JJM

Air bags are very easy to install. If you can build a house, you can install air bags.

Da Hunter

Although not sure when I will do the install, no trips planned until late July, so no big rush.

srrmc

I found that even with the WD on my new 2015 SB and HELLWIG helper springs that I had a pretty good sag in the back. The truck tracks wonderfully and the WD is definitely doing what it is supposed to be. My issue has always been that I don't like the sag. My fix; airbags, hellwig sway bar with built in compressor. I need to adjust it a bit as unloaded she is a lil stiff, but, I feel that with the camper it will be wonderful.

Bohunter

I have this system and wouldn't tow my 6000lb trailer with out it

jkc0607

Logistics question on the air bags. When do you inflate and deflate your air bags? Inflate after you hitch or just before hitching up. Once you get to your destination, do you deflate the bags or leave it until you get home? Do you carry a compressor with you?

Barristersteve

I hitch up and adjust my WD hitch and then air up the bags just until the bags just start to lift the rear end. It's more of a support than actually lifting the rear end for stability and reducing bounce. I carry a small 19.2v Sears Craftsmen compressor to air up bags as they have a very small volume of air. You could even probably do it with a hand pump. I ran the air lines out as license plate holders at the rear bumper. I usually don't bother to air the bags down as we usually only go short distances once camper is parked. If I am travelling with the truck for more than an hour, I will air down the airbags to 5 psi because unloaded the truck rides pretty rough with the LT tires aired up as well as the air bags, but loaded with the trailer it rides beautifully.

smokeywren

A weight-distribution (WD) hitch is necessary to tow a trailer with tongue weight (TW) more than 500 pounds. But a properly-sized and adjusted WD hitch is often not enough to remove all the sag in the rear suspension of the tow vehicle. If your headlights still aim at the stars when the WD hitch is properly adjusted, then you need air bags in addition to your WD hitch.


Usually if you need air bags in addition to a WD hitch, that means your tow vehicle is overloaded.


A properly adjusted WD hitch will distribute not more than 20% to 25% of hitch weight to the front axle of the tow vehicle. And for overloaded tow vehicles, that max of 25% is often not enough to bring the headlights back down to earth. Thus the need for air bags. If your WD hitch has enough weight capacity, you might be able to tighten the spring bars enough to level the tow vehicle, but then you'll have more than 25% of hitch weight on the front axle. And improperly adjusted WD hitch can cause handling and traction problems, so don't do it.


But FastWay doesn't sell air bags, so that's why their website is biased towards their WD hitch without air bags. It's perfectly acceptable to have both, but FastWay doesn't mention that.

SixShooter14

here's my question...

I have a WDH and sticker payload of 2100#....BUT I leveled my truck to leave the rear 1" higher than the front...I'm thinking I should get airbags to control squat since I don't have the 3in. of factory rake to take-up... And I don't know if a WDH can overcome that much squat.

I haven't towed anything since the level, but when I do, I don't want to be aiming for the stars...I tow very rarely, and I like the look and feel of the leveled truck. I intend to get a rear swaybar and am contemplating the air bags.

jcb206

What would you tow? If you don't tow heavy or often then I probably wouldn't spend money on airbags. JMO

SixShooter14

Occasionally haul 6 or 8 round bales of hay. A 5k# and a 7k# tractor, usually with a 5' or 7' bushhog. An old 1970ish TT not sure about the weight, but it's a 19' single axle...I haul each of these loads about once per year. Usually less than 50 miles, but it's on windy, steep, roads.

But I intend to buy a 7'x14' V-nose for hauling 2 x 700# motorcycles.

I have a WDH, I can't remember which bars. And as I said, I added a 2" level to leave 1" of rear-high rake. So anything more than an inch of "squat" will make the nose high.