air rides

[dmaxster]

any of you who have air rides .......what are the ratings on them......and who much can you actually put on them before something would happen to them bad......thanks dmaxster :D

[Cardiac]

Dmaxster,
I have Firestone Ride-Rite air bags on my 2001 3500, and had them on my old '86 6.2 3/4 ton. You can't beat them for load leveling or ride. Put a load on fill'um up, unload and dump'um out. No harsh ride when empty. 100PSI max will level a 5000 LB load.

WWW.ride-rite.com
WWW.firestone.com

[sonofagun]

dmaxter,

I have the AirRide units with a remote pump and under dash guage system. They hold 5000 lbs too. I have used them on my last 2 trucks and swear by them. I pull a 12500 lb 5th wheel with a fairly heavy pin weight and they take the front to rear rock and roll out of the truck when going over rough roads. Be careful to not overload your tires or axles, they won't help you there.

Regards,
Bob

[dmaxster]

well here is the reason for the question......I am hauling the race car trailer....and the axle weight is 7100 in rear....4260 in front.....my queston is .....will these bags handle that load.....? thanks dmaxster

[Cardiac]

Dmaxter,
Your Sig. posts a 2002 2500HD, the book says 4800LBS. front, 6084LBS. rear MAX. At 7100LBS you are way over weight. The air bags will help you level out, but thay don't increase your GWVR, and thay don't decrease your stopping distance.

Firestone makes a darn good product put I have seen air bag brackets bent from over loading.

You may want to move your CG back on your trailer. 10%-15% of the trailer weight on the toung is the general rule.

[ 03-27-2003: Message edited by: Cardiac ]</p>

[sonofagun]

dmaxter,

If I understand you right you are pulling a 11,360lb trailer right? Is that with or without a race car? If so the issue is how much tongue weight you are adding to the truck. Is it a goose neck or hitch trailer? If it is a goose neck how much weight does it place on the axle when loaded? If it is hitch mounted what is the hitch weight?
Your truck will easily pull the trailer, if the weight includes the car. I think the airbags will stop or slow the front to rear rock and roll over rough roads, like mine do, especially if you have the compressor and guage kit so you can modify the pressure as you drive.

Good luck,
Bob

[ 03-28-2003: Message edited by: son of a gun ]</p>

[Colorado Kid]

dmaxster,

I think you were giving axle weights for your truck...you will be more than 2100# over GVWR and about 1000# overweight on the rear axle...that's well out of my comfort zone.

I've no doubt that the bags can support 500# each, so that the springs will only "see" their design load. I also have no doubt that the 11.5" rear axle will carry this much weight and more... HOWEVER: I don't know of ANY tires that will carry the load and fit your truck...you're looking for a single rating of at least 3,550#/tire. The brakes, frame, you name it...are the same as the 3500, but the tires are going to be overloaded. (As a matter of fact your trailer would probably overload a 3500!)

Like Cardiac said, you might try too get some wieght toward the back of the trailer...maybe back the car on.

[dmaxster]

no the 7100 lbs on rear is total....we pulled the trailer all last summer and the truck had no problem pulling it...at all....it didn't sway...or anything else...it pullled really well...the only reason I went with the air rides is to get the weight off of the springs....and level out more than last year...I have 2700 on it empty.....and the 7100 on it when loaded...that tells me that there is 4400 on the king pin.....or the gooseneck.....cus we pull either one....doesn't matter....and the trailer axles are 10500....we also weighed in at 22,500 with no problems....we'll see what happens.....Later dmaxster
:cool: