Air bag suspension

I run them and even wheel Moab. Super flexy and no problems. Air them up when I tow and deflate when I wheel.

 

I use a 4500 psi 48 cuin tank for my nail guns at work but use a CO2 20oz cylinder in the truck. Even with only 1200psi in it it still lasts a few months. I refill both with a relatively inexpensive compressor ($300) that can go to 4500psi. High end units start over a grand. I only fill the work tank to ~3k which is easier on both the compressor and the tank. Contemplating getting a CF tank with more capacity for less weight but 3x $.

 

I've had them on a few trucks, its amazing for heavy hauling, no more headlights pointed at the sky.

I always suggest, start with the basic kit and see if you want the onboard air. Like most say, a bike pump is enough. I've only gone to 50psi once, and it was wildly over loaded.

 

I don’t wheel so full travel is not as important to me as where in the range of travel the truck floats. Bags allow me to stay mid range no matter the load. If I’m constantly hitting the bump stops it’s just as bad as if it’s too stiff, either way the shock is felt by the bearings, frame, and shackles more than should be. Ideally, bags spread the load to 3 points of contact instead of the normal 2. In all cases bottoming focuses the load to a point on the frame right at the bump stop or insufficiently filled air bag. That’s how frames get bent.

 

I had 65 psi with a load of concrete rubble. Needless to say (or should be) I took it slow and easy to the dump. Pressure was chosen to match unloaded ride height. It handled very well.

 

I think it should be made clear that individual pressures probably don’t correspond across multiple trucks. My truck was already 4 years old and the leafs likely soft when I installed the set of ride rites. The 200lb cap also means it’s never truly empty.

 

This was an 8 foot f150 lol, 2200lb soil. Stupid.

I believe you're supposed to rise it level with front, not to unloaded rear. That way the leaf and bag work together. But I can't recall anymore.

 

I guess I should have said cap only so not actually unloaded. It sits pretty level then. What I’m aiming for is full travel short of bottoming so as to avoid riding excessively stiff. Leaf springs wear so absolute pressure is going to be a ymmv thing.

 

I have them with Dakar HD springs, rides very stiff. I think the larger leaf pack takes too much space for the airbags to ride compliantly. Run 5psi in them even with 700# in the short box. No sag from unladen.

 

Has anyone installed an inline pressure gauge that held up well? Looking for a sealed unit or alcohol filled unit that won't freeze up from internal moisture or crap out over rough roads. None of my compressor or bike pump needle gauges are up to the task. Wish to check at a glance on status. Had one side lose air and corrected, wye fitting both to one Schrader fill valve.

 

What I use are 1” gauges with 1/8” NPT male ends. I bought them online from RAJ industries one with 100psi max scale(output side of regulator) and the other at 150(input side). They only read when I actually open the valve on my HP air bottle and slowly bleed down once I close it after setting bag pressure (possibly through the regulator). Butt dyno is plenty information for knowing if they need adjustment but I can hit the bags’ solenoid controls and that will allow the bags to charge the gauges if I’m in doubt. They’ve been installed since August of ‘18.

 

thanks. Wondering how something like this holds up to bumps. I've had failures on my shop compressors and bike pumps numerous times. I think moisture gets into face or accumulates from air fill and suddenly the needle is frozen is near zero permanently.

 

If it’s ice accumulation then I’d add a filter with a drain since ice would probably not be a good thing anyway. It’s usually included anytime water adversely affects performance. Compressing air concentrates water in these systems so it’s possibly failing from the inside out rather than from water leaking in through the face. Glycerin filled would certainly help with condensation though.