I am looking for some opinions. Due to health issues, I need to get my tow rig to ride better('99 3500 cummins qc).My plan is to leave the main leaf to locate the axle, and use spec'd bags as my primary suspension and add a traction bar. And before anyone says it. I am keeping my truck. I need it !

A guy on the diesel page has done something similar with his GMC 3500...

He had a shop remove around 4-5 leaves from the pack (not even 50% of them), and installed air bags. He reports the ride is SOOOO much better... he has a bad back as well...

No traction bar AFAIK

Ever consider air-suspending THE SEAT instead of the whole truck? Over-the-road truckers have used suspension seats for years... look into that, it might be a good bit cheaper and it won't compromize the carrying capacity of your vehicle.

Here's a few results from a quick google on air suspension seat:
http://www.minesupply.com/airsuspensionseat.htm
http://www.industrialseats.com/replacement-seat-555-bulldog.htm
http://www.buytruckstuff.com/product.asp?selcategory=16&p_gpID=35
http://www.milsco.com/products.htm
There are plenty more out there...

Prices are pretty reasonable:
$330 - http://www.industrialseats.com/economy-tractor-seats.htm#plow
$189 - http://www.industrialseats.com/economy-tractor-seats.htm
...but these are fairly cheap seats.

Some manufactures sell the suspension pillar separate:
http://www.tomcatmachineryinc.com/ultra.html
http://www.milsco.com/products/fa100.htm

With some decent fabrication skills, you could nab a seat suspension system from a heavy truck salvage yard and put a different seat on it. The height of the platform might not work well in a trail ri, but you could probably squeeze it into a pickup -- sorta depends on how tall you are, I guess.

Randii

Actually, the same guy had looked into that as well.. said the cab of a pickup wasn't tall enough...

try bull hauler seats or low rider air ride seats as they are called they have very little base under them so they are sutable for mounting in little trucks like 1 tons

take a look at on of the open door shots where you can see the seat http://www.largecarmag.com/geer.htm that how low bull hauler seats are

Actually, the same guy had looked into that as well.. said the cab of a pickup wasn't tall enough...
The cab-over imports sit the driver practically right on the wheel -- they needed a skinny suspension setup, and the market has responded. They may not have the stroke of the big boys, but the two I have drive still did a pretty decent job.

Click on some of those links -- there are low-boy models available.
http://www.milsco.com/products/fa100/fullfa100frontcad.jpg
...if you used a fairly flat-panned seat (more foam, less spring - Mastercraft, Corbeau, and others make 'em) with one of these, you could sneak it lower. You're gonna have to do custom work on the cab-mount, might as well minimize the hight at the seat interface at the same time.

Of course, if you're made of money, there's always Vision Research: 3402 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 355-4804... (800) 318-5417
Their website isn't clicking through for me right now: http://www.globalautonet.com/visionresearch.html

The VR seat was absolutely the nicest seat I ever sat in. Sit one of these for too long, and your ass won't let you sit anywhere else!

Randii

Originally posted by randii
Ever consider air-suspending THE SEAT instead of the whole truck? Over-the-road truckers have used suspension seats for years... look into that, it might be a good bit cheaper and it won't compromize the carrying capacity of your vehicle.
Randii

Compromize carring capacity!?!?! Concidering that all new big rigs( I beleive) are running air bags, how would using airbags hinder the load carring ability? I say go for it. I have pondered this, but don't really feel like modifying my 2002 P/U.

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out!