scoy
Cypress Ca
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Joined: 01/22/2009
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I have the Firestone air bags on my 04 1500 HD ext cab truck. They are rated at 3000 lbs. I am lucky enough to have access to the truck scales at my work.
Gross weight this morning was 6820 lbs with the TC loaded on the truck. Full propane tank(5gal) no water no. according to the plate my TC fully loaded weights in at 1545 lbs. That puts my truck at around 5275 lbs with a half tank of gas.
I did an axle weight drivers side 3660 Pass side 3160 so the left side of the camper is 500 lbs heavier then the right side which makes sense since the heater,fridge, and holding tank are all on that side. The water tank is on the pass side.
The TC is perfectly centered and very stable.
What would you all suggest I run in the airbags? HOw much difference between psi for each side should I run. My thoughts are vent the bags and inflate them both to 30 psi and then raise the drivers side till it is level?? What do you all do?
Scott
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming,
Wow what a ride
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kcabpilot
CA
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Joined: 04/07/2008
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I park on a level surface, open the back door half way and let it go. If it doesn't swing left or right I call that 'level'
Overall psi in the bags depends on truck, load, road conditions and how you want the rig to ride and handle. The adjustability of the airbags is one of the nice things about them. You just need to experiment and see what works for you. Generally the first thing you aim for is a level attitude fore and aft.
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually "Rhino Haunches"
We also have a 'truck' that FLYS
Our recent camping trips
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scoy
Cypress Ca
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Thank you, that was clear and concise. I guess I will play around with it. I knew that the TC was heavier on one side but I did not know it was that much!
Thanks!!
Scott
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mrxman69
Los Angles
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Joined: 06/04/2008
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i don't think riding level matters when i drive. leveling matters to me when I'm at my camp location. I always fill my bags full when on the road. This is where a the bouncing and possible bottoming out will happen. Riding balance is for the fridge. The fridge will never blow like home anyway.
GET THERE BEFORE IT'S GONE!
2007 DODGE 2500 MEGA CAB 4X4 LARIME
2004 EAGLE CAP 850 W/SLIDE OUT!
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mrxman69
Los Angles
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kcabpilot wrote:I park on a level surface, open the back door half way and let it go. If it doesn't swing left or right I call that 'level'
Overall psi in the bags depends on truck, load, road conditions and how you want the rig to ride and handle. The adjustability of the airbags is one of the nice things about them. You just need to experiment and see what works for you. Generally the first thing you aim for is a level attitude fore and aft.
that's the way i do it!
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Wheelholder
jacksonville, fl
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Joined: 06/09/2008
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I bought 2 small levels that I adhered to the side and back of the camper. I usually put enough in my air bags to level while in the driveway. This keeps my headlights from blinding people as I go down the road. Arriving at campsite, we get it pretty close to level and then put the jacks down to stabilize.
My bags usually take between 75 to 80 pounds to give me the ride height and level the truck. Bags are rated for 100 #
2008 Silverado crew cab Duramax/Allison
2008 Lance 805
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Raften
Northern Calfornia
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I try my best to get the whole setup level or even high in the butt. Reason is I have HID headlights and I know they can light up the inside of a small car ahead of me like daylight. The fact that I have a 4WD does not help matters. I always have to put more air in the passenger side for side to side leveling.
'01 Dodge 3500 CTD, Lance 1121, Air Bags, Rancho 9000, All Wheels Under Power When Needed, A Few Engine Mods For Increased HP
Burning Grease, 800 ft/lbs. of torque from something you throw away.
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Wanderin fool
Woodland Park, Colo.
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Joined: 10/07/2004
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I think a big issue being missed is how the airbags are working with the trucks suspension. You can put a large amount of air in them to level everything, but its not good to have the airbags support all weight of the camper. You need to use the trucks springs to help the overall weight distribution and not let bags do all the work to make the truck ride like stock. Its a balance of the whole system to get the best weight control. I know others will chime in here about not using the bags to get the look back to stock, but use all of the suspension components to do their respective job properly. Too much air puts too much reliance on the bags, and doesnt let the trucks suspension do its proper job.
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FreeLanceing
Grand Haven Mi
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I park on a level surface such as the concrete approch in front of the garage. Then I just take my tape measure and measure the height of the wheel well front and back side to side. On my old truck when level I believe I had 31" all the way around. I put in enough air to get back to that. Once I had the numbers I just did it that way from then on always very close. A little more gas the HMG any small additional weight did not matter enough to change the psi.
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scoy
Cypress Ca
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Thanks guys I played around last night with the bags and what I have found is using the least amount newcessary to get the truck level while on the road. I am running about 25 on the pass side and 50 or so on the drivers side. The truck is just about at stock height front to rear and side to side. The handling is not all the bad.
Because there is such a weight difference I never will get the rig to ride exactly level on the side to side. I am a bit anal I guess about how it looks also. It bugs to see the unit sit there leaning over.
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