Airbags for towing

[Firemedic54_9]

Looking into some airbags or something to help with sag when I hook up the camper. What does everyone use or recommend. The camper is 6800lbs and tongue weight is 950lbs. I have looked at Sumó Springs and the airlift 5000. Any opinions on either?

 

[Luc_sko]

Timber Grove is a great option.

 

[Mando Michigan Mark]

Looking into some airbags or something to help with sag when I hook up the camper. What does everyone use or recommend. The camper is 6800lbs and tongue weight is 950lbs. I have looked at Sumó Springs and the airlift 5000. Any opinions on either?

I have the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, and installed the AirLift 1000. I have a 25 foot, 6300 lb. trailer and I only have to put about 25 lbs. (of 100 possible) in them to lift and stabilize the back end. Cost was about $80 on Amazon and I put them in myself in less than an hour.

 

[VernDiesel]

I transport TTs commercially with my ED. First you can adjust your WDH and loading to bring your per CAT scales tongue weight down to 12.0 or about 800 pounds. It’s just 150 pounds you don’t need to put on the back of the truck.

Like Luc-sko said Timber Groves. Their an excellent quality materials axle to frame setup much like the Airlift 5000 only for $350 with no cutting or drilling. Unlike the cheap in coil bags the fitting and bags don’t leak after short time and don’t need to be aired up prior to loading. They also require less psi so they dampen and control the suspension with no bounce.

09'-18' RAM 1500 — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

timbergroveenterprises.com

The Airlift 5000 are last I looked into it just overpriced. Never used the Neoprene Springs but they would have to be better than the Timbren extended bump stop bags.

 

[Mando Michigan Mark]

I transport TTs commercially with my ED. First you can adjust your WDH and loading to bring your per CAT scales tongue weight down to 12.0 or about 800 pounds. It’s just 150 pounds you don’t need to put on the back of the truck.

Like Luc-sko said Timber Groves. Their an excellent quality materials axle to frame setup much like the Airlift 5000 only for $350 with no cutting or drilling. Unlike the cheap in coil bags the fitting and bags don’t leak after short time and don’t need to be aired up prior to loading. They also require less psi so they dampen and control the suspension with no bounce.

09'-18' RAM 1500 — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

timbergroveenterprises.com

The Airlift 5000 are last I looked into it just overpriced. Never used the Neoprene Springs but they would have to be better than the Timbren extended bump stop bags.

Vern - I agree on the overpriced opinion on the Airlift 5000; local shop that installs them wanted just shy of $900 - said there is "...4 hours of labor to put them in; I don't know why, but that's what we quote." I've had the Airlift 1000 kit in for a couple of years; no leaks and (if you don't release some of the air) without a load, they sure make the truck ride like a lumber wagon! I've been happy with them for both towing and heavy loads of wood.

 

[bob1340]

Looking into some airbags or something to help with sag when I hook up the camper. What does everyone use or recommend. The camper is 6800lbs and tongue weight is 950lbs. I have looked at Sumó Springs and the airlift 5000. Any opinions on either?

AirLift 1000 and pump. You can also go with the TufSpring coils. 950 lbs of tongue weight is way too much for a 6800 lb trailer. Move some stuff around. I towed a 9,000 lb Keystone with my old Hemi 1500 equipted with TufSprings and 1000 bags. Worked great. But too much for a 1500 truck. Another great option is the Andersen hitch. Far superior to anything else I've ever used.

 

[VernDiesel]

I think the older style Airlift 5000 required cut & drill and more install time until they learned from TLC & Timber Groves that if it was designed a little differently that it wasn’t necessary.

950 is not crazy at 14 percent but redistributing 150 pounds off the drive axle back to the steer and TT axles would make it easier on the truck, hitch, and get some of the likely need weight back on the steers for more stability and stopping power.

9k TT is a lot on the 1/2 ton platform. Pretty much Maxes out everything drive axle, receiver, cvwr, gvwr. And if you had the old 5/6 speed transmission she didn’t like trying to accelerate up a hill either. Lol I took a 9,100 pound TT 1,000 miles & over 6 percent grades. Even with the 8 speed 3.92 & tune the lil ED pulled down to 52 mph on a long grade. Agreed I’ve had great luck with the Andersen WDH.

 

[Hawaii_Built]

Echoing the recommendation for Timber Grove air bags. The install was 100% bolt on and I was able to complete the installation in my driveway. The owner of Timber Grove is very responsive through e-mail and was able to give me feedback on questions I had very quickly. The bracketry and bags are very robust and of a high quality, no issues of fit or finish. They do ride a bit stiffer, but not overly stiff (this of course, is a subjective opinion).

 

[bob1340]

I may be looking into these Timber Groves. Looks like a great product. I'd assume the ride with minimum air in them would be close to stock. And I will have a 2"-3" drop coil in back. I wonder if they make shorter bags for this?

 

[Mac]

I’m just finishing installing the airlift 5000 bags right now. Evidently the older model (###70) that just got discontinued this year had some breakage issues, or so what I’ve been told. They would clamp on the old bumper housing, just had to bolt it on. This new model (###65) you need to remove the springs to gain access to cut off the bumper housing, grind it flat and paint it, then drill 3 holes into the frame for each new mounting bracket. Total pain in the ass to install, but doable. I think it took me a total of 7 hours to instal myself with a remote compressor.

 

[Mac]

Eh... scratch the 7 hours, more like 12. That was a pain in the ass...

 

[Tremper126]

I did the 1000hd to maintain factory ride. Took 2-3 hours. Most of that was taking fender liner out to get stem into fuel door. Been in for a year no problems to report

 

[John Jensen]

Another vote here for the Timber Groves. Oustanding quality, easy install and great customer service.

 

[1shadowsabre]

I would take a look at the Timber Groves also. Great set of bags, uses little pressure and are very robust!