Do you have airbags?

[Occupant5143]

Whenever I lower the hitch onto the ball and raise the jack's foot the tow vehicle's rear end drops about 2 1/4". I use a weight distribution hitch that does transfer some of the weight to the front wheels so handling is not really a problem. It just kind of bugs me to see the rear of the truck sag down so much. I am seriously considering adding air bags to the rear suspension of the truck to eliminate this sag.

Fellow travel trailer owners, I'd like to know if you have air bags and do they work for you? What are your experiences with them?

[Big1]

I'm no expert by any mean so take this with a grain of sand but you might need to re-adjust the hitch.

[wildwest450]

Originally Posted by Big1

I'm no expert by any mean so take this with a grain of sand but you might need to re-adjust the hitch.

I would check that first before I spent money on air bags. My less than 1/2 ton truck has 700lbs of tongue weight on it and around 300lbs in the bed and sits nice and level while hooked up.

[ewarnerusa]

I have a bit too much trailer for my truck; however, the truck sits level with WDH hooked up. So I also recommend checking your WDH setup first before buying more stuff.

[snakebitten]

I recommend buying more stuff.

This is America. We invented the whole concept.

(Besides, what could be bad about airbags AND a weight distribution hitch? [other than chasing the perfect setup endlessly as one affects the other])

Before you take my buffoonery too seriously, I might do exactly the same thing. But not until after I put some fancy new HD shocks on the back to see if that addresses my complaint first.

Ah, the endless chase for the perfect road manners. It's been a hobby of mine for nearly half a century.

[gazingm42]

I think if you are dropping that much you have a issue with your WD / hitch adjustment.

When I switch to my truck I have now I had to make adjustments based on the mfg directions.

Before buying air bags I would look at the WD and do some research r call the mfg.

[Retired Mountie]

I have a 2013 F-150 tow rated for 11,300lbs and 1,150lb tongue weight with a WDH (I figure I am close to my max tongue weight). My hitch is adjusted properly but I still get a 2" sag so I installed air bags with an onboard compressor. I wouldn't do without it. Once I hook up, I hit the pump button and inflate the bags until my dash mounted gauge reads 30lbs. It makes a big difference on how the rig handles on the road and windy conditions.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by Retired Mountie

I have a 2013 F-150 tow rated for 11,300lbs and 1,150lb tongue weight with a WDH (I figure I am close to my max tongue weight). My hitch is adjusted properly but I still get a 2" sag so I installed air bags with an onboard compressor. I wouldn't do without it. Once I hook up, I hit the pump button and inflate the bags until my dash mounted gauge reads 30lbs. It makes a big difference on how the rig handles on the road and windy conditions.

So I'm planning on installing my air bag tomorrow but want to install the compressor for it one day soon but how was the install, what kind and do you have any pics of the compressor?

[Retired Mountie]

The compressor is mounted on the firewall inside the engine compartment. It's really not very big. I will try to take some pics this weekend and post them. The gauge is mounted on the dash to the left of the driver. I had the dealer do the install and it took about an hour, give or take. Mind you, I already had the bags on and just had the lines changed and the comp. installed.

[Retired Mountie]

Forgot to add.....I went with Air Lift equipment.

[Big1]

Great, so how is so far?

[nonsense]

I'd bet you will love the bags, I've had several sets over the years and man they are great. The ride and control of your rig will improve greatly. Good luck cramming the compressor and control under the hood! I was able to get mine there but I've removed a bunch of factory "stuff" that resulted in just enough room to mount everything. I've also don installs on factory equipped 6.7's and have had to mount the compressor and controller under the truck. The install really is pretty easy and straightforward, for me it just took time to make sure i had everything routed the way I wanted it.

[Thom]

Originally Posted by nonsense

I'd bet you will love the bags, I've had several sets over the years and man they are great. The ride and control of your rig will improve greatly. Good luck cramming the compressor and control under the hood! I was able to get mine there but I've removed a bunch of factory "stuff" that resulted in just enough room to mount everything. I've also don installs on factory equipped 6.7's and have had to mount the compressor and controller under the truck. The install really is pretty easy and straightforward, for me it just took time to make sure i had everything routed the way I wanted it.

I made a frame and shelf for my compressor to sit on, it is mounted under the cab, under the passenger's side rear seat (crew cab). Lots of wasted space up there.
I also ran an air chuck out to the rear bumper so I could hook in an air hose there and use my compressor to air up camper tires.

[donzinger]

Mounted my compressor inside the auxiliary fuel tank/tool box combo. My last truck had the compressor under the hood (Pacbrake recommended location) and I went through three of them due to the engine heat killing it. Supplies the airbags, exhaust brake and Klein train horns.

[Pirate]

I just bought the Firestone bags an install kit.

I have a pancake compressor mounted in the "basement" of my Voltage 3800 toyhauler.

Typically it has plenty of air in the tank to air up the bags and check them.

With the 5th connected. I put a level on the side of the bed and slowly increase pressure in both bags...I have them tubed up separately with a Shraeder valve for each through the rear panel of my Highway Products bed. You can mount them wherever you like.

I add a bit of air to each side and check the level and keep adding air to get the bed level. Usually about 50 psi each. Good to go! Check each time I hook the truck and 5th together.

Just how I do it.

Pirate

[Wandering with Kodiaks]

I would make sure your truck is also loaded when you make your adjustments. You need to account for that sag as well; otherwise, you are making corrections

[spike747]

I had a 2005 F-150 with my current trailer that has about 550 lbs tongue. No amount of adjustment would get the rear upto the unloaded height. I put air bags on and I was able to get it perfectly level. No more pissed off drivers thinking I had my brights on them after that. I now have a 2013 and have the same problem. I got air bags on order.

[spike747]

Originally Posted by Retired Mountie

I have a 2013 F-150 tow rated for 11,300lbs and 1,150lb tongue weight with a WDH (I figure I am close to my max tongue weight). My hitch is adjusted properly but I still get a 2" sag so I installed air bags with an onboard compressor. I wouldn't do without it. Once I hook up, I hit the pump button and inflate the bags until my dash mounted gauge reads 30lbs. It makes a big difference on how the rig handles on the road and windy conditions.

Wow! 30? I only have 5-10 in mine to level out the truck. Anymore then that and the ride gets super rough.

[Occupant5143]

Originally Posted by spike747

I had a 2005 F-150 with my current trailer that has about 550 lbs tongue. No amount of adjustment would get the rear upto the unloaded height. I put air bags on and I was able to get it perfectly level. No more pissed off drivers thinking I had my brights on them after that. I now have a 2013 and have the same problem. I got air bags on order.

Sorry to be so neglectful of this topic. I actually had a rep from Blue Ox look at my setup and he only recommended adding one more chain link to my previous setup but I still get this annoying squat even thought the trailer handles fine. I think I'll go with the airbags based on comments like this. A question for those of you with airbags. How much did it cost you if you had someone install them for you? I don't think installation is a task I'm cut out for.

[scotch84118]

I have a 2000 Ford F-350 dually with a 7.3 diesel with a 2016 Voltage 3895. I load the trailer onto the truck and it just levels it out. Would you recommend airbags for my truck for the ride and handling?