tow vehicle

would anyone recommend air bag suspension to make the ride more comfortable, soft, in the truck? would they keep the truck from bottoming out? i already have rancho adjustable shocks on the truck, a 2005 3/4 ton GMC.

If you're talking about with a trailer hooked up, yes, I can recommend them. Our first trip out with our 5er was fairly uneventful. But we went north, away from the concrete jungle of Houston. The second trip out, we had to go around Houston on concrete roads and the 5er and truck nearly beat us to death. It was horrible. So as the first step, I got airbag suspension (Firestone Ride-Rite) for the truck. I installed myself, and ran into a few problems, but got it done. The ride was waaay better. Not near the bouncing and chucking as the previous tow. But, I am still not completely satisfied. I don't think anything will take it out completely, but I think a 5th Airborne (or other kingpin replacement) will be in our near future. The worst offenders are bridges. They always seem to take you for a ride!

We have air bags. They help a lot. Just don't overinflate. EdJunior is right about the bridges.... not so much the bridge, but the transition from highway to bridge and bridge back to highway is what gets us chucking.

ribbs65 and EdJunior, how about putting a signature in your posts. It's easy to do - just go to your profile and enter your information and click "save." Your year and model Cat is all that's necessary, but you can add more if you'd like. Thanks.

Tater

Scruffy and Tater wrote:
ribbs65 and EdJunior, how about putting a signature in your posts. It's easy to do - just go to your profile and enter your information and click "save." Your year and model Cat is all that's necessary, but you can add more if you'd like. Thanks.

Tater

Actually, I had my signature done. Just didn't figure out what was wrong until your post. I had to change the setting to "show" the signature!

Thanks Ed. I had a heck of a time putting in our signature until I figured out that I had to save it.

Now are you talking a "true" air suspension like this?

Talon Air Suspension

Or, are you talking "helper" air springs like this?

Firestone Ride-Rite

Mine are the Firestone Ride-Rite helper springs. Something tells me that Talon is going to cost considerably more. But it does look impressive!

$4.5 - $5 grand installed

Yiiiikes! I paid $350 for my Firestones, and installed myself. Whew!

Air bags are great, but they are not there to increase hauling capacity, they just keep your truck level and help the ride.

I love the ride in our truck, the truck gets smoother as we add weight.:)

We had basic air bags in our last truck and am having them installed on this new truck too. Our dually is plenty for our small Cat, but adding air is nice to soften the ride some and level everything off. I don't even know the brand name, but there is two air spickets under the rear bumber.