Hope you all can help here.


I am installing a set of Firestone air bags, at what PSI should I fill them to when towing a 12k 5er. The pin weight is about 2200 lbs.


Thanks for the info,


A

I run my airlifts at 90 lbs with a 3000lb camper in the back.


That is the pressure that brings the truck to level.I'd throw the 5ver on and level up and see where your pressure is at.


Hope this helps and I am curious what your psi is when you are done.


Blake

I have the AirLifts with the in cab guages. I run them at 50-60, because I've found going over large bumps loaded causes the pressure to spike quite a bit when the bags compress, up over 100lbs in some cases. I didn't want to pump them up too much and have them get too many psi when taking bumps.

I'm sure that the manufacturer takes spikes into consideration when they tell you to 100psi max. My bet is that they are tested to 3x that.

Measure from a point on your truck's rear bumper to the ground with the airbags empty (5psi), then hitch up and add air until it measures the same. If you want to do each side, you can level out side-to-side as well.

I end up with about 50psi with my 5th hooked up. You may want to be a little raked, like it sits unloaded, to stay off the overload spring over bumps.

Marc

I run my airlifts at 90 lbs with a 3000lb camper in the back.


That's one serious camper for a 2500.

Mine gets 65 in them before I hook up. Measured after it's at 95.

I run mine at 40 psi. For my fiver that sets the truck back to standard rake angle. I measured empty and loaded. My pin wieght is between 1850 and 2100 depending on the load in the toyhauler.


I do adjust depending on road conditions. Really rough interstate I air up a little and on smooth roads I set it back to 40.


Just my opinion.

I run my airlifts at 90 lbs with a 3000lb camper in the back.


That's one serious camper for a 2500.





With the bags, Rancho 9000x's and swaybar along with max pressure in the tires the ride and drive is great.At no time do I feel to top heavy or unsafe.You can tell the weight is there but going by the posted speed limit on the corners etc its a very solid stable no pucker ride.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Blake


P.S. I've scaled the truck with camper and I'm right at 9900 lbs.Edited by: NWDmax

I run my airlifts at 90 lbs with a 3000lb camper in the back.


That's one serious camper for a 2500.





With the bags, Rancho 9000x's and swaybar along with max pressure in the tires the ride and drive is great.At no time do I feel to top heavy or unsafe.You can tell the weight is there but going by the posted speed limit on the corners etc its a very solid stable no pucker ride.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Blake


P.S. I've scaled the truck with camper and I'm right at 9900 lbs.





Mine weighs in about 3300 lbs. before i load all my crap in it, i run my bags around 100 psi and sometimes it still squats in the ass!

My truck is 7700# with me in it and 11,400# without much in the camper(thats the way it was the only time I weighed it). I figure with everything I need for a few day trip including the squeeze and tongue wt of the boat I got to be going close to 12,000#. I'm gonna have to put it on the scale on the way out of town......Anyway I've run mine at 70psi but on a 2100mi trip I ran them at 90psi and I like the ride better...I need shocks! Bilsteins or Ranchos?......Cal


Blake, Do you have load range E? My dentist has a 3/4 ton with a big camper and he told me he's gone through some tires and RIMS. Have you checked out the Rickson 19.5(?) rims?.......Cal

My truck is 7700# with me in it and 11,400# without much in the camper(thats the way it was the only time I weighed it). I figure with everything I need for a few day trip including the squeeze and tongue wt of the boat I got to be going close to 12,000#. I'm gonna have to put it on the scale on the way out of town......Anyway I've run mine at 70psi but on a 2100mi trip I ran them at 90psi and I like the ride better...I need shocks! Bilsteins or Ranchos?......Cal


Blake, Do you have load range E? My dentist has a 3/4 ton with a big camper and he told me he's gone through some tires and RIMS. Have you checked out the Rickson 19.5(?) rims?.......Cal





Hey Gruber,I run the BFG 285's load range "D" (I think they are rated at 3300 lbs each) and had 0 problems with tires or rims.The owner of the tire shop next to my business recommended these knowing how it was used.


I have never checked into the Rickson's.


Blake

Thx guys,


Run them at 50 now for two trips, man what a difference. I agree around 50 for a 2200lbs pin weight it just right!








A

Terrain twister - I found that I can substantially reduce my hitch-up and unhitch time by backing the tuck up and engaging the pin with the bags empty, then inflating them to my full towing pressure (about 50-60 for me). That way, it takes a bunch of weight off the jacks of the fiver, so they don't take nearly as long to come off the ground once I start retracting them.

Same for unhitch - get the trailer into position, lower the jacks, deflate the bags, and it takes half the time to lower the jacks to the point where I can unhitch.

Just a thought for you!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I carry a five gallon tank in the bed - I'm thinking about inflating the bags to full pressure before I lower the jacks next time, I'm thinking I may not even have to use the motor to extend the jacks at all to drive off after deflating the bags.

MarcEdited by: Mjollnir

How much extra payload do the air bags give you?


What brands are you using, are you happy with their quality?


Brian

BrianB,


Technically the air bags do not give you any extra payload, they just help support the load better (level ride). I run the Air Lift Super Duty and I am very happy with the quality. I suspect whether you go with Air Lift, Firestone, or any other brand you will be happy. There isn't much to them. Just a bracket, the bag, and an air line.


Dennis

Mjollnir, Guess I should rephrase my answer. I normally fill them after being hooked up.

Atrzes,


I have a 32' 5er with a pin wt 2500-2600 & I run 80# to keep the truck at unloaded height. What a difference in towing stability.

I run 25 lbs (unloaded) with my Fiver. Pin weight 2100 lbs. That pressure maintains the truck level with load. I run E Range Michelins, 265's, at 75 lbs (rear) with a load. Ride is Smoooooooth.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I always air mine empty. I run 65 lbs but don't know my pin weight. I just went by leveling the trailer.

I always air mine empty. I run 65 lbs but don't know my pin weight. I just went by leveling the trailer.


Thats a great common sense way to "get er done".


Same thing I did with mine.


We are so smart.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Blake

I inflate to 50lbs empty, then hitch up and the trailer(14000lbs loaded) is level.


19.5's are aired up to 90lbs loaded and 70f/65r when empty.