Air bags for Silverado

[tmas]

I was thinking about upgrading to a 3/4 ton for better towing. My buddies with a 3/4 ton will comment that they don't even notice the trailer behind them. That is definitely not the feeling for me.

But before I commit to a new truck someone mentioned that airbags might help with the situation. And is MUCH cheaper.

What options and reviews do you have about airbags in a 1/2 ton truck?

[Crusadernoob]

I can't tell you how much they would help your situation but what I can tell you is that I have a set for your truck that if you do your home work and decide that this is the route for you, you could acquire these at a very reasonable price!

[jtstromsburg]

Air bags may help, as would LT tires if you don't have them. I pulled a similar trailer with a suburban with a 5.3 and switched to a f250 and it was night and day. What I didn't listen to was those that say but bigger truck as you'll probably get a bigger camper. My f250 pulls my 40' fiver OK, but wish I had a 1 ton

[Forbes]

TMAS, Before going to a F350 I had a 2011 F250 pulling a CC36RE, I put Firestone 5000 pound air bags on TV. It was one of the best things I every did the ride and control is so much better. I now have added the Center Point Air from LCI on the RV and that has made another big improvement. Air bags are really good for leveling out your ride, it adds nothing to the amount you can load or pull but sure does make a big difference in ride and I think control of the unit. After putting the Center Point system on our RV I placed a small bowl of water in the middle of the floor of the RV for a test and drove from Goshen to TN, we lost very little water, it does make a big difference in the ride. Air bags are worth looking at, also have them on the F350.

[asquared]

Well what kind of problem are you having? Sway, sag, chucking etc Are you well within spec, at tv limits, or over tv limits? Need more info to be helpful.

[asquared]

If I just found the right trailer, it looks like that has a gvwr of around 7600 lbs. That looks like you could be at or over your capacities on your truck. Airbags won't fix that.

[tmas]

I should be within my limits. Trailer is 6000 dry, TV capacity is 9500. TV weight is 5500. Total max is around 15000. (Numbers are off the top of my head).

Issue is sway and a pull-push feeling while towing.

I will start to look into airbags before looking at 3/4 ton trucks.

Thanks!

[B and B]

tmas do you have LT tires?

[Rod Johnson]

I put a set of Air Lift bags, kit 59501 on my half ton, in addition to new E range tires, and a weight distributing hitch.

Sure, they all helped a little. I was still a little underwhelmed at the differences, though. I was still dealing with the tail wagging the dog.

I did however pull the bags and brackets off my half ton before trading it in on a 3/4 ton. I'm probably going to put the kit on Craigslist in the next week, as it was barely used, maybe 6 months and 1000 miles...

For what its worth, the return on investment for the $300 worth of airbags, add on compressor, and weekend to install them wasn't worth it for me. Now, if you can find a used kit and don't mind drilling 8 holes in your frame they might work for you.

[asquared]

For sway/pull push I think you need better wdh/sway control adjustment. What are you using for wdh? Have you been to the scales to check your setup? Weigh unloaded with front tv axle on pad 1, rear tv axle on pad 2 and then loaded with tt axles on pad 3. (3 pad set up is for cat scales.) This will help you figure out 3 things, 1) double check you are within spec and 2) find out your actual tongue weight and 3) check to see how well dialed in your wdh is. Ideally your goal is to get your front axle weight as close to unloaded weight as possible without going heavier. Your tongue weight should be 13-15% of loaded tt weight. (Take loaded truck weight - unloaded truck weight for tongue weight, take total weight of truck and trailer and subtract weight of unloaded truck for loaded trailer weight). I'm wondering if you are tongue light as well as needing some more hitch adjustment. As mentioned above E rated LT tires will help as well. P tires have more sidewall flex and lead to more wander in the road/less stability when towing. I'm not so sure airbags are gonna fix this one for you.

[tmas]

Thanks for the info.

I have a Blue Ox WD hitch. And yes, I do have LT tires.