bear,

That's my plan since I'd rather not drop several hundred $$ on something that I may not need and when I add up the potential hitch wt with the new batteries, I think I'll need to go to a higher WD bar setup.

Maybe I'm missing something about airbags. Isn't the main purpose for ride quality and not to increase the cargo/hitch capacity?

My apologizes ... I'm starting to over analyze and second guess myself here.

Thanks

[johnm1]

I didn't ask about payload. I'm well within range of that. I'm looking at ride/towing quality. It seems like people who put in airbags LOVE them and would never go without them. I don't have them and I'm asking peoples opinions ... will my ride quality be unpleasant without bags?

[the_bear_II]

I would wait and see once you hitch up to the TH. You may be able to level out your truck using the weight distributing hitch by adjusting the tension on the chains.

[coolbreeze01]

What would the bags do for you?

[downtheroad]

It's all about IF you have enough payload to carry the tongue weight of your trip loaded trailer (not dry).

Airbags will not increase your payload.