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We tow a 38' 2014 Salem 29ud3 TT, 11,000lbs loaded, lots of mods to the truck. Tugly .. I would have to recommend against airbags after my adventure. My truck towed our new TT perfectly, except for squatting it. I installed a set of Firestone Ride Rites and can't keep the damn truck in my lane. Picture the leaf Springs attached to the frame, the weight is spread out over a three ft spread. Airbags take away the spread and try to carry the weight dead center of the springs. Which creates a teeter effect. Now this is just from my experience so Ymmv. I'm having a leaf added to my pack to support the heavy tongue weight. My Firestones will be on the market.
Something ain't right, but I don't think it the air bags. Maybe the way they are installed or your sway bars on the hich. Never had a problem, always made it better. Make the truck ride better also.
I'm picturing this in my head, and I can see where air bags make a terrible fulcrum for a TT. Anybody with a 5er is going to have the load centered right over the bags. It's a different beast.
Aerodynamics are as important as weight. A square-nosed 5er with a front living room (really tall) will eat you alive for fuel economy and control. Sacrificing a little height in a unit with a front bedroom (headboard up front, or shorter closet) will pay you dividends on the road.
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Yes & no... While common sense would lead one to think that a more aerodynamic nose will improve economy, I haven't seen much of a change in MPG's from my 30' TT to this 36' 5'r.
Maybe it's just my truck, but if I hook any trailer with some weight to it I get around 10mpg. From a car trailer (loaded) to all of the work trailers I used to pull, to both campers I've owned.
If you're going to "full time it" I would focus on interior space over aerodynamics.
The nose of my unit is a HUGE closet. I live alone & my Jack Russell only has one fur coat, so I have plenty of closet space , but If your sharing that space with a woman, you'll need all you can get.
As for control, Yes it may make a difference, but I doubt enough to really feel it. I pulled my 5'r thru an incoming tropical storm a few years back. I was the only one on the road and honestly the wind was pushing me back and forth across three lanes of traffic, but is was a lateral push & there isn't anything you can do about that.
Honestly I've felt more "white knuckled" when being passed by semi's pulling my TT with my SRW F250. (didn't have a WD hitch)
I would have NEVER braved that storm pulling a TT, or with a SRW truck.
I'm picturing this in my head, and I can see where air bags make a terrible fulcrum for a TT. Anybody with a 5er is going to have the load centered right over the bags. It's a different beast.
Look into Air Lift 5000 series, easy to install and they mount Outside the frame. I put them on my truck when I bought it in 2007 and they have performed well since. Tug, I would stay away from the taller blocks and go with the bags only. Keep your truck level.
E99 2WD with DP Tuner, Cold Air Intake, 6.0 Trans Cooler, Air Lift 5000 bags, Gauges.
I tow a 36WR Work and Play Toy Hauler. Although the trailer will gross at just over 14k I run about 12k and flirt with 20000 Gross. It's 36' long. My greatest improvement is the DP Tuner. Second would be the 6.0 Trans Cooler. I never run over 155 degrees even in 100 degree outside temp.
The E99's tend to be under powered. The DP's added transmission shift patterns are great. I usully tow iin 60HP. For downhill I use the decel tune. I had to upgrade my OEM hitch to a 16k. I use a 14K WDH and run two friction sway bars.
11-13-2014, 01:23 PM
, but If your sharing that space with a woman, you'll need all you can get. 
