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Author Topic: air bags on suspension  (Read 2368 times)

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Offline mr_hilux10

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air bags on suspension
« on: April 04, 2015, 09:05:20 PM »
I have just had a ome 2" suspension kit fitted on a lc 200
I had the medium springs installed as it generally carries no weight in the rear
I have a hawk which i tow and the car is slightly sagging in the rear
Question is should i consider bags or live with it
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Offline Diesel Power

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Re: air bags on suspension
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2015, 09:51:10 PM »
I have the exact same setup, bar the Hawk, just a Kimberley Caravan. I installed airbags to help with towing, but have found rear a bit bouncy due to the rear shocks not being valved heavily enough for the airbags. May go to an adjustable shock to have the best of both worlds?
When I had my suspension fitted the put the heavier valved shocks in rear but it was terrible to drive unladen, so I went the softer set, now they aren't suitable for the airbags.
If you go airbags you may require a heavier shock.
Regards
Angus
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Offline dazzler

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Re: air bags on suspension
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2015, 10:33:25 PM »
Can you run a weight distribution hitch with your hitch setup?

If so you could run that and disconnect when you need articulation.  Far better than airbags IMO.

Have fun.
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Offline krisandkev

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Re: air bags on suspension
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2015, 01:53:42 PM »
When you say 'medium springs' what weight do you mean?  I had the choice of 200. 400 or 600 kg and went with the 200 kg and find them perfect. Tow a 1.6 t camper and had airbags prior to my lift, had the airbags put back with the lift including spaces but after a few months one of the airbags split at the top and I realized they actually were not doing much so I had them removed. The 200 sits perfectly level with the camper on, no airbags.
I have been advised from people in the know that airbags sound a good idea but are not an ideal way to solve towing problems. If you rely on airbags for towing the problem arises if you get a leak/damage to the bags and you are a long way from somewhere to have them repaired/replaced.  (I know the same problem could be said about any part of the vehicle.)  But prior to our lift they were good for us.  Kevin
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Offline whitey

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Re: air bags on suspension
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2015, 05:51:37 PM »
No idea about the towing factor but I had them fitted when I bought my slide on, didn't change my suspension just had Pedder trackryder shockies fitted and mucked about with air pressures with the airbags on the different road conditions (15 to 30 psi) . Without them the Ranga wouldn't have done the job and we took it on some crap roads to Mt Dare and down through the Flinders on all road surfaces for over 3000k's .
Fully Laden we had nearly a ton on the tray... had a lot of negative feedback on them prior to fitting them but we would never have done it without bags and I know many who have similar set ups they swear by them ( if used properly in the right conditions ) In saying that I have a 90% dirt trip planned soon where I will be doing the springs up a tad so I will seek more advice without going to extremes... just remember to keep around 5 psi at all times (without load) so they don't bounce around flat in their mounts... bugger to find that occasional creaking it makes when low on air
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