|
06-28-2021, 02:11 PM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Columbia
Posts: 42
M.O.C. #26922
|
Question regarding Air Bags
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
|
|
|
06-28-2021, 03:23 PM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,413
M.O.C. #21044
|
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.
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
|
|
|
06-28-2021, 03:42 PM
|
#3
|
New Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Houston
Posts: 1
M.O.C. #23789
|
70 lbs is what I have on my F350.
|
|
|
06-28-2021, 04:27 PM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
|
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.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
|
|
|
06-29-2021, 07:56 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
|
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.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
|
|
|
06-29-2021, 08:54 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2020
Location: UPLAND
Posts: 1,255
M.O.C. #26190
|
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.
__________________
2019 Keystone Montana 3560RL, 2020 Chevy 2500 HD, Firestone airbags, Air Lift wireless compressor, Curt gooseneck, 20K Reese Goosebox, TST-507, USMC combat vet & retired LEO. Robert, Anika, Breanna, Dylan (daughter-in-law Stephanie). & our Great Pyrenees Layla
|
|
|
06-29-2021, 10:03 AM
|
#7
|
Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Columbia
Posts: 42
M.O.C. #26922
|
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
|
|
|
06-29-2021, 10:59 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,581
M.O.C. #22835
|
No answer on PSI, but whatch this video. (Helpful)
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
|
|
|
06-29-2021, 04:38 PM
|
#9
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Silver City
Posts: 69
M.O.C. #24575
|
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.
__________________
2016 F-250 Lariat Super Duty 6.7L
2019 High Country 310RE
Andersen Ultimate hitch
Air Lift 5000 airbags
|
|
|
07-01-2021, 10:15 AM
|
#10
|
Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tallahassee
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #18532
|
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.
|
|
|
07-04-2021, 01:39 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Fredericksburg
Posts: 163
M.O.C. #23470
|
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.
|
|
|
07-04-2021, 01:53 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
|
Quote:
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.
|
|
|
07-04-2021, 02:26 PM
|
#13
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Fullerton
Posts: 209
M.O.C. #22148
|
Quote:
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
__________________
Donjamin & Laurie
Fullerton, CA
2016 Montana Legacy, 3160RL
2015 Ford F-250 SD 4X4
|
|
|
07-04-2021, 05:10 PM
|
#14
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Albany
Posts: 407
M.O.C. #11972
|
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.
__________________
2012 3150RL. G614 tires. Hardwired surge protector. Level-Up Hydraulic leveling.
2013 F-350 Lariat 6.7 PSD SRW SC LB 4X4 OEM hitch, air self-leveling on rear. 57-gallon replacement fuel tank. DieselSite water separator/fuel filter.
|
|
|
07-05-2021, 06:13 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
|
Quote:
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.
|
|
|
07-06-2021, 09:34 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Fredericksburg
Posts: 163
M.O.C. #23470
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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 Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|