Airbag Question
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2016
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Airbag Question
I have been shopping airbags and found out there a few options of where to place the airbags and how to set them up. I have zero experience with airbags so I', hoping a few of you chime in and share your opinion. There are no wrong answers. only idiots. but we all own 2017 SD so no doubt we are all highly intellectual sophisticated fellows.
Question #1 What is best, bags placed over axel or over leaf spring. Its my understanding the leaf spring mount provides a more stable base for towing weight.
Question #2 What is best, connecting the two bags together or keeping them independent from one another? I was told system that link the two bags together tend to have more body roll when not towing. The trucks natural body roll presses the air out of one side and cause the other bag to inflate and lift the other side.
true or not true?
Question #1 What is best, bags placed over axel or over leaf spring. Its my understanding the leaf spring mount provides a more stable base for towing weight.
Question #2 What is best, connecting the two bags together or keeping them independent from one another? I was told system that link the two bags together tend to have more body roll when not towing. The trucks natural body roll presses the air out of one side and cause the other bag to inflate and lift the other side.
true or not true?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 105
From: Casper, Wyoming
I am having my airbags put on this Friday and I am getting Airlift LoadLIFTER 5000 Ultimate's which have the internal jounce bumper.
I am also getting the Airlift WirelessAir remote and onboard compressor that allows you to control each side independently. You can also set it to air the bags together at the same level as well.
I have a truck camper and want to be able to set each side independently in case I am heavy one one side at any give time etc.
In terms of who has the best bags? I think it is a personal choice as they, Firestone, Hellwig, Airlift etc. all make good bags.
I cannot specifically answer your questions from a technical perspective but your dealer should be able to guide you.
I am also getting the Airlift WirelessAir remote and onboard compressor that allows you to control each side independently. You can also set it to air the bags together at the same level as well.
I have a truck camper and want to be able to set each side independently in case I am heavy one one side at any give time etc.
In terms of who has the best bags? I think it is a personal choice as they, Firestone, Hellwig, Airlift etc. all make good bags.
I cannot specifically answer your questions from a technical perspective but your dealer should be able to guide you.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I have been shopping airbags and found out there a few options of where to place the airbags and how to set them up. I have zero experience with airbags so I', hoping a few of you chime in and share your opinion. There are no wrong answers. only idiots. but we all own 2017 SD so no doubt we are all highly intellectual sophisticated fellows.
Question #1 What is best, bags placed over axel or over leaf spring. Its my understanding the leaf spring mount provides a more stable base for towing weight.
Question #2 What is best, connecting the two bags together or keeping them independent from one another? I was told system that link the two bags together tend to have more body roll when not towing. The trucks natural body roll presses the air out of one side and cause the other bag to inflate and lift the other side.
true or not true?
Question #1 What is best, bags placed over axel or over leaf spring. Its my understanding the leaf spring mount provides a more stable base for towing weight.
Question #2 What is best, connecting the two bags together or keeping them independent from one another? I was told system that link the two bags together tend to have more body roll when not towing. The trucks natural body roll presses the air out of one side and cause the other bag to inflate and lift the other side.
true or not true?
Having a union between the bags is common so you can fill them with exactly the same pressure. Installing a union T with a one-way check valve that allows air into the bags, but not to flow out and cross over, would appear to solve the problem. On the other hand, the bags should only be inflated a minimal amount when not in use so as to preserve ride quality. Without much pressure in them, I doubt the body roll would be much of a concern.
That said, Land Rover's current air suspension system uses an electronic "cross-link" system. When driving on-road, all bags are isolated one from another to prevent excessive roll. When off-road, a valve opens, linking bags on an axle...so when one side is forced up, that air volume travels across and forces the other bag down for increased articulation and travel.
New User
Joined: Feb 2017
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I would not plumb them together. Keep in mind that batteries, propane and water can add 600 or more pounds to the overall weight. That additional weight tends to be on one side more than the other - several inches in ride height difference is not uncommon from side to side without air bags.
I put mine in place of the jounce bumpers so the leaf springs can still work as intended. A separate fitting is mounted in the front of the rear wheel well for each side.
I put mine in place of the jounce bumpers so the leaf springs can still work as intended. A separate fitting is mounted in the front of the rear wheel well for each side.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I would not plumb them together. Keep in mind that batteries, propane and water can add 600 or more pounds to the overall weight. That additional weight tends to be on one side more than the other - several inches in ride height difference is not uncommon from side to side without air bags.
I put mine in place of the jounce bumpers so the leaf springs can still work as intended. A separate fitting is mounted in the front of the rear wheel well for each side.
I put mine in place of the jounce bumpers so the leaf springs can still work as intended. A separate fitting is mounted in the front of the rear wheel well for each side.
I just figure that it doesn't change that much. On the longbed trucks with the 48 gallon tank, the tank is on one side and weighs (full) about 350lbs. Yes, the DPF is on the other side...but it surely doesn't weigh 350lbs. My truck sits nice and level when full.
New User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
You keep batteries, propane, and water in the bed of your truck?
I just figure that it doesn't change that much. On the longbed trucks with the 48 gallon tank, the tank is on one side and weighs (full) about 350lbs. Yes, the DPF is on the other side...but it surely doesn't weigh 350lbs. My truck sits nice and level when full.
I just figure that it doesn't change that much. On the longbed trucks with the 48 gallon tank, the tank is on one side and weighs (full) about 350lbs. Yes, the DPF is on the other side...but it surely doesn't weigh 350lbs. My truck sits nice and level when full.
You don't keep some there in case of an emergency?
To clarify, adding batteries, propane and water to a truck camper in the bed can really result in a large side to side weight difference. My camper dry is pushing 3400 lbs. If if I were to load it full with water, propane, batteries, food and a normal amount of the wife's "stuff," then it is easily over 4400 lbs - I usually run it "dry" down the road to get rid of the almost 500 lbs of water weight and just fill up near or at the camp site.
It does not sit level side to side even when dry without altering the pressure in the bags.
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