Air bags?

[RVcrazy]

Why air bags? To level a load that is too heavy on the hitch? Because the tow vehicle is towing too heavy for its rating? To make the road surfaces easier on the back side? Help us understand, please. Options? Thanks!

[BigToe]

duplicate

[rhagfo]

720Deere wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Wow, guess my truck must be broken!

I see all these post where posters claim to be well within their numbers, but still need bags to level.
I am over my GVWR, well within axle rating, and have no need to bags, don't even engage the overloads.

If you are going to make a claim like that, you probably shouldn't have picture evidence in your signature. That truck sure looks squatted well beyond level to me and that isn't even close to the load that most guys with bags are hauling. It is true that the earlier Dodge trucks do have extremely heavy rear springs. It also no more fair to compare your suspension to a 2013 truck than it would be to compare your transmission to a 2013.

The picture in my sig is from the tow home without any adjustments to the hitch or pin box, 5er was pin high.
This a more current picture also fully loaded headed for a week at the coast. True about the transmission, my NV4500, may some day be replaced with a G56.

No my 5er isn't a monster, but I do carry 11,000# with 2,000# of pin. What I consider a midsize many state that with the 12,300# GVW of the 5er it is 3500 territory. It just seems to me many use bags to "fix" issues they really are not designed to fix. Chucking and porpoising, cured what little I have with good shocks on the 5er and great shocks on the TV. JMHO

[DirtyOil]

A thread about air bags becomes brand-bashing within one reply! YES!!

Actually it took up to the 6th reply to make it a brand war after them other two beaked off! I never said any particular brand till they screamed like girls.

And to be honest... I still haven't named any brand.




My sarcasm has gotten to the point, where I even don't know if I'm kidding or not.

😛

[camp-n-family]

skipnchar wrote:
Should not be used for a travel trailer. Weight distributing system far more effective and does a lot more than air bags which can only prop up the rear but can't do the more important job of replacing weight on the front axle.

This is the correct answer for those with bumper pulls. The bags should only be used to smooth out the ride. A different story for those with fivers who don't experience the loss of weight off the front axle and can use bags to level the rear of the truck

[720Deere]

rhagfo wrote:
Wow, guess my truck must be broken!

I see all these post where posters claim to be well within their numbers, but still need bags to level.
I am over my GVWR, well within axle rating, and have no need to bags, don't even engage the overloads.

If you are going to make a claim like that, you probably shouldn't have picture evidence in your signature. That truck sure looks squatted well beyond level to me and that isn't even close to the load that most guys with bags are hauling. It is true that the earlier Dodge trucks do have extremely heavy rear springs. It also no more fair to compare your suspension to a 2013 truck than it would be to compare your transmission to a 2013.

[tplife]

Firms up the suspension, levels the ride. I have them on my Prius to keep the Torklift 2" receiver level.

[N-Trouble]

Most trucks come with 2-3" of rake from the factory butif you are one of those that has decided to level your truck so it looks better when unloaded will likley need bags. I see a lot of guys who go this route without bags only to be towing down the highway nose high (better known as the "Cali lean"). Not good for towing or very safe for oncoming drivers at night...

[rhagfo]

Wow, guess my truck must be broken!

I see all these post where posters claim to be well within their numbers, but still need bags to level.
I am over my GVWR, well within axle rating, and have no need to bags, don't even engage the overloads.

It may also be a function of manufactures trying to put a softer ride in the HD trucks, therefore playing with the spring rates.

[campingken]

We put them on because with our Northstar TC 650 on the truck when we hooked up the horse trailer with (2) horses, water, tack, and hay in it the truck's overloads engaged and the ride was too rough. 30 pounds of air in each bag improves the ride.

[discovery4us]

I have used them on two trucks to help level the truck and also the trailer. If you set them up to fill independently of each other you can also fine tune the side to side level by adding just a few extra lbs. to the low side.

[720Deere]

Just think of how much money all those poor nose high guys are saving by taking the weight off their front ends. I mean when the number 3 selling truck runs level, you have to replace the ball joints every 50-60,000 miles!

[bmanning]

A thread about air bags becomes brand-bashing within one reply! YES!!

Can't wait to check back on this one in a few hours...

[skipnchar]

Should not be used for a travel trailer. Weight distributing system far more effective and does a lot more than air bags which can only prop up the rear but can't do the more important job of replacing weight on the front axle.

[SAR_Tracker]

My 2011 F250 has such a soft suspension (great for an unloaded ride) that adding bags really helped with the lights blinding other drivers. With only 700# tongue weight, it's certainly not overloaded.... Even had to adjust the aiming of the headlights down quite a bit. I honestly think the headlights were out of adjustment straight from the factory.