Hi folks
I just sold my Sierra 1500 HD and bought a F-150 and I haul a horse trailer not very often but liked the heavy leafs in the rear of my sierra. Im thinking of installing an air ride like the ride-rite or just adding a leaf to the springs. Im not familiar with air lift bags at all so if anyone could offer some insight that would be great. I don't want the rear to squat and have the nose up in the air or the opposite when no load and have the rear higher than the front either so do I need to do anything to the front as well?

 

Add a leaf's are popular.

 

Add a leaf is easiest and cheapest, but least amount of adjustability.

Air-bags w/on-board compressor is the most expensive and most complicated, but is fully adjustable for any load - often times at the push of a button.

So it really depends what you want to accomplish and how much impact to your wallet you're willing to pay for it.

 

Have you tried hauling your trailer yet? Wait and see . . .

 

go with airbags.. It helps take some of the strain on you springs. Saving on broken leaves. I just put a set of bags in mine to help haul the quads around. about 12 lbs and still rides nice. if i need the extra i can just air up some more.

 

RAS

 

I don't have airbags but have recently installed a set of superpsrings. I only tow 8-10 times a year so I wanted something to help during those times. For those times the springs work great. I didn't like the soft bounce feel with the trailer on with the factory setup. I have had airbags in the past and they have always performed as needed. However I found them to be a bit more hassle during the 90% other times of the year I don't need them. If money was no option I'd pimp out with the on board compressor and bags. Otherwise the supersprings are a good fit.

 

I have used add-a-leafs in the past and I will in the future. Adding an extra long leaf is the way to go because it does a better job of controlling spring wind up. If you want to keep the ride height down that you can replace the long leaf that you have with a thicker one. Any of these 2 changes can be done at a good spring shop for a lot less than buying some boutique spring and having it installed at a some garage. You may also be surprised at the level of expertise that a good spring shop will bring to the table.

 

I put Timbren SES on mine.
Its not active while unloaded.

http://timbren.com/

 

Not really sure how this is the way to go? adding a extra leaf may take a little bit of axle wrap out but does not do a better job of supporting the load. You are still putting all the load force and weight on the springs. I have not owned a truck yet that has not had a broken spring do to weight. With airbags you are releaving some of the load weigh strait down to the axle taking the strain and pressure off the leaves. I have not personally see a truck that has been running bags with a broken spring and i work in a rv park and see a lot of heavy loads. My boss also runs bags and hauls heavy loads over some extramly rough terrain and still going strong with stock springs and bags.