Air Bags

[jlwelding]

Anybody have air bags? What my problem is truck weight is almost 10k, (welding truck) and it is heavyer on one side than the other. Will air bags help? I am afraid they wont straighten it up leaning on one side.Any thoughtsThanks

[ISX]

I'd say if you put more air in the heavier side it would fix it right up. Maybe I am thinking of it wrong but I see air bags as a means to get the load back into the range of the springs ratings. So the airbag takes some of the load and now you are back to the same ride as before, therefore, I think the one side having more air in it would work. I would park somewhere level and get the heavy side where you want it, then measure and make the light side the same height from bed to ground.

[Mopar1973Man]

Kind of wonder if the the 2 airbags are tee'd together or separate? If there a kit that tees together then I kind of doubt it will do much. But like ISX is thinking with seperated airbags you could tune the stance.

[Wild and Free]

Have you looked at or thought about the Timbrens instead of airbags? Airbags with 2 different pressures can be a dangerous combo.

[ISX]

You can get the bags with individual shrader valves to fill each one up, in fact, those are most certainly cheaper. However, they put the valve right on the side which is a PITA since you have to get up under there, so most people run a little air hose from there to somewhere convenient.

Edited December 22, 2009 by ISX

[ISX]

Have you looked at or thought about the Timbrens instead of airbags? Airbags with 2 different pressures can be a dangerous combo.

I don't see it as being dangerous since the truck would be equally loaded as per what the springs see. It would ride level and would go over bumps equally. I think those Timbrens would just raise the problem up a few inches, but still have the problem. The light side would have the same Timbren as the other, therefore it would sit higher and he would still be leaning to one side.

[Wild and Free]

Timbrens do not lift anything it is merely a long compressable bumpstop. Air bags need to work together, If you air one up harder than another to adjust the leaning to one side it will thus be harder and cause ride issues not to mention the weight transfer it could cause in corners. Air bags are not meant to level one side or another they are meant to help hold up the rear as a whole and work in unison. If he has one side heavier than the other the timbrens or similar setup would be the easiest and cheapers route to go. After rereading his vehicle description, If the rig sees the welder permanently mounted to one side the best solution is to re arch the springs and/or add an extra leaf to the rear leaf spring pack. He may also want to look at getting heavier front coil springs like the factory snow plow package springs ending part # 988 AA "If its 4X4" because I would bet being its a flatbed rig the front springs are adding to the lean also.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Wild and Free

[jlwelding]

Thanks for the help, I was thinking the samething about the ride idea. The timbrens is a new one for me ,I will check into that.

[guesswho512]

hold the phone...my mom had a late 90's lincoln towncar, with airbags. when the key was on...the bags would set the level.her husband is a big guy...maybe 300# and if he got in by himself the car was sitting "catawopass". after running for 30sec the whole car was level...front to back, side to side.it froze to hell here...could not leave the house for 3 days. when she started driving again...the back bags were shot...i suspect moisture from the compressor was in the bag before it broke.tractor-trailers use air bags all day long...for them to use them, they must be reliable and safe(and cheaper over the long haul)

[Wild and Free]

Once again those bags all work in unison and are load sensing and self leveling systems unlike the after market bags for pickups. I am not knocking the air bags but they are to be used as load carrying add ons not meant to be used to level loads.

[dracozny]

Kind of wonder if the the 2 airbags are tee'd together or separate? If there a kit that tees together then I kind of doubt it will do much. But like ISX is thinking with seperated airbags you could tune the stance.

the ford ambulance my buddy had they were teed together along the rear crossmember. honestly i think redistributing the weight is a safer solution. cause I just foresee a big chance for rolling that sucker on a corner.

[NBWW]

Bags or not, I'd do my best to balance the load first, or counter balance. A large differential will cause bad handling whether compensated by air or not.***Let's see a picture of it.