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Air bags on trucks


Randog
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I'm looking for some technical help here. :beercheers:

I have an 05' super duty Ford.

Coil front springs (nice ride).

Leaf rear springs (not so nice).

I've lifted the truck 7 inches.

Put Deaver springs on the rear (no blocks), to limit axle wrap.

The springs stiffened the ride, so I replaced the bottom three leafs with flat ones. This softened the ride but gave me axle wrap again.

So, I put ladder bars on it. No more wrap.

However I still want a smother ride.

I was told if I put airbags on it, that will help the ride by getting the truck up off the springs, if I use the bags to lift the truck about an inch in the rear.

Does anyone think this is true?

What do you think?

Thanks,

R-

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I have the bags on my truck and when I put air in them my ride gets stiffer. But call the custom shop 702-436-6777 they will know more.

Same here....I try to keep them at the min pressure when I'm not towing.

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10lbs when not towing then air em up for when you are towing... USUALLY the trick is to remove that stiff a$$ overload spring and have the bag's take it's place... but what do i know...

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10lbs when not towing then air em up for when you are towing... USUALLY the trick is to remove that stiff a$$ overload spring and have the bag's take it's place... but what do i know...

Damn know-it-all! :thumbsdown:

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10lbs when not towing then air em up for when you are towing... USUALLY the trick is to remove that stiff a$$ overload spring and have the bag's take it's place... but what do i know...

Thank you all for the feedback.

Hey Nick,

I did get rid of the overload spring when I put the Deaver set on it.

Do you think the bags will stiffen the ride when not towing? Even at 10lbs.

Since My thought is to get the truck up off the leafs, I think a reasonable question is:

What is the progressive resistance rate of the bags compared to the leafs?

I think if the bags don't get as stiff as fast it would leave me a softer ride.

If the bags get stiffer sooner than the ride will also get stiffer.

Am I thinking too much again. :thumbsdown: ..........Typical!!

I guess I could just Get-er-Done and find out.

R-

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The only way to truly ride off the spring and on the air is to either go Kelderman or de-arched leafs and ride only on the air. Then it will ride like a caddy! :thumbsdown: My 91 chevy rode like a champ and could soak up a speed bump at 35mph. Damn I miss that thing!

Only set of wheels I didn't buy from Travis.

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The only way to truly ride off the spring and on the air is to either go Kelderman or de-arched leafs and ride only on the air. Then it will ride like a caddy! :bowdown: My 91 chevy rode like a champ and could soak up a speed bump at 35mph. Damn I miss that thing!

Only set of wheels I didn't buy from Travis.

That's great JJ, but he's referring to the rear end of his 1 ton. I don't think his truck will tow so well with no leafs. :thumbsdown:

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Yah, we should probably think safety here. before :bowdown:

Check out the photo if you think I'm too worried about safety.

Aluminum blocks on TOP and bottom of leafs. :thumbsdown:

Just temp till the right size u-bolts come in.

Oh, the rust.... I just put the ladder bars on reciently.

However I think JJ WAS talking about the rear of his truck.

Didn't your Chevy have coils in the front?

So said you did get a smooth ride on just the bags.

What air pressure did you have in them?

What if I set the truck up with the rear saggin' about an inch (remove all blocks) and use the bags to lift it back up the inch, Do you think that would be like you were talking about JJ?

Note I replaced the bottom three leafs with straight ones for a smoother ride already.

The ladder bars definately help control the axle movement very well.

R-

post-591-1149561974.jpg

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Hey Randog! I got it! Sell your stiff riding truck and go with an old Cadi w/ a big ol big block and hook up your toyhauler to it. It doesn't get much more of a smoother ride than that! :thumbsdown::bowdown:

Here....this will be how you'll roll if you can't picture it....

post-3-1149576114.jpg

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Here....this will be how you'll roll if you can't picture it....

Dude, I'm rollin' like 16 of you mo-foes Right NOW.

:thumbsdown::bowdown::rockon: :fro: :slap: :huh: :laughoff::laughoff:

:laughoff::laughoff::laughoff::laughoff::laughoff::laughoff::laughoff::laughoff:

Now THAT's the $hizzzzzzznik.

Think anyone could find my camp ?????

Thanks Bro. That's cool stuff right there.:thumb:

R-

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However I think JJ WAS talking about the rear of his truck.

Didn't your Chevy have coils in the front?

No, had air bags up front too!

So said you did get a smooth ride on just the bags.

What air pressure did you have in them?

Not sure, I only raised it high enough to drive. Had elec valves and no guages.

What if I set the truck up with the rear saggin' about an inch (remove all blocks) and use the bags to lift it back up the inch, Do you think that would be like you were talking about JJ?

Note I replaced the bottom three leafs with straight ones for a smoother ride already.

The ladder bars definately help control the axle movement very well.

One last thing. You have a truck. If you want it to ride smoother, just add some payload into the rear bed. That would be the easiest. Some sandbags would work great. Just go get them from the road construction signs. :thumbsdown: My dad used to drive around with bags of salt for his water softener in the back of his truck. If you want any smoother of a ride, trade the truck in on a used excursion. They have the weight to ride smooth.If you think yours rides ruff, you should ride in mine.

R-

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One last thing. You have a truck. If you want it to ride smoother, just add some payload into the rear bed. That would be the easiest. Some sandbags would work great. Just go get them from the road construction signs. My dad used to drive around with bags of salt for his water softener in the back of his truck. If you want any smoother of a ride, trade the truck in on a used excursion. They have the weight to ride smooth.If you think yours rides ruff, you should ride in mine.

True dat JJ.

I know about the lifted front leaf spring trucks.

I had a 93' F250 10"lift with 38" swampers.

The front spring shackles were in the front. :laughoff:

And the springs had a positive arch. That was really rough.

That's the reason I bout the 05'. The coils in the front.

I'm just going for the softest ride for a truck without linkin' it with coils in the rear.

I know that would do the trick.

R-

post-591-1149642732.jpg

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