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Old 11-20-2019, 09:22 AM   #1
Igoo65
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Adding Airbags

Does adding airbags increase you towing capacity or just your payload? Are there any other advantages to adding airbags?

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Old 11-20-2019, 09:30 AM   #2
Whiskeydick
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They do not increase payload nor towing capacity, will help with ride height and possibly give a smoother ride.
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Old 11-20-2019, 09:33 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiskeydick View Post
They do not increase payload nor towing capacity, will help with ride height and possibly give a smoother ride.
Emphasize THEY DO NOT INCREASE PAYLOAD NOR TOWING CAPACITY !!!
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Old 11-20-2019, 10:50 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiskeydick View Post
They do not increase payload nor towing capacity, will help with ride height and possibly give a smoother ride.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER View Post
Emphasize THEY DO NOT INCREASE PAYLOAD NOR TOWING CAPACITY !!!
^^^These

I have air bags and use them for 2 reasons
  1. They smooth my ride. They minimize a little excess bounce at about 30psi (YMMV)
  2. I need the extra lift when pulling into my own driveway so I don't drag the landing gear. 80psi takes care of that

I reduce the psi to 10lbs when not towing to lessen the already stiff ride of a 1 ton truck and to maintain the seals in the bags


I could survive without air bags but find them beneficial. I have an onboard wireless pump so making these changes, or other changes on the fly, very easy.

If the payload of your truck isn't adequate for the trailer you're towing then don't add air bags. Get a different truck
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Old 11-20-2019, 04:37 PM   #5
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The tires are the limiting factor on payload. The yellow sticker is whats in stone but they take tire load capacity into account. They do however have a cushion in there by design for the guy that gets a load of dirt and it may be a little wet and make it heavier.

Air bags don't increase payload . All they do is push up the truck when you add air. They are connected to the bed and the axle. I have them and wouldnt have a truck without them even if I didn't tow. I like them that much.
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Old 11-20-2019, 06:59 PM   #6
Dam Miller
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Airbags also help with control by shifting weight to the front tires
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Old 11-25-2019, 11:31 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsb5717 View Post
^^^These

I have air bags and use them for 2 reasons
  1. They smooth my ride. They minimize a little excess bounce at about 30psi (YMMV)
  2. I need the extra lift when pulling into my own driveway so I don't drag the landing gear. 80psi takes care of that

I reduce the psi to 10lbs when not towing to lessen the already stiff ride of a 1 ton truck and to maintain the seals in the bags


I could survive without air bags but find them beneficial. I have an onboard wireless pump so making these changes, or other changes on the fly, very easy.

If the payload of your truck isn't adequate for the trailer you're towing then don't add air bags. Get a different truck

Yep, I agreee with this statement, I just install air lift 5000 plus.
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:05 PM   #8
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Welcome to the forum
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:20 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dam Miller View Post
Airbags also help with control by shifting weight to the front tires
please explain how air bags shifts weight to your front axle?
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:44 PM   #10
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Air bags will not increase your GVRW or your bed load handling, but are good for keeping your truck level and your headlights out of the eyes on oncoming drivers.
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Old 12-01-2019, 02:53 PM   #11
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I added Air Lift air bags back in July to my 2011 F250. They do not add payload or towing capacity at all. Your truck is rated for what it’s rated for. Your truck is designed to handle a specific load and that’s it. Your tires, brakes, oil and trans coolers are all sizes appropriate. Why did I do it?? To level the truck so that my headlights were where they were supposed to be and that the truck would brake proper. I drove from Michigan to Virginia and the ride was much smoother. Technically my truck will not tow my 5er if I maxed out the allowable weight for the trailer. I’m allowed 4K for the trailer but only 2k to max the truck. I weighed everything in my 5er and added water weight to ensure I did not max out my truck. I’m actually way under. I don’t carry what I don’t need and reevaluate all the time. My 5er is 12k dry and 16.5k if loaded to the max. My truck is rated 14.4k max. I make sure I don’t go over 14 and I’m not near that even with water.
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Old 12-01-2019, 03:27 PM   #12
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We added Airlift 5000 and it makes all the difference. Ride and handling are greatly improved.
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Old 12-01-2019, 03:39 PM   #13
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must be special

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dam Miller View Post
Airbags also help with control by shifting weight to the front tires
Best statement on why you need them even if you don`t sage that much. IMHO
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Old 12-01-2019, 03:46 PM   #14
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hit the nail

Quote:
Originally Posted by packnrat View Post
please explain how air bags shifts weight to your front axle?
Read this

https://www.airliftcompany.com/works...auling-safely/

https://www.torklift.com/blog/entry/...ag-when-towing
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Old 12-01-2019, 04:11 PM   #15
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I use mine to level the rig. Only takes 30psi
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Old 12-01-2019, 04:24 PM   #16
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air bags do not move weight of the load to the front tires.

if you are over loaded to the rear sure you can take weight off the front. thus hurting your control ( steering, braking).
think balance beam, equal weight it sits level. add to one end and that end drops, the now lighter end goes up.
put a air bag on the now heaver end. it does bring up that end. but never gives up weight of the load to the lighter end.
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Old 12-01-2019, 05:14 PM   #17
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They level and help with the ride I run mine around 70 psi but I’m in a lowered F-350 dw I need the pressure to keep from bottoming out.
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Old 12-01-2019, 05:30 PM   #18
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I had a 5000 lb set installed on my 2016 F250 turbo. It made a huge difference while towing. It greatly reduced, I'd say eliminated any bounce after I would hit a bump. I run mine at 70psi towing and 10psi empty. I did not buy the onboard pump kit because it costs more than the bags. The air chucks are hidden on the bumper and I use a battery power pump to air them up. The require very little air and pressure up quick! I totally recommend airbags.
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Old 12-01-2019, 06:19 PM   #19
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I haven't tow my 5th wheel since I installed my air lift bag but I at least hook it up to my truck and I put 25 psi to bring it level. I do have the air lift that I kept from my other truck so it work out good. I don't think that I would have to add too much more psi, my pin weight is only 2,900 lbs and my payload of my truck is 3,799 lbs.
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Old 12-01-2019, 06:21 PM   #20
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They would actually reduce payload by the amount the kit weighed. I checked on the weight of the Airlift 5000 kit for my truck, all I could find was a shipping weight of 18.5 pounds so there would be no significant difference.
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