Air bags/shocks and the anticipated ride.

[jstaffon]

I have a 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD diesel and a 35' 2016 Forest River Rockwood 5th wheel. I've been pulling 5th wheels since 2013 when I bought my new GMC. My ride is pretty good but do experience a little movement from the trailer when pulling. I'm pretty sure a dually would help but don't want to make that investment. I was hoping air bags/shocks might help. I've got 77K miles on my truck and I'm looking at new shocks. I'm considering air bags/shocks but don't want a stiff/bumpy ride when NOT pulling my trailer. I've never owned or ridden in a vehicle with air shocks. Can I adjust my ride so that I have better control when pulling the trailer and still have a smoothish ride when empty? Thanks in advance!

[N-Trouble]

jstaffon wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

Do you recall the total price for the Bilstein and Timbrens? Just curious...ball park.

Bills are like $400 and Timbrens less than $200. Both are great investments. The cost of the Timbrens and ease of install are a no brainer.

[jstaffon]

rhagfo wrote:
Well you have a 11,000# 5er with a lite dry pin weight. Check your pin weight it should be in the 20% to 22% range for smoothest towing. That would put in the range of 2,200# to 2,240#, that and a set of Bilsteins all around should smooth it out. I don't see a need for air bags. The Bil's can be either 4600's or 5100's personal choice.

You're pretty close. I took my setup through a CAT scale weighing process and the tung weight is 1900 lbs when the camper is fully loaded. The other thing I do...and I haven't checked the tung weight...is double pull where I pull a 2400 lb trailer and ATVs behind my 5th wheel. Most of my long pulls are only the 5th wheel.

[N-Trouble]

rhagfo wrote:
Well you have a 11,000# 5er with a lite dry pin weight. Check your pin weight it should be in the 20% to 22% range for smoothest towing. That would put in the range of 2,200# to 2,240#, that and a set of Bilsteins all around should smooth it out. I don't see a need for air bags. The Bil's can be either 4600's or 5100's personal choice.

But it tows BETTER with the Timbrens. Many also load extra weight into the bed so its more than just pin weight. Hitch, firewood, fuel, etc.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

jstaffon wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
I can dump the air and it will ride exactly like it did before I put the bags on.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

That's what I was hoping for. ie. dumping the air and getting back to a normal ride. My truck doesn't sag....but the rake (if that's the right terminology) is gone and it looks like it's level.

Do bags replace shocks or are they additional?

That is the exact terminology to use. Towing level is good BTW.

They are in addition. That's why I said start with a good set of Bil's first. If I remember right a set of Bil's cost me like $350 or so several years back. They made a huge difference in ride quality while towing and solo.

The bags really won't help with anything but sag. That's all they were designed to do. If for some reason you do get bags get the one with the compressor kit also. I almost didn't get the compressor and it would have been a huge mistake. I can adjust on the fly now to the conditions. Super nice deal for "me."

[rhagfo]

Well you have a 11,000# 5er with a lite dry pin weight. Check your pin weight it should be in the 20% to 22% range for smoothest towing. That would put in the range of 2,200# to 2,240#, that and a set of Bilsteins all around should smooth it out. I don't see a need for air bags. The Bil's can be either 4600's or 5100's personal choice.

[IdaD]

jstaffon wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

Do you recall the total price for the Bilstein and Timbrens? Just curious...ball park.

I'm still running stock shocks but I did install Timbrens on my Ram. I think they were about $180 shipped, and it was about a 10 minute job to install them. I think they work great. I can't really discern any difference in the unloaded ride, but when I load up the fifth wheel they engage and it feels more solid going down the highway but not harsh.

[jstaffon]

N-Trouble wrote:
I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

Do you recall the total price for the Bilstein and Timbrens? Just curious...ball park.

[jstaffon]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
I can dump the air and it will ride exactly like it did before I put the bags on.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

That's what I was hoping for. ie. dumping the air and getting back to a normal ride. My truck doesn't sag....but the rake (if that's the right terminology) is gone and it looks like it's level.

Do bags replace shocks or are they additional?

[jstaffon]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Ok, here is MHO.
But, I have no idea what you mean by "movement?" Ya you're going to feel movement. You have a heavy 35' 5er in back of you. You're going to feel movement.

If I were you I would start by put a set of Bilstein shocks on. Chevy OEM shocks are junk right out of the factory IMHO. Start with that and see how the ride is.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

Can you describe what you're feeling or what you want your truck to do better?

The movement is minor. In an attempt to characterize the movement...I guess I feel tugging on the truck when going over dips in the road and some slight side to side pulling in cross-wind towing. To be honest, I may be too picky because the ride is quite comfortable. I'm trying to tweak it a bit. I thought maybe the movement I'm feeling is a result of weak shocks.

[N-Trouble]

I have the same truck (2012) and pull a 12k lb 5er. I put Bilstein 5100 shocks on it when new and just a couple years ago added Timbrens. It towed fine before the Timbrens but is even better now. I had air bags on an older truck and liked them but didnt want to deal with install/$$ this time and gave the Timbrens a try. Install is all of 10min and it in no way affects the ride when empty.

[jstaffon]

dockmasterdave wrote:
I've had air shocks in the past and will probably be adding another set soon.
They are easy to adjust pressure up or down. If the pressure is low it will ride just like before, pump the pressure up and the rear goes up and stiffens a little.
Still not a horrible ride when pumped up.

I don't want my backend to go up at all. With the trailer attached, the trailer and truck look like they are riding level. If I raise the backend, the trailer will ride high and shift weight to the rear axle of the trailer. Do you have control so you can provide stability with the shocks without raising the backend?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Ok, here is MHO.

Air shocks belong on a 67 Camaro not a HD truck.

Airbags are a TOTALLY different story.

But, I have no idea what you mean by "movement?" Ya you're going to feel movement. You have a heavy 35' 5er in back of you. You're going to feel movement.

Back to the airbags. I put a set on my truck a few months ago and I'm glad I did. I have a TT with a LOT of tongue weight. The truck was sagging a lot. Towed fine but the back end was sagging. I put the air bags on it and never looked back. Does it tow any better? Nope, but it's not sagging anymore and the ride is level. I can dump the air and it will ride exactly like it did before I put the bags on.

If I were you I would start by put a set of Bilstein shocks on. Chevy OEM shocks are junk right out of the factory IMHO. Start with that and see how the ride is.

If your truck is sagging then I would put a set of bags on it.

Can you describe what you're feeling or what you want your truck to do better?

[dockmasterdave]

I've had air shocks in the past and will probably be adding another set soon.
They are easy to adjust pressure up or down. If the pressure is low it will ride just like before, pump the pressure up and the rear goes up and stiffens a little.
Still not a horrible ride when pumped up.
A LOT cheaper than air bags and I'm not looking to add 1000 lbs of payload, just level out the truck.
Nothing you do to your truck will legally change it's rated payload, but it can make it more comfortable and ride level.