Question regarding Air Bags

[MORobb]

Hello All,

Bought a new to me F350 Long Bed to replace my F350SB. The truck I purchased has airbags on the rear end. I assume that was to add capacity to the truck? My question how do I know how much pressure to put in the bags?

Anyone with experience and advise?

MORobb

[Mikendebbie]

Based on what I have read here on the forum - air bags do not increase load capacity (that is determined by Ford) - they only affect your ride quality and truck "squat" (??) and help level-out your rear end under load.

[Yoquedo1]

70 lbs is what I have on my F350.

[WeBeFulltime]

Can be different from one truck to another or from one camper to another. Hook your fiver up when it's loaded to travel. Put air in until truck & camper are level (or close). Bags DO NOT INCREASE LOAD CAPACITY but only improve ride and level. I ran them for years and like them. Last truck (2012 F350) I was level at 20 psi unhooked which read as 45 psi after hooking.

[1retired06]

I have run airbags for years ( Firestone and Airlift) (currently Airlift). For both, max was 100PSI and minimum was 5PSI. Anything in between is up to you. I run 55PSI when towing the fiver, maintains level setup. And all were correct, airbags do not increase GVWR or payload capacity, primary benefit is control of rear end drop when loaded.

[432bartman]

If yours doesn't have an onboard compressor, it makes it a little more difficult to find that sweet spot for your particular trailer and truck when towing. I finally put in the Air Lift wireless compressor for my bags and it comes with a remote. So nice being able to adjust while traveling and it allows for up to 3 preset psi setting. Nice you got a truck with the bags already installed.

[MORobb]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I got a "New to Me" truck. 2015 F350 LB SWD with 17K miles.

Added a B&W 20K companion and the truck has the bags. Not sure what brand the bags are. No compressor, just 2 schrader valves on the rear.

MORObb

[DutchmenSport]

No answer on PSI, but whatch this video. (Helpful)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsIiZN9KLd0

[GILAELKHUNTER]

Instructions I received when I installed my Air Lift 5000's were to park on level ground, measure from ground to a point on truck such as top of bumper, then hook up trailer and measure again, then inflate bags with trailer attached to get back to first measurement. Mine takes 60 psi to do this.

[elee3]

I usually hook up the fiver, which seats the truck enough to engage the helper springs on my F350. I then air the bags up until the truck just comes off of the helper springs. Seems to work out just about right for me. Unloaded, this is about 25 psi in the bags.

[DaveK]

I have Firestone air bags. Very easy to inflate them with a bike pump that has a built-in pressure gage. I run my air bags 40 to 50 for my 5er. Better yet, I also added Rancho 9000 adjustable rear shocks. I like air bags but the adjustable shocks REALLY improved suspension oscillations, particularly at bridge approaches. Less white knuckles.

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

Based on what I have read here on the forum - air bags do not increase load capacity (that is determined by Ford) - they only affect your ride quality and truck "squat" (??) and help level-out your rear end under load.

This is the correct answer, and unless you're carrying a load, Firestone recommends as little as 5psi. I only need 40psi when I hook up the FW to keep the truck level.

[Donjamin]

I run 55PSI when towing the fiver, maintains level setup. And all were correct, airbags do not increase GVWR or payload capacity, primary benefit is control of rear end drop when loaded.

I have Airlift 7500 on my F-250. Ditto for me too on the amount of air I put in my lifts. I usually run 10-15 lbs. when not towing.

Don

[laverdur]

Are they just air bags or a self-leveling system using air bags? I have self-leveling now but on my 2006 F-250 I had just air bags. I found that setting them to 40 psi was sufficient to level the truck and give a reasonable ride. The air bags will not increase the load capacity of the TV. That value is specified by the manufacturer and it posted on the B-pillar information tag. If, at 40 psi the back of your TV is too high, bleed some air out. Likewise, if at 40 psi the ride is too harsh, bleed some air out.

[Slow Hand]

Originally Posted by MORobb

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I got a "New to Me" truck. 2015 F350 LB SWD with 17K miles.

Added a B&W 20K companion and the truck has the bags. Not sure what brand the bags are. No compressor, just 2 schrader valves on the rear.

MORObb

That is a pain in the but. Looks like you need to air each bag separately. I tied both mine on one line. I NEVER needed to add more to one side than the other. Air compressor is a must have. Once you install it it makes is so easy to air up and down. My system leaks a little so I just hit the switch in the cab and air them up. I run about 20 all the time and 60 towing. A LB may need more. I wasn't a fan of the remote system because it would be so easy to lose the remote on the road. I mounted my gauge switch on the left side by the driver door under the AC vent. It was a challenge but turned out nice. I also put wire loom on all my air lines just because I didn't want them to rub ob anything.

[DaveK]

Air bags can EASILY be inflated with a bike pump. Just a few strokes on the pump easily inflates them. They don't hold much air. I like having separate connectors because I can adjust side of the truck if its slightly off side-to-side.