So I was looking to sell my 3500 for a qc 2500 but with lack of interest in my truck and potentials for layoffs at work, I'm pretty sure the truck will be sticking around for a good while longer. I got my truck for a great deal, but after a year and a half, a dually 1 ton suspension is starting to get old. For the most part, I only haul my truck 5 times a year. In the mean time, there's ALOT of beating i take driving around. In a perfect world, I'd get the 4link w/panhard setup from Air Ride, but with the extensive work and lowering, it's not in my plans.

Kelderman offers the 2 bag setup which replaces the shackles with air bags for the most part. I think it looks pretty stout, but may be missing something. also, they offer it 1600 installed with a schrader fill valve. Later I would add a compressor and tank with remote fill. Below are a few pics, and just want a consensous from those who tow on what they think of this for strength. Also, this setup does not lower, nor raise the truck but maintains the stock ride height, which is fine, because I'm not touching the front end. I think that is smooth enough for my tastes. There is also a class 5 rated hitch built into the system, which was one of my biggest concerns.



Let me know your thoughts so i don't make a 1600 dollar mistake.

 

Its on my list of to buys! I have talked to several guys that have it and all said it was well worth it. We have a guy at our yard with a f450 and he has just shy of 500k on his truck with it and has had no issues. I am going to do a pac brake first since it comes with a compressor and tank, then do the air suspension. You do have another option too....air seats.

 

I tried a few things with mine and ended up putting the spring stack back to the origonal configuration but I cut the ends off of the bottom OLs so only about 14" of the center part is left. The truck already had FS bags when I bought it but I didn't like the short travel of the stinkin' no-drill kit. I liked the good ole drill-em-yourself Airlift kit I put on my 97 much better. After examining the FS bags, I took the gas-ax to the bottom brackets and lowered them so the plate is all the way down against the axle tube - that got another 3/4" travel. I left the bolt out of the bottom end of the bags so downward axle travel won't put the stretch to the bags. Those changes made a BIG improvement. From what I've read about air suspension, it's a lot of $$$ for little gain. I got good gain, for free! Craig

 

I'm choosing the air ride to also save the rest of the truck. I the last exhaust hanger tear the exhaust tube where it was welded due to the abuse it takes. I've been given the opportunity to drive an explorer this winter with 4x4 so its very possible this will sit for the next few months since I won't be wheelin my bronco. So I may just save now and look to take care of this next spring. I guess my biggest worry was the strength of the hitch that is built into the setup

 

Hitch is not as issue a friend of that has there air ride tows a bumper pull 2 car trailer loaded heavy and a 28ft enclosed, no issues at all. Kelderman makes some quality stuff.

 

If I was you, I would spend the money right now and get the compressor & gage set-up. Although you'll like saving the money right now, it won't take long before you wish to had the compressor built-in.

 

Well, looks like I'll have some time to save for it all. I'm thinking I'll probly do it all at one time. Truck will probly go into storage in the next month. Works well since diesel fuel is 35 cents more a gal than gas now. So, air ride will come in early spring. It'll be nice having the smooth ride again! Whenever it all gets installed, I'll make sure to get pics up, since not alot of people have done this setup

 

Looked at a bunch of pics on Kelderman's site and I really like the 4-link setup (remove leaf springs) they have for the 3rd Gen trucks. I see that they have a 4-link setup listed for 2nd Gen long box trucks, but there is no information under the link. I really wish they made a 4-link setup for the 2nd Gen QC/SB.

 

The two bag looks okay...but I like my superhitch,so I did not buy it,I guess I might have been able to talk them into beefing up the hitch,but no doubt would have cost alot extra,I've flipped the bottom leaf over and that helps some,not alot,but its better.

If I did not need the capacity on the hitch sometimes I'd have one.

I'm going to make my own air ride later,when I've got time/money

 

well my biggest problems is the pounding. I take it and the truck is too. I've also noticed the bed is splitting at the seams. The passengerside wheel well needs to be almost completely rewelded. So, there's another project for next spring. However, now that I've pretty much set on keeping the truck, this will most likely happen. I'm looking forward to that smooth ride.

 

I talked to someone at Kelderman today. I was told that the while the 2-bag setup doesn't increase the load capacity of the truck any, it offers a dramatically improved ride. They said that the 2-bag setup rides much smoother than the 4-link setup. The 4-link setup drastically increases the load capacity of the truck.... so much so, that you can easily exceed the capacity of the axle and the tires.

I inquired about the 4-link system for 2nd Gens w/ short bed and they said they do have a kit. It's just not advertised since the majority of their business now days is the 3rd Gen trucks. The 2-bag setup is sold separately with the compressor/tank as an add-on. The 4-link setup has the compressor included. The 4-link setup is a little more than the double the cost of the 2-bag.

I do like the 4-link system better and like the auto ride height control, but for what I tow, I doubt I need it's beastlyness and it probably wouldn't be worth the extra cash to me. Now if money was not an issue.......

 

Well my truck has a gvwr of 10,500 lbs and a trailer that can hold 9900lbs gvwr. Both are alot more than I need for a 73 EB on 36s. No camper in my future, so I don't need added load capacity, so I think the 2 bag will do me well. I'm excitied to save for spring, because it will probly bring me air ride with some air tanks. May use them as that and can seperatly fill the air ride through a schrader valve till I go with a pump and gauges, and a new turbo and bigger injectors. It'll be running strong and do all I want. Ive got the Keldermann cd they send out and the truck seems to ride great while that bag absorbs ALOT of the roadway imperfections.

 

Are you just going with the 2-bag rear? or are you going to get the front kit as well?

 

I will be going with just the 2 bag kit in the rear. I have no problem with how the front rides. Not sure how a 4x4 rides but the 2x4 is not bad at all. It'll be nice with this smooth ride. Also, maybe my poorly constructed dodge body wont fall apart quite as quickly...