Forum Discussion
noteven
Dec 03, 2019Explorer III
Air bags deploy in a collision.
Air springs support a chassis.
Any suspension that can re-level a loaded pickup has the benefit of keeping the headlight aimed correctly (Toyota and new Nissans have driver adjustment) and it keeps the castor angle correct so the truck steers normally. This is quite noticeable on a solid front axle truck with short torque arms on a road full of whoop de dos’z. (See an old Dodge on Hwy 191 in the Navajo Nation)
Oh and it is nice when hooking up a ball hitched trailer to drop the suspension back under the couple and pick up the trailer. See: hooking up a goose neck ball to the ball in the hole in the deck style flat bed :)
I would never claim adding spring capacity increases capacity to carry stuff, but the old Dodge rides purdy nice with 500 imperial gallons of water in a tank on board. Sits pretty much same as empty.
But air suspensions require a bit of mitigation of moisture in cold weather, and awareness of how they operate see: lending the truck to someone who left the ignition switch in acc position for 4 days while not fixing a minor air leak. “Ya...your truck won’t start...”
My camper hauler F350 cab and chassis truck has farm truck spring packs in rear not the loooong squatting taper leaf pickups have. It sits down about 1.5” to the overload with 3000lbs on it and rides and drives nice. Empty it is a bone shaker compared to the air ride Dodge.
Air springs support a chassis.
Any suspension that can re-level a loaded pickup has the benefit of keeping the headlight aimed correctly (Toyota and new Nissans have driver adjustment) and it keeps the castor angle correct so the truck steers normally. This is quite noticeable on a solid front axle truck with short torque arms on a road full of whoop de dos’z. (See an old Dodge on Hwy 191 in the Navajo Nation)
Oh and it is nice when hooking up a ball hitched trailer to drop the suspension back under the couple and pick up the trailer. See: hooking up a goose neck ball to the ball in the hole in the deck style flat bed :)
I would never claim adding spring capacity increases capacity to carry stuff, but the old Dodge rides purdy nice with 500 imperial gallons of water in a tank on board. Sits pretty much same as empty.
But air suspensions require a bit of mitigation of moisture in cold weather, and awareness of how they operate see: lending the truck to someone who left the ignition switch in acc position for 4 days while not fixing a minor air leak. “Ya...your truck won’t start...”
My camper hauler F350 cab and chassis truck has farm truck spring packs in rear not the loooong squatting taper leaf pickups have. It sits down about 1.5” to the overload with 3000lbs on it and rides and drives nice. Empty it is a bone shaker compared to the air ride Dodge.
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