Air Bag/Quality of Ride

we have an 2010 GMC 1500 crew cab and a 27' Fleetwood. I just put air bags on and they work great. I run about 23 pounds in them they make the ride much more comfortable. I think with the torsion bars set to level the truck is just riding on the soft part of the springs and you get that up and down ride, the air bag really help here.
Jay D.

WNYBob wrote:
How come most of the posters ask questions about their TV don't have an updated profile or post what they have!

So how can we give advice when to OP doesn't state anything about to TV.

Maybe he has OEM shocks on an old truck, who knows!

I'm no longer going to reply to posts of people that have not updated their profile!

You need a nap.

Gdetrailer wrote:

cccougar wrote:
I have a 2017 F 150 3.5 EB with 6'5 long bed and max tow package. Rated to tow 11,700 lbs with a payload of 1761 and 3800 lbs on rear axle and 3600 up front. Hope this helps in assisting me with my initial thoughts about air bags. BTW, I tow a 30' TT when wet it is around 7100 lbs.

There IS your "problem".. 30ft TT is a long, long trailer..

While the weight may be acceptable, the combination of the weight PLUS LENGTH gives the tongue a lot of added potential to push a light weight/soft suspension of the tow vehicle.

While airbags "might" stiffen the rear of the vehicle it will do nothing for the front of the vehicle.. Airbags "might" correct some of the up/down you feel but most likely not all that much..

Also, have to be a bit realistic, there WILL be always some "porpoising" up/down movement and depending on the road or pavement you may have to vary your speed some to combat the feeling..

To put this into perspective, I tow with a F250 at 26 ft TT which loaded is about 6500 lbs.. I run without WD and only get SLIGHT porpoising.. If I used WD I could POSSIBLY reduce it slightly but most likely never FULLY eliminate it.

I am kind of used to that feeling since my Dad used to have a slide in truck camper (they don't have WD for those), after a while you got used to the up/down feeling..

Not to get OT, I know helper bags aren't comparable to air-only suspensions, as your spring rates are still the same, but just thought I'd chime in because it's an interesting topic. I can tell you with ZERO doubt that an actual OE HD 4 corner air suspension eliminates 90% of the issues you mentioned above though. I try to tow light, but it's still 6200lbs or so, 30' - zero porpoising, even on horrible repeating expansion joints and construction zones. Just tends to flatten everything.

I'm curious how the new RAM system performs in similar loads - I almost got one a couple years ago but there wasn't much info on them yet and NO ONE ordered the option. Haven't come across anyone on here with it yet as well. I feel like if people experienced it in person, they'd be sold pretty quick.

cccougar wrote:
I have a 2017 F 150 3.5 EB with 6'5 long bed and max tow package. Rated to tow 11,700 lbs with a payload of 1761 and 3800 lbs on rear axle and 3600 up front. Hope this helps in assisting me with my initial thoughts about air bags. BTW, I tow a 30' TT when wet it is around 7100 lbs.

There IS your "problem".. 30ft TT is a long, long trailer..

While the weight may be acceptable, the combination of the weight PLUS LENGTH gives the tongue a lot of added potential to push a light weight/soft suspension of the tow vehicle.

While airbags "might" stiffen the rear of the vehicle it will do nothing for the front of the vehicle.. Airbags "might" correct some of the up/down you feel but most likely not all that much..

Also, have to be a bit realistic, there WILL be always some "porpoising" up/down movement and depending on the road or pavement you may have to vary your speed some to combat the feeling..

To put this into perspective, I tow with a F250 at 26 ft TT which loaded is about 6500 lbs.. I run without WD and only get SLIGHT porpoising.. If I used WD I could POSSIBLY reduce it slightly but most likely never FULLY eliminate it.

I am kind of used to that feeling since my Dad used to have a slide in truck camper (they don't have WD for those), after a while you got used to the up/down feeling..

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/blog/entry/stableloads-solve-handling-issues-for-hauling-camper-towing-trailer

I put TL StableLoads on my truck and it tow's real nice now.
In fact, i stop using my air bags . At 10 lbs of air in them, they just come along for the ride now.
Most people that upgrade to Bilstein shocks on all 4 corners like the results. Even driving the truck solo is very smooth.

TurnThePage wrote:
Well quit replying already! ;)

Not that is funny! :W

I always keep 15psi in my bags when unloaded. It helps to take the shock out of the large bumps in the road.

I have a 2017 F 150 3.5 EB with 6'5 long bed and max tow package. Rated to tow 11,700 lbs with a payload of 1761 and 3800 lbs on rear axle and 3600 up front. Hope this helps in assisting me with my initial thoughts about air bags. BTW, I tow a 30' TT when wet it is around 7100 lbs.

Well quit replying already! ;)

How come most of the posters ask questions about their TV don't have an updated profile or post what they have!

So how can we give advice when to OP doesn't state anything about to TV.

Maybe he has OEM shocks on an old truck, who knows!

I'm no longer going to reply to posts of people that have not updated their profile!