BUYING 2004 LANCE 1030. DO I NEED AIRBAGS

[lifeguard27]

I have a new 2013 chevy 3500 , diesel, crew cab long bed srw. The camper weighs 3138 pounds dry. Do you think the truck needs airbags? Looking for some opinions. Thanks for the help.

[billyray50]

I agree with wintersun. I have had airlift 5000 airbags for 3 years and do not use them due to them creating more sway with my 2006 Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4 long bed. On 3rd generation Dodges they have to install them between bed box and on top of axle. If I increase airbags more than 10 psi I notice more sway even with homemade stable loads. Wish I never bought airbags. I will remove them and go to supersprings or perhaps Hellwig helper springs. Although the placement of airbag system maybe different for chevy Trucks and you should have a top overload spring with 3500 where my truck does not.

[wintersun]

You do not need airbags. My 2011 2500HD with 4000 lbs. in the bed handles fine. I added Supersprings to handle the extra load with the camper when fully loaded. With the original camper dry weight of 3200 lbs. (based on CAT scale weighing) the stock truck with the stock springs and stock shocks handled the load perfectly driving a couple hundred miles up from the sierras down to the Monterey Bay area and through SF Bay area freeway traffic.

Take your stock truck and put the camper on and drive it before you do anything. You may end up putting on Rancho or Bilstein shocks but that is all you will need. Airbags on your truck with that camper would be a complete waste of money and degrade handling which is the very last thing you want to do.

Be sure your tires are at the GM specs with 80 lbs. in the rear tires. Underinflated tires will hurt your truck's handling more than any other single factor.

[lifeguard27]

All great info. The salesman at the shop said he didn't think I needed them. He said try with out and if you don't like the ride come back and get them installed. Thanks everyone for the responses. Hopefully getting the camper in a few weeks, so I'll find out then. Will keep all posted.

[Gary_Gadget]

I had a 2007 1030 and maybe a super spring would fit the bill for you. I had air bags and they raised up the height of the bed on my 2006 350 SRW.

[rabcon]

I have a 2004 1030 on a 2011 SRW GMC 3500 and it handles it great, no air bags needed . It sets on the over loads and is very stable. A GREAT CAMPER !!! I allso had a 2005 F-350 and had the stable loads on it but then traded for the GMC and was very pleased with the handling stock.
🙂

[Mote]

We are also buying a Lance 1030. IT's a 2001 thou. We're supposed to get it this coming Saturday. We'll have to compare notes.
The lady we are buying it from is 78 years old. She bought the camper new in California. She has hauled it it's entire life on a 1994 chevy 2500 2wd with air bags. She's been all over the West in this setup.

[BoxerPitMix]

When I had my new 920 Lance, I had an 04 F350 SRW long bed. First trip I took across New Mexico I almost had to stop and change my underpants a few times after a couple good gusts of wind and some good curves...

Some Firestone Ride Rites completely changed how it drove. Took it all over the midwest after that, no problems at all. If I ever go back to a truck camper - I won't take it anywhere without airbags... At least with a single rear wheel.

[travelnutz]

I'd suggest them because at 3138 dry will become 3600-4000 lbs wet and packed to go. The ride will be much nicer with that much weight and handling will be better especially in cross winds and cornering.