I want to put some on my 06 dodge 2500 cummins but cant decide on which ones to get. my truck has a 6 inch skyjacker lift kit and i know they make towers for the bags but im concerned about breaking a air line or the lines or bags lasting 100k-200k miles. the other option is i can have valley spring service make up some overload leafs but then i know it will ride like a tank unless i have a load hooked up. what do you guys run/think.

Airbags all the way. Mine have 400+ thousand miles without a leak. I'm usually running them about 30 psi over suggested.

what brand do you run

I installed the Firestone Ride Rite airbags-best decision I made for heavy loads and sway control. Chevy K-10 longbed. Last load 1 1/2 tons on the truck and and 3 1/2 tons of hay on a Carson car hauler. Hauled from the valley here up to the gold country (Sierras)-handled great. Very pleased.

Yep, Firestones are the way to go.

x2 bags

price - springs
ride quality and performance - air bags.

Even the price for air bags isn't bad at all. I just went with the manual fill bags, and it's one of the best mods I have done by far.

bags it is

i run the air ride bags. they're a nice ride, but too soft with a real heavy load. i'd go over load leaves for heavy or air bags for light to medium. i need to add additional shocks to dampen the ride if i'm going to air the bags up enough to level it out. if i have them aired up with a heavy load and i let air out while driving, i can feel increased stability as the rear squats on the overloads. FWIW.

Bags, more "choseable"

i run the air ride bags. they're a nice ride, but too soft with a real heavy load. i'd go over load leaves for heavy or air bags for light to medium. i need to add additional shocks to dampen the ride if i'm going to air the bags up enough to level it out. if i have them aired up with a heavy load and i let air out while driving, i can feel increased stability as the rear squats on the overloads. FWIW.

That's interesting. I'm not saying you're wrong at all, but you do the exact opposite that I do. I air my bags up to get OFF the over-load springs. My over loads are way too stiff.

I think it matters where the bags are mounted as well; mine are directly under the frame. I have two duallies (1 Ford, 1 Dodge). The Ford has Firestones and the Dodge has Air Rides...the Air Rides don't seem as supportive as the Firestones. When I make that comparrison, I'm using the same air pressure towing the same trailer.

BTW, as far as weight goes, my trailer weighs 20,400 pounds when loaded...and 5400 pounds of that is TOUNGUE WEIGHT!

That's interesting. I'm not saying you're wrong at all, but you do the exact opposite that I do. I air my bags up to get OFF the over-load springs. My over loads are way too stiff.

I think it matters where the bags are mounted as well; mine are directly under the frame. I have two duallies (1 Ford, 1 Dodge). The Ford has Firestones and the Dodge has Air Rides...the Air Rides don't seem as supportive as the Firestones. When I make that comparrison, I'm using the same air pressure towing the same trailer.

BTW, as far as weight goes, my trailer weighs 20,400 pounds when loaded...and 5400 pounds of that is TOUNGUE WEIGHT!


intersting. i just feel less stable when not on the overloads. squishy if you will. mine are not directly under the frame. i think adding a pair of adj. shocks will put me where i want to be. you got mad tongue weight.:eek:

Yeah, did I mention it's a bumper pull? That's like hanging a full size van off the hitch!

Yeah, did I mention it's a bumper pull? That's like hanging a full size van off the hitch!

I asked before and don't remember seeing an answer - but what hitch are you running?

Just a solid hitch insert. No WD or anti-sway...just a ball. For me, I don't need it and it was just another expense and more stuff to wear out or squeak.

sorry, I should have said - what receiver are you running?

I'm still using the stock Dodge hitch. The socket is getting pretty loose but the pin hole is really worn. I have a new stock hitch to put on it.

I'm still using the stock Dodge hitch. The socket is getting pretty loose but the pin hole is really worn. I have a new stock hitch to put on it.

5,400/20,000lbs on that!?

*shudder*

It makes me feel better about the 14,000# I had behind it while offroad I guess.

5,400 lbs of tongue weight on a factory class IV hitch thats scary! i plan upgrading my factory hitch for a class V just for the piece of mind.

Heavy truck loaded all the time such as service body or constant heavy use with no regard for ride go with steel overloads.

With the way most of us use our rigs with various uses the adjustability control and ride quality of air bags is hard to beat. My shop use to install a lot of overloads and build up springs on trucks. But now that air bags have been out and proven durable we install a lot of air helper kits and the old school "build em up heavy" spring work has kind of taken a backseat.

Some of the high end Air Lift and Ride Rite kits have an onboard compressor and a semi-truck style leveling valve that are just plain sweet. Load your truck how you like and the bags will inflate as needed.

If you need any more proof just look around at your local truck stop. Not too many spring ride road tractors out there now. Hell every OEM is going air ride on steer axles as much as they can.

5,400 lbs of tongue weight on a factory class IV hitch thats scary! i plan upgrading my factory hitch for a class V just for the piece of mind.

I know what you mean about the piece of mind. I frequently measure the hitch to make sure it hasn't moved. So far it's been ok, and I feel better about it. I didn't know I had that kind of wieght on the toungue until I had already towed a few hundred miles.

have you guys heard of those timbrens, those are supposed to be good.
http://www.sixstates.com

have you guys heard of those timbrens, those are supposed to be good.
http://www.sixstates.com

I decided to install theese on my shop truck so I could give customers some real world feed back...And I do not like them, the truck rides very rough loaded.

With a light load the Timbrens are not fully compresed it will launch the ass end of the truck when it rebounds from a bump. And when loaded heavy the truck is pretty much a solid ride suspension. I was really disapointed I thought this would fit a lot of peoples needs but based on my own experience I don't feel comfortable recommending them.

If we ever get a slow day this truck is going air bags just like the other shop trucks.

I run the Hellwig 3500lb overloads, they install nice because they sit on top of the factory leaf pack. They work great when I haul my gooseneck and rig (12,000 lbs) but the problem is they are always on, I wish I would have gone with bags so when you are done pulling you get your softer ride back.

Just use weight distribution bars on your trailer and you won't need either.

I pull a 26' toy hauler with an 8" Fabtek and never have an issue. Use the 1,000 lb bars not the 750 lb ones.