Air Bags

Does anyone use air bags? Beside making the truck sit level is there any other benefit?

It helps the bouncing and chucking quite a bit. Doesn't get rid of it all, but it sure helps.

I agree with both above. Stops the Bounce action from concrete joints.

We got our air bags to help keep the trailer level, and had read that they would eliminate the bucking. They do keep the trailer level, but helped only a little with the bucking. The first time we used them, they were overinflated, and that made the ride very uncomfortable. Now Scruffy knows how much air to put in them.

For the bucking - we are looking at new pin boxes. Hope to have one before our next trip.

Tater

We have them and really like them when hooked up to the Cat for all the reasons stated above. But I'm not a huge fan of them when running empty. You have to keep a couple of lbs worth of air in each bag at all times, but for our truck, that couple of lbs makes a difference in ride. Cattle truck pretty well describes the ride at times.

TC

Yep. It took a while for Scruffy to figure out just how much air was needed for whatever situation. We won't be taking the trailer to CA next month, but we will have a good size load in the bed of the truck - he'll have to figure out how much air - well, maybe not. We've hauled firewood so he probably already knows.

Tater

I've often wondered if there's a difference in ride between short and long bed trucks. I've been told that long beds ride a whole lot better, air bags or not.

TC

TC wrote:I've often wondered if there's a difference in ride between short and long bed trucks. I've been told that long beds ride a whole lot better, air bags or not.

TC

U are 100% correct. If I get another CC I way get a short bed. But a normal cab and a short bed I call a rocker. I also will never tow with a short bed. Accident waiting to happen

I don't know about Ford or Dodge, but for Chevy, the 2500 and up CC are only avaible in standard or long bed. The short bed is not offered with the CC.

Our Ford is a CC short bed. Ford's short beds are actually 6 1/2'. So I guess you could say it's a long short bed.

We also have 4 wheel drive and I know that makes a difference in ride even in 2 high.

TC

There is alot to be said about long and short beds, but the real differance is in the wheel base, the longer the better, ex: you could have a short bed CC with a longer WB than a long bed with a reg cab. My ford has the extended cab and short bed but its does a real good job with my 313RE, thats just my two cents worth. So before you guys go off on which is better, check the wheel base before hand and remember the longer the better.

TC wrote:Our Ford is a CC short bed. Ford's short beds are actually 6 1/2'. So I guess you could say it's a long short bed.

We also have 4 wheel drive and I know that makes a difference in ride even in 2 high.

TC

U are correct TC. A CC with a short bed is almost or just as long as a regular cab and a LWB.

Rusty - U are correct.

how much air does scruffy put in his in bags??

typo.
in his air bags

ribbs65 wrote:how much air does scruffy put in his in bags??

"that was funny, I don't care who you are......." had to use a Larry the cable guy quote for that one!!

sorry scruffy, not meant to be a joke. we are on a trip and started with air bags at 50 psi, too stiff. went all the way down to 20 psi and it softened the ride. but was curious what others inflated the air bags to.

Scruffy says about 10 - all the time, with or without the Cat attached. At 15, it was too stiff.

It WAS funny!

Tater

I use them on my f250, supercab, short box. They do improve the loaded ride but mostly I feel better because everything is level. I use about 20 lbs for towing and 10 for day-to-day use.

I found out how Scruffy inflates the air bags. Sometimes he uses a compressor, but most of the time he uses a bicycle pump - something like this:

It fits in the tool box and is easier to grab and use than a compressor.

Tater