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This first couple of weeks with the new truck were busy, added 35" tall tires, leveling kit. ( 2" pucks) and a few other things. The miles slowing creeped up to where I had 800 miles on the truck and decided it was time to head for the desert with the horses and see how the truck worked.
First thing I noticed when I was hooking up the trailer is how much the rear end sagged. Do the 15's have softer rear springs than my previous 2011? My rear bumper dropped 3" when I set the GN on the hitch. This made the truck sit a little Nose High when hooked up.
So I drove 225 miles south out into the San Rafael Swell area of Central Utah. Truck seemed just a touch squirrelly with the front end high, Or maybe it was my imagination. As we headed home last night, With a filthy dirty truck more miles of dirt roads, I noticed I was getting flashed a lot by other drivers. So apparently my low beams seem too bright. At least to oncoming cars on a two lane out in the sticks road. Didn't notice anybody flashing once I got back in the city with all of it's light.
So what to do?
Those of you who tow with a leveling kit, do you tolerate the Nose high attitude? or do you add Air Bags or Timbrens to the rear to help level the truck back? That would seem to put me right back where I started with the rear end high when not loaded. Will this help with my perceived squirrely feeling when towing. ( and it was not much, probably me just worrying more than real)
Do I remove the the leveling kit. This would fix the nose high when hooked up problem. But leave me with the nose down look most of my driving.
Or do I live with the truck the way it is and just adjust the head lights down, hoping that does not reduce my night vision.
Airbags, also mean an on board compressor since I hook up a trailer at least once if not more each week. I would be adding and deleting air each time I hook up, Might not always be at home with a compressor in the garage. Also raising the rear of the truck to level out the truck raises the front of the trailer, which starts asking for blocking the trailer axles to level the trailer. Where does this end?
BTW had a great time riding the horses in the San Rafael Swell
When I had a performance store I recommended customers to not use a levelling kit if they towed heavy. If they wanted a small lift then put in a levelling kit and blocks at the back. If the truck sits flat unloaded then the only thing you can do is put bags in to bring the back up with a load.
In my view a levelled truck is not meant to be loaded. It's just for looks and tire clearance.
to keep it level with all the changes you do each week, you need something easily adjustable. I put on an Airlift Wireless One kit, which keeps both bags at the same pressure (the Wireless Air kit allows them to be different)..
it comes with a small dedicated compressor.. push the button, and it pumps up or lets down.
you will probably then want to lower the gooseneck on the trailer too.
wonder what the axle weights are with/without the trailer.
I'm a Firestone air bag guy through and through. I won't ever be without them, ever. I'm also a VIAIR air system guy, won't ever have a truck without it.
My loads change and I use 6 different trailers. Sometimes I don't use any air, sometimes I pump them up to 70psi just to keep my ride level. I hate being nose high.
Squirrelly, weird seat position, odd feeling of tilting your head and leaning forward, goofy headlights, it's a pain to be low in the rear.
Air bags will just make your truck level. It's only going to effect your ride if there is any air in them so when you're solo it's like they're not there.
You should be able to keep your trailer level by adjusting your GN post, looks like only 2" maybe.
cab gauges and switches
Viair 10009 system mounted above drive shaft behind carrier bearing.
Best place to buy air bags and on board compressor?
More money to spend.
I had the Firestone bags on my 2006 KR. But manually filled them with the compressor in my garage, I usually just kept them at about 20 psi. Just enough not to squat but not enough air to really feel them when I was empty
Viairs website, I use there compressors also. It's under the frequently asked questions I check there site to verify before I commented. It also says that mounting them on there side isn't ideal but you can do it and I've had mine on its side from day one without issue. Not trying to sound like a know it all just passing the info along. Gotta lookout for my 6.7 brothers
I purchase from suspension connection.com usually because they have the kits and all the extra little tees/connectors/air line and it's only one transaction from one place.
Recently I have fallen in love with Amazon though, prime free shipping and all has been very nice.
I know that it's another $1k to get all this together and if you pay someone else to install it even more. I'm sorry but I have no idea why your 2015 sags so much more than your 2011. I went from a250 to a 350 so I'm the opposite, I love how much more spring I've got and having much less sag than I'm used to.
I also install an air chuck next to the license plate where I hook up my hose to fill tires and adjust pressures in all my toys. I haven't used the compressor in the garage in years...
Viairs website, I use there compressors also. It's under the frequently asked questions I check there site to verify before I commented. It also says that mounting them on there side isn't ideal but you can do it and I've had mine on its side from day one without issue. Not trying to sound like a know it all just passing the info along. Gotta lookout for my 6.7 brothers
Q: Is it possible to mount VIAIR compressors sideways, or must it be mounted with the cylinder upright? You can mount in any direction or position since VIAIR compressors are oil-less. The only position we do not recommend is an upside-down mount, since heat tends to travel upward, and does not dissipate well in the motor housing. A sideways mounting may reduce the life of the piston seal, since everything is governed by gravity and has a weight associated with it.
