Was thinking about getting some air bags for the rear to level the truck out when im pullin the toy hauler. never had a set so I dont even know where to start. any brand suggestions? looking for seomthing straight forward and easy......no hi tech with electronic controllers and stuff. just fill it up with air and go.......well unless the hi tech one doesnt cost to much. cost is the main issue as im on a budget.

thanks guys,
tom

 

I installed the Firestone Ride Rites on my truck over 3 years ago. I have had NO problems with them, they do the job just fine. I plumbed them up individually, have 2 fills drilled into the rear bumper.

I have a 30' TT thats right at 12/13K loaded, the air bags keep her level and make for a nice smooth ride. I also added a Helwig sway bar, the road crown tends to contribute to sway. I also pull a 20' equipment trailer, it with my Bobcat and other stuff can get to 15K. The air bags are just the ticket for pulling heavy off a BP hitch.

There are several air bag manufacturers, if I were to be installing a set now, I would probably get those made by PacBrake, they make a nice set.

CD

 

where's a good palce to get the pacbrake airbags?

 

Same here, installed the Firestone Ride Rite about four years ago. Have had absolutely no problems. Not even an air leak. If you are towing this is a very nice upgrade. They are simple, reasonably priced (around $250 online back then), quality made, and man can they haul a load. You will never be able to put enough weight on your truck to sag them down. With these bags, you are essentially converting 3/4 ton truck into a 1 1/2 ton. Without the rough ride.

 

You will not be dissappointed in getting and installing air bags. I bought some Pacbrake bags from Geno's garage. http://www.genosgarage.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HP10002


I tow a toyhauler also and my truck handled it ok. But because of the heavy tongue weight and it being a bumper pull....it put all of that weight on the last half of my springs. With the air bags, it keeps all of that weight in the frame of the truck and now supported by the bags. Make it ride very smooth!

It is very nice towing with both the truck and trailer perfectly level. If you looked at my truck (by itself) you couldn't even tell it had a load on it except for a little more squat in the tires. Money well spent.

..

 

Lary that runs the DTR store here will likely get you the best price around along with quick delivery - that is where I got mine.

I have had Airlift Superduty bags and know many people with Ride-Rites. They are both good bags. Pacbrake is a newer contender in this market and seems to make the highest quality bag. But realistically, all three companies make a great product. You will most likely get the best pricing on the Pac's, though.

 

oh cool, didnt know Lary carried them, have to shoot him a PM

Thanks

 

well the pacbrake setup its on the way from the DTR store...........thanks for the tips guys

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but with a correct load disty hitch on a heavy trailer, you shouldn't need the airbags... if it's sagging so much in the rear, that's because enough of the weight isn't being put on to the forward axle.

In theory, if you've matched the right type of WD Hitch, 1/2 of the rear hitch weight will go to the front of the vehicle. A way to measure this is to measure the wheel well heights of the truck minus the trailer, then measure it with it hitched up and the WD bars on. The truck should have settled the same amount on both of it's axles.

RV.net has a ton of stuff on this subject, btw.

 

my truck doesnt really sag in the rear with the trailer. its more of the bouncing when hitting ripples and bumps in the road. hopefully that will settle it down a bit

 

got the bags today in the mail. install was pretty easy and took about 1.5 hours....working pretty slow. cant wait to try them out next weekend.

thanks again Lary........if anyone is curious Lary at the DTR store had a killer price delivered to the house.......shoot him an PM

 

Timbrens.

 

I hate them. I found they made chucking conditions with a 5ver worse...sometimes much worse. I also noticed that they affected the empty ride much like a contact overload set too low. Once the suspension hits them when empty, travel feels like it instantly comes to a halt which gives a very jarring ride condition.

No thanks, I'll take the bags any day. You can instantly adjust them perfectly to ANY load condition without additional compromises.

 

The unloaded ride with airbags sucks. I don't have any issues with my Timbrens, but I know some people do. I think it depends on the truck. Mine is about an inch and a half above the rear axle, and with the stiffer 2500 springs (main springs are stiffer on the 2500's, because the 3500's have factory overloads) I rarely feel them unloaded. I find that if you load them up good it rides like a caddy.

 

i tote a 4,000 lb slide in camper.i have firestone ride rites individually plumbed.that's alot of weight for a srw truck.in fact it's over the limit.the air bags level it out.when i'm empty i run 15lbs in them,i can't really say i notice a difference in ride quality.