Air bags

[jmcclocklin]

Looking for some advice or thoughts. Our 5th is a Cedar Creek 36CK2. When towing we will be around 14,300. The 5th has a air ride hitch and my TV is a 2018 Chev Duramax 3500. I have been getting different answers to my question. Should I consider air bags on my TV? When hooked up everything looks level with little sag

[jmcclocklin]

Sorry the TV is a SRW

[NMWildcat]

Many members of my family tow heavy. Some install air bags by default because they like them. They like the extra adjustable control they provide, especially when they tow many different trailers.
Others, like myself, will only install air bags if needed, due to excessive sag or bouncing. Also, my personal truck only tows my RV and does fine w/o airbags.
So if you are trying to assist a particular problem, or just like the adjustments provided by airbags, install them. But I think your truck would be fine with that weight w/o them.

[Jim34RL]

I run air bags on my truck but that is my preference for improved ride when towing!

Now I would recommend that you tow a couple hundred miles and see if you think you need them or not depending on ride of truck with the trailer and without the trailer.

Also to check to see if you are getting a lot of sag, I would measure the truck rear bumper height without the trailer attached. An than attach the trailer and remeasure from the same spot to see how much sag you have. If you feel this is excessive than by all means install air bags.

If you do I would install air bags with an onboard remote controlled air compressor to inflate and deflate the bags as needed.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

If you do I would install air bags with an onboard remote controlled air compressor to inflate and deflate the bags as needed.

X2. Excellent advice. If you are going to the trouble of installing airbags, go whole hog and treat yourself to this. As my nephews told me, if you don't do it, you will wish you had when you actually start using them.
After towing my Dad's rig around awhile with his truck, it was nice to be able to adjust on the fly, take air out when unhitched, air them back up when towing again.

[EdJunior]

Jim W.'s advice is spot on. On my previous two trucks, I needed air bags to level up the squat, and on the last one to help with the ride. It really bounced a lot, and the air bags helped greatly. But my new truck is perfect without them. It has the trailer package, which includes an extra spring, and when hooked up, the truck sits perfectly level. It has a little bounce, but nothing to write home to Mom about. At this point, I will not be putting air bags on this truck.

Oh, and yes, if you do...go with the wireless remote compressor. That is a thing of beauty. I had (actually still have), the Airlift 72000, and it was so great being able to adjust the bags on the fly to suit the road conditions. And the little wireless controller is small and stores just about anywhere, out of the way.

Keep us posted on what you decide.

[jmcclocklin]

This will be our first tow which will be about 600 miles and going through a few Canada mountain passes. I have been told by a few that because my king pin box is air ride adding air bags to the TV will make it too bouncy

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by jmcclocklin

This will be our first tow which will be about 600 miles and going through a few Canada mountain passes. I have been told by a few that because my king pin box is air ride adding air bags to the TV will make it too bouncy

I've heard that comment before also, but never by anybody that has done it and had a problem. My Dad has an air ride hitch and airbags, always has had. No problems.
The folks that argue the other way say that two airbags in a series will equal a spongy, bouncy ride, or create a mechanical resonance between them that will eventually destroy the universe. But again, they haven't experienced it, just applied "logic", or just heard it from some other "exspurt".
I think it's all a bunch of hooey, as my Dad's truck demonstrates. My brother and nephews all have gooseneck adapters, so no air ride.

[jd4010]

We've be hauling a 16k# 5er behind an F350 DRW for years and even with duals and 1 ton truck, I still use air bags. Although the truck handles it with ease, it rides much harder when on the overload springs.

We have Firestone Ride-Rite air bags on our 2017 F350. For inflation/deflation, I installed the Firestone Air Command F3 to an upfitter switch. The F3 is wireless making it a clean install.

[BandJCarm]

My trailer rides like a dream. My truck rides like a nightmare.

Airbags help the ride. Having remote to adjust on the fly makes a LOT of difference. There is a patch of unreal bumpy interstate on I-55 just south of MO line. It's a porpoising washboard. Lowering the airbags there is a help. Raising it in other places that are just bumpy, is a help.

I'm really not unlevel enough that the airbags level it out. They just make a difference in the rough ride. But I'm going to start a Grassroots Movement to "Eliminate Concrete Roads in America" and just pave them with asphalt!!!!

[EdJunior]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

But I'm going to start a Grassroots Movement to "Eliminate Concrete Roads in America" and just pave them with asphalt!!!!

I'm with you on this brother! Sign me up!

[GOTTOYS]

I had airbags on my previous truck a Ram. I hated messing with airing them up when hitching and airing them down when unhitched. Didn't have an onboard compressor. On my current truck which is a 2015 Chev 3500 dually I went with Timbrens. They are just an extended rubber bump stop. My truck sat level but the harsh pounding on and off the overload springs made for a rough ride. The Timbrens smooth out the transition nicely and my ride is way better. No affect on it when empty, easy to install and if I didn't like them I could have returned them for a refund. Couldn't go wrong.