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Open Roads Forum  >  Toy Haulers

 > Airbags for DRW help eliminate CA highway bouncing??

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Gordon2448

Central Coast, California

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Posted: 04/27/12 11:44am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have a 39ft TH 3axle with a 14ft garage. That 14ft is behind the axle's carrying a RZR4 and 2 quads. Getting to where i'm camping, the rig drive great cause i have wieght (wood, water, ect) in the bed of the truck which equalizes the wieght. It is a different story when i come home because i dont have that wieght(wood, water ect) in the bed. Problem, when i hit big dips in our under funded CA highways, the rear axle of the truck bounces up and down "bad" because, of all the wieght is in the BACK of the TH and there lack of in the bed of TV. Question, would Airbags help lesson or eliminate the bouncing???

JIMNLIN

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Posted: 04/27/12 11:56am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Maybe a mod/adm can move you to the toy hauler forum as someone may have the same exact combo and how they fixed the problem.


"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

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the bear II

Torrance CA.

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Posted: 04/27/12 12:00pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I towed a 37ft 15000lb 5th wheel with 1 ton dually that had helper springs but no air bags. I can't ever remember the rear axle of the truck bouncing up and down "bad". I would get a soft rolling type feel kind of like you get in a big old Cadillac. I could hear the helper springs contact the frame so I knew they were working.

I now have a 4500 Medium Duty with DRW and an airbag suspension system by Link. Same 5th wheel same roads and I still get a rolling type ride over the big dips.

My first thought is that the airbags would just make your ride stiffer. It seems like your rear springs may be too stiff.

You didn't indicate the type of truck and if 4X4. Show the type of truck you have and maybe someone with air bag equipped like yours will chime in.

Talk to Deaver Springs or National Springs, they may have just what you need to make the rear work better.

mkirsch

Rochester, NY

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Posted: 04/27/12 12:31pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If anything airbags will make the problem WORSE because they add more "spring" to the mix.


2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
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FrankoToo

Escondido, CA

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Posted: 04/27/12 01:56pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have airbags on the truck in my sig. I usually run with 30 - 35 pounds of air and yes, they take a lot of the bounce out hitting some of the smaller dips and holes in our great hiways but man I tell you, it feels like the whole back end of the truck just fell off hitting some of the larger potholes. You pretty much have to find the sweet spot between how much bounce and/or how stiff a ride you want but for me, the airbags do help.

Frank


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BarneyS

S.E. Lower Michigan

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Posted: 04/27/12 06:19pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Moved to Toy Haulers forum from Towing in hopes of better response.
Barney

shawnct450r

Goose Creek SC

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Posted: 04/27/12 06:51pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I'm SRW, but to answer your question - Yes. You will have to figure out what pressure you need loaded and what pressure you need for the return trip (return trip pressure will probably be less due to less weight in the bed). I doubt you'll be ablt to eliminate it all though, due to horrible roads. When I would get on the 5 to head up the grapevine (to Gorman), I would go slow (55mph in the horrible spots) until I started up the hill. Hope this helps.


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BobWanderer

Perris,Calif,USA

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Posted: 04/27/12 07:07pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have a 2500HD SRW, the I-5 SUCKS.
The "bags" help somewhat by keeping the suspension off the bump stops (they are removed in my case), but did not eliminate the problem all together. There are sections on the I-15 that are bad as well, I have to move over at least a lane to smooth things out, but risk a ticket for not using the proper lanes.
Good Luck with your travels, put some extra "poly grip" on those teeth, your gonna need it in Kalif


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Gordon2448

Central Coast, California

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Posted: 04/27/12 07:25pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

It's a 2012 Chevy 3500 DRW. Truck comes with stock helper springs. Obviously, i'm gonna have to keep some wieght in the bed of the truck.

sin cal sd

Hooligan #109

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Posted: 04/27/12 07:56pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You could put an air ride 5th wheel if you have the cash.


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