 |
03-06-2014, 04:57 PM
|
#1
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 16
|
Load assist options.
Purchasing a 5th wheel with a 2,300 dry hitch weight and need to add air bags or helper springs. Wondering about what works best. Also anyone using "roadmaster active suspension" units.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Forest River Forums mobile app
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 05:03 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
|
Tow rig?
__________________
2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 05:11 PM
|
#3
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 16
|
2013 Chevy 2500 4x4 diesel.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Forest River Forums mobile app
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 05:57 PM
|
#4
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,327
|
Air bags are the easiest solution...Firestone, Air Lift 5000...your choice. Adjust the air pressure to level when loaded and deflate to 5 psi when not needed.
Dave
__________________
Nights camped in 2013 - 55, 2014 - 105, 2015 - 63
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 06:22 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 337
|
I have the RAS on my Excursion. They work for me. No need to inflate/deflate but the bags are a good choice too. I don't think you'll get a consensus for which one is better...Kinda like Ford vs. Chevy
__________________
2014 Freedom Express 320BHDS Liberty Edition 50th Anniversary
2005 F250 Lariat SuperCrew 6.0 PS Diesel
2004 Excursion Limited 4x4 6.0 PS Diesel
2000 Excursion Limited 7.3 PS Diesel Sold:crying
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 06:57 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tomball, TX
Posts: 298
|
RAS is not for load leveling, they are designed to stop axle wrap, a condition where your leaf springs essentially buckle under lateral load (think taking off from a stop). They will offer some help, but not much.
Air bags are a good low cost choice that do not alter your unloaded ride, but you do have to be conscience about airing them up when needed (unless you go with an on board compressor).
Helper springs require nothing from you, but will change the unloaded ride, likely making it harsher.
Timbrens (or similar products) are sort of in the middle. They are only "active" when you have a load, but they are not adjustable like air bags.
At the end of the day, everyone is going to like each one differently. I have never had a need for any of them, but with my new trailer, I suspect that will change. For me, I am planning to go with the Timbrens. I just like the fact they don't change the unloaded ride, and I don't have to think about them once they are installed.
__________________
ST Williamson
Current TV:'14 F350 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4 Short Bed SRW Diesel w/ Pullrite 2700 (16K)
Current Fiver: '15 Puma 295BHSS Anniversary Edition
Past TV: '13 F150 HD Payload SCrew EB, '08 Tundra CrewMax 5.7L, '02 'Burb 5.3L, '97 Dakota 3.9L
Past Trailers: '09 Wildwood LE 27RB, '02 Palomino Yearling RL, '87 Jayco 1006dlx
|
|
|
|
|
03-06-2014, 07:07 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 337
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by campingwilliamsons
RAS is not for load leveling, they are designed to stop axle wrap, a condition where your leaf springs essentially buckle under lateral load (think taking off from a stop). They will offer some help, but not much.
Air bags are a good low cost choice that do not alter your unloaded ride, but you do have to be conscience about airing them up when needed (unless you go with an on board compressor).
Helper springs require nothing from you, but will change the unloaded ride, likely making it harsher.
Timbrens (or similar products) are sort of in the middle. They are only "active" when you have a load, but they are not adjustable like air bags.
At the end of the day, everyone is going to like each one differently. I have never had a need for any of them, but with my new trailer, I suspect that will change. For me, I am planning to go with the Timbrens. I just like the fact they don't change the unloaded ride, and I don't have to think about them once they are installed.
|
Thats why I have the RAS...the ride is unchanged when unloaded
__________________
2014 Freedom Express 320BHDS Liberty Edition 50th Anniversary
2005 F250 Lariat SuperCrew 6.0 PS Diesel
2004 Excursion Limited 4x4 6.0 PS Diesel
2000 Excursion Limited 7.3 PS Diesel Sold:crying
|
|
|
|
|
03-10-2014, 12:56 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canton, Michigan
Posts: 1,348
|
RAS site is very good at showing it's benefits. But the benefits seem to be helping put torque to the ground without upsetting the suspension. I don't see anything about the RAS system helping to cope with large pin weights. Perhaps this is a small side-benefit. But if it is, I would think Roadmaster would take credit for it somewhere on their site. They even have an RV section, but make no such claims.
__________________
thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
|
|
|
|
|
03-10-2014, 01:16 PM
|
#9
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Perry Hall, MD
Posts: 37
|
I added airlift bags to my Ram1500 to help with the load. I put about 50-60lbs in them when I get ready to haul. I did not add the compressor, just make a trip to the gas station. When I am not towing I reduce the bags to 10-15 lbs, so it's not to bouncy.
|
|
|
|
|
03-10-2014, 03:45 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SK, Canada
Posts: 190
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NiteNoise
I added airlift bags to my Ram1500 to help with the load. I put about 50-60lbs in them when I get ready to haul. I did not add the compressor, just make a trip to the gas station. When I am not towing I reduce the bags to 10-15 lbs, so it's not to bouncy.
|
Same here. Have them on our Ram 1500 as well.
Run them at 40 - 45 lbs with a load and usually around 10 - 20 lbs unloaded. Carry a portable 12v compressor in the truck so I can pump them up while on the road if required. Would like to have on board compressor installed someday.
__________________
2013 Forest River Surveyor SP296
|
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
