I was curious on what kind of air pressure your running in your airbags?I have a 1999 2WD 7.3 F250. I tow a 10,000 pound bumper pull Toy Hauler with 1220 pounds of tongue weight. I use a 15,000/1500 pound WDHI have had my air bags on for several years and with 5 different trailers. It's hit and miss on the right air pressure. Typically I have ran 35 psi. But recently I experimented with 60psi and I have to say the truck felt much better. I have Air Lift bags which go up to 100psi.At 60psi my truck is more level. I tend to get a 2 inch squat after connecting the WDH and running 35psi. Anyway chime in if you run air bags I would be interested to hear what your running.

I put Air Lift 5,000# bags on my 24' Class C when I started towing my 6 X 10' {8' tall} cargo trailer. I typically haul either my Can Am Spyder or my Polaris Rzr SXS with the loaded trailer coming in between 2,200 - 2,600# depending on what additional toys I load {my coach with the 6.8L V-10 us rated to tow 5,000#} so I am nowhere near my theoretical limits.The whole purpose of the air bags is to ensure that the loaded/hitched trailer tongue is dead level with the ball exactly 16" from the ground to the top of the ball as per the trailer manufacturer's recommendation. For me that requires 50 psi in the air bags. I keep 25 psi in the bags when not towing per Air Lift's recommendation to prolong the life of the bags as they do not do well when completely deflated. The bags will take up to 100psi but I would never have enough of a load to warrant that much pressure.At a full load and 50 psi the coach rides and handles just fine "almost" like the trailer is not even back there. The coach has always had great ride and handling characteristics and I was surprised that when not towing running the 25 psi dramatically improved the ride overall which I was not expecting, but do love... go figure. :hHere is a short of the rig::C

What another person runs is irrelevant to your setup, as it’s not likely the same. That said, I run about 40psi, no wdh on a coil spring Ram with about 1500lbs tongue weight toyhauler. Honestly, I can’t imagine running as much air as you do with that truck and a wdh, unless your springs are shot or your tongue weight is heavier.

My air bags are 10 to 15 pounds without my TT or a load and 60 to 65 with…but that’s me and my rig. Not you. I’m absolutely level with my TT and truck at 60 to 65 pounds. You must coordinate air bags with hitch height for ride and leveling however.

As mentioned there psi does not mean squat!!! Air only enough to get your tow vehicle to set "LEVEL"

^What he said!You still need to load the suspension a fair amount. In your scenario, either you’re waaay off in the amount of weight you think you have on the truck, or it’s riding completely on air and neither your springs nor the wdh are doing much of anything.

Towing With Air Bags. | Good Sam Community

bucky
Explorer II
Jul 16, 2022
I want my 5er level, the truck not so much. Trucks have suspensions for a reason.
1L243
Explorer II
Jul 16, 2022
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
WHY are you unloaded your front axle when hitched with a tow behind???

Because that’s what literally happens when you apply a significant load aft of the rear axle…
Unless one can transfer most/all the tongue weight away with the wdh.

He has a weight distribution hitch correct??? Setup they ADD weight to the front axle NOT remove it. He is removing weight.

I have a WDH with 1500 pound bars.

You drop enough weight like 1400 pounds of TW and 300 pounds of cargo on the back bumper your going to lighten the front end. I was happy it was only 200 pounds. The WDH is cranked about as far as I want to crank it.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 16, 2022
^Yes, but with those numbers I assumed weight bearing since that made more sense.
Seems light for the front of a diesel too, but idk?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 16, 2022
Grit dog wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
WHY are you unloaded your front axle when hitched with a tow behind???

Because that’s what literally happens when you apply a significant load aft of the rear axle…
Unless one can transfer most/all the tongue weight away with the wdh.

He has a weight distribution hitch correct??? Setup they ADD weight to the front axle NOT remove it. He is removing weight.
1L243
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2022
I'm under my GVWR and I am under my GCWR so I don't think there is anything dangerous going on here. As far as the airbags go they are an assist just like the WDH. I would not count on airbags to support all the weight of the truck and trailer. I so expect them to improve my ride.

1400 pounds of TW puts me between 10% and 15% which is where I want to be.

I don't think I will be adjusting the WDH any tighter.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 15, 2022
Cummins12V98 wrote:
WHY are you unloaded your front axle when hitched with a tow behind???

Because that’s what literally happens when you apply a significant load aft of the rear axle…
Unless one can transfer most/all the tongue weight away with the wdh.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 15, 2022
wa8yxm wrote:
Use two things to set your pressure.

First A pressure guage. DO NOT EXCEED BAG RATINGS this is the only use of the guage.

Second a ruler.. Unhooked with the bags set to where you normally have them for running to the store for a loaf of bread.. Measure bumper height.. Hook up. load up and inflate to same height or recommended max pressure whichever is LOWER.

NOTE if you use a load equalizing hitch you may need to re-adjust it as you inflate.

So you’re saying let the bags take all of the applied load? I mean, it’s not goin to kill you but your statement is basically completely bad advice.
1L243
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2022
Cummins12V98 wrote:
WHY are you unloaded your front axle when hitched with a tow behind???

Every vehicle has it's limits. Considering my OEM hitch was rated at 1000 pounds TW. And I upgraded the hitch to a 15000 1500 pound TW.

This will give a idea on how my truck carries the weight.

This is fully loaded with 35 psi in the bags. You can see there is a noticeable squat in the truck.

Unloaded

60 psi will bring me up to level.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 15, 2022
WHY are you unloaded your front axle when hitched with a tow behind???
1L243
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2022
I wanted to get down to scales again I went once with truck and trailer loaded and again with just the truck loaded with what I typically carry when towing my Toy Hauler. Also keep in mind that I have a 8 foot bed with a ARE truck canopy with weight around 200 pounds. I carry about 400 pounds of cargo in the truck bed.

I have a Sherline TW scale that says my TW on the Toy Hauler alone is 1220 pounds

Weights

Truck Loaded without Toy Hauler

Front Axle 4250#

Rear Axle 3900#

Truck 8100#

Truck Loaded With Loaded Toy Hauler

Front Axle 3700#

Rear Axle 5300#

Trailer Axles 9100#

According to these numbers my TW could be more in the area of 1400lbs.

My GVWR is 8800#

The GCWR is 20000#

I may be able to grab one more link on my WDH. I have tilted the head of the hitch to keep my tow bars level but I think I can go one more washer.

Air bags have a max pressure of 100 psi.

Right now 60 psi seems to work pretty good. Ride seems firm and level.

My inquiry was to get a idea of what others run in their airbags. Understanding that everyone's setup is a little different but I would take that into consideration when looking at the numbers.

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