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08-12-2012, 01:55 AM
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#1
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alberta
Posts: 75
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I'm thinking of putting rear air bags in my Dodge Ram 1500 to help with vehicle squat when hooking up the trailer. Anybody else have these and do they make a big difference.
Brian
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08-12-2012, 02:22 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,160
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I have them on my Duramax. (Firestone brand)
Yes they make a difference. You can level the truck with them.
Just remember, they are no excuse for to big of a pay load for the TV.
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08-12-2012, 03:46 AM
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#3
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location:
Posts: 96
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Badwin are you using a WD hitch?
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08-12-2012, 10:33 AM
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#4
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 660
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I have the Firestone ones on the back of my Dodge 2500. They make a huge difference in the ride. You wont be disappointed if you buy them. I put them on my truck in less then 2 hours, pretty easy install. The best price I found was from Auto Anything. Good luck
__________________
Chris & Karen- Heyworth, Illinois
2009 CF32BL pulled by a 2011 RAM 2500 CTD 4x4
PullRite Superglide 18K hitch
2015stats:
Nights: 28
Miles: 3245
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08-12-2012, 11:15 AM
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#5
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
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Use them on 3500HD and last two truck. Help with the ride and levels out the truck. Will be a big help with the sagging.
I use Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags - run at 5-8 lbs empty and 45-50 lbs when towing.</span>
Edited by: NorskeNY
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08-13-2012, 05:38 AM
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#6
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alberta
Posts: 75
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Thanks for the replies. Yes I do have a WDH. We recently uprgaded our truck from an 03 GMC Sierra to a 12 Dodge Ram. Both are 1/2 ton trailer equipped 4X4's. When I hooked up the new truck for the first time I could not believe how much more the truck squatted over the GMC. This is of course before the Torsion bars are attached. I have since been told that it is because Dodge use coils springs while GMC uses leaf springs. I have been told by lots of people who pull RV's that putting airbags on their trucks makes the pulling experience 100% more enjoyable so I thought I would toss it out here on the forum for more input.
Thanks
Brian
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08-13-2012, 12:33 PM
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#7
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 63
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I have installed Firestone airbags on my old Dodge 3500 and my new F-350. As long as you get the "No Drill" version they are extremely easy to install.
You will not be disappointed in the resulting ride quality.
__________________
2009 CF32BL
Bumper hitch for triple tow
2011 F350 6.7L SRW Lariat
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08-18-2012, 12:11 AM
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#8
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location:
Posts: 679
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love mine, i also have the on board air compressor. the bags are rated for 5000lbs. this is my second truck with them. we towed with my wifes light duty suburban for a year and i installed timberens in her truck. they worked pretty good also. (copy and paste link)
http://timbren.com/Edited by: spinella
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08-18-2012, 03:31 AM
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#9
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Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ontario
Posts: 125
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I have Timbren's on the back of my truck. Had them installed by the dealer when I had a Palomino truck camper. The only complaint I have is the ride is a bit stiff when running empty, because I added the spacer, but the truck only drops about 1/2 inch when I had the camper on or with the trailer hooked up.
__________________
🇨🇦 Scott & Janie 🇨🇦
2004 Dodge RAM 2500 CTD (slightly tweaked)
2011 Cruiser 31RK
Cooper the Golden Retriever, and
Sam the black lab.
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08-19-2012, 01:02 AM
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#10
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 21
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We have been reading all the posts on airbags. They are a new concept to us. Can someone give us the quick intro on the benefits? We have an 03 Chevy Silverado 1500, and tow a Sunset trail 24rb. Thank you.
__________________
Pam, Garrie, Journey & Traveler
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08-22-2012, 10:38 AM
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#12
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 253
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Firestone brand here. Won't own a truck again without them.. HUGE difference with those big loads.
Edited by: danskool
__________________
Dan
2005 Cruiser
2001 F250 7.3
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08-22-2012, 10:56 PM
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#13
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 780
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OK, get out your crossbows.
Adding airbags to a squating truck is sort of like trying to polish a turd, it isn't happening. Your truck is either sufficient for the RV or not. If you have that much squat then you have too little truck. When an RV is attached to a proper towing vehicle there should be little squat. If you look at my profile picture below you will see what I mean.
__________________
Art and Karen
2013 Itasca Sunstar 35F, 2013 Ford C Max toad.
170 nights in 2013
132 in 2014
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08-23-2012, 12:28 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,160
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Art, I don't fully agree with you. I do agree if you have a, say 1/2 ton PU and you are trying to pull a rig like yours, yes, then I will agree with you. If you are just trying to raise the rear of your PU an inch or two just to level it, then I don't agree with your theory. 3/4 ton trucks like yours or mine have overload spring/springs. They are going to squat when ever you put weight in the back. Normally it stops when it hits the overload spring, if it isn't a tremendous amount. They are made to ride comfortably when empty. But I don't care what you have for a truck, if you put weight in the back, it's going to squat.
I use my air bags to bring the rig back to "level" which raises the back of my truck about 2 in.
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08-23-2012, 01:31 AM
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#15
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,510
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I just went from a Dodge 3500 SRW with Timbrens to a Chevy 3500 DRW stock. I needed the Timbrens on the SRW with our current unit to make it ride level while towing our PP. I upgraded the truck to a DRW because our next unit will be a more upper end unit and I know the pin weight will increase above what my old SRW could have handled. I may end up with air bags on my current truck once we move up to a new unit just to level it while towing.
__________________
17 Chevy 3500 DRW 4X4
16 Mobile Suites 36RSSB4
2 Mini Dachshunds
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08-23-2012, 01:44 AM
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#16
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
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I have a friend that has a 2012 Chevy 3500HD dually - pin weight is about 3000 lbs and when loaded it runs on the overloads. Air bags will help with leveling and improve the ride.
Went camping and forgot to air up the bags and I could tell it - aired them up and it improved the ride.
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08-23-2012, 02:32 AM
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#17
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,510
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We would probably be looking at a pin weight of between 3k and 3500 lbs.
__________________
17 Chevy 3500 DRW 4X4
16 Mobile Suites 36RSSB4
2 Mini Dachshunds
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08-23-2012, 03:25 AM
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#18
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New Camper
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Weatherford Tx
Posts: 2
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I have a 2011 Dodge 1500 that I put Air-Lift bags on. It made a big difference when pulling my 30re. I would not be without them.
__________________
Billy & Adala
2011 Dodge Ram 1500
2012 Crossroads ST30RE
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08-23-2012, 05:49 AM
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#19
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 780
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I maintain that if you hitch up and your headlights point to the Mars rover you have too little truck and too much RV. I cannot argue with Lloyd or Keith as I trust their experience. It is my personal belief that if I need to help my truck be that much level I have too much in tow.
__________________
Art and Karen
2013 Itasca Sunstar 35F, 2013 Ford C Max toad.
170 nights in 2013
132 in 2014
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08-23-2012, 06:17 AM
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#20
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location:
Posts: 679
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Art, have you ever had any personal experience with air bags. One benefit is it will help with bucking. Did you ever go down a concrete roadway and at every joint the truck squats and bounces....hitting a couple of hundred joints and the truck and trailer can feel squishy. The air bags stiffen the suspension therefor eliminating the bucking. Surely you don't think my f350 is not adequate for towing my 8500lbs trailer with tounge weight of 1000lbs.
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