So since I don't haul anything heavier than a car trailer anymore, I have decided to bag the dually. The front is done, the rear is another project. With the fuel tank in the way it's no good for a triangulated 4 link, so it seems the only real good option is to run a parallel bar 4 link. I was just wondering in any of you guys have run across a bagged 1st gen other than the one that was Carlisle last year (I still can't seem to track that guy down).

 

Did you do a search on here for 'air ride' or some variation of that? I know there are guys on here who have it, but don't recall who.

 

Yeah but no help. This is going to be a frame layer/toy. So it's getting c-nothched.

 

could you do a 3 link with a panhard bar?

 

I don't have any input on bagging the rear but I am curious how you did the front?

Thanks for any info you could give me!
Curtis

 

There are a few threads about bagging these trucks, you just need to look carefully. One guy did his quad cab. But pictures of how you did it would be AWESOME!!

As for the rear there is something called a keldermin air ride system. Google that and you will see. he essentially replaced the rear shackles with air bags and adds a panhard bar.

I've been thinking about adding two traction bars, a panhard bar and weld on some custom brackets for the air bags i currently have laying around. All that has been put aside for now though.

 

I had a bunch of links that I found about it that I somehow misplaced, but I pretty much got them all by searching in combinations of dually/1 ton/air ride etc. I don't think I found an actual 1st gen Dodge but there were a lot of results for Ford and Chevy, which are similar enough.

One site, which I think was of a shop here in Minnesota, had TONS of their past projects with pictures of them all, and there was a Chevy dually that had been c-notched and I'm pretty sure had a triangulated setup, but probably had a new fuel tank.

 

Why not find a rear tank from a daul tank setup or a Ramcharger (same tank I believe) and ditch the factory one. That would give you all the room you would need.
DS79

 

http://www.airbagit.com/product-p/fbs-dod-50-kit5.htm

 

I'm also looking into this for my 3rd Gen truck. Check out Firestone R4tech. It's not a full air bag rear, but may do what you want. Also AirBagit.com as mentioned above.

I can't see way you couldn't do a 4 link with a panhard bar. Take a look at airbagit's link from 1st gen wontabe.

 

I've an air bag system. It's nice...definitely smooths out the ride! Keldermann style.

 

Subliminal did you do rear only?

 

Naw,

My truck was actually purchased new by the previous owner, and then driven from NJ to Iowa to Keldermann to have the air ride suspension installed.

The front uses 2 seperate tanks and air bags on both sides. The rear uses one tank with a equalizing setup and an airbag on either side. The airbag system is integrated into the tow hitch setup. Maybe at lunch today I'll try and snap a few pics for you. I know back in 91 he paid ~$3000 to have it installed (not to mention the cost to drive half way across the country and back).

 

Please and thank you.

 

Sorry man, I didn't have a chance at lunch...I'll try again after work.