Posted 2008-01-20 12:32 PM (#74866) Subject: Ride Rite Air Bags
Member
Posts: 38 Location: marcola, oregon
I took my pickup and trailer to Les Schwab the other day to check the air pressure in the tires. While the young man was at it, I asked him to also check the air bags (I have Ride Rite air bags on the rear). I have been keeping them inflated to the minimum required pressure of 5 lbs. He inflated them to 25 lbs each (he said air slowly seeps out anyway). I'm wondering if he filled them too much and if I should let some of the air out? What is a good pressure to keep it at? I pull a 3H GN trailer with one or two horses. Thanks, appreciate any input!~Ola!
Posted 2008-01-20 4:51 PM (#74887 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
I don't have air bags but from what I've read, you should use appx. 1 psi for each 50 lbs of extra load. For example, if your GN hitch pin weight is 1500 lbs, you should put about 30 psi in the air bags. If it's 2500, use 50 psi, etc.
25 psi should be about right for 1250 lbs. The pin weight of your empty GN is probably not too far from that, I would guess.
Posted 2008-01-20 5:38 PM (#74891 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I have the Friestone ride rite air bags. I keep mine at 16-20psi. And yes my air does leak out over a couple of months.
Too much air and the truck rides rough. Not enough air and the weight of the trailer make sthe back end lower.
Hook your trailer up and see how much air it takes to level the truck out.
I pull a 4 hourse LQ that weighs 16,000 lbs loaded , but I use the air bags more when I am pulling my equipment trailer. It's a bumper pull and with a mini excavator or skid loader is around 13,000-14,000lbs and I feel it much moer as a bumper pull than my LQ on the Gooseneck.
Posted 2008-01-20 10:53 PM (#74913 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Painted Horse is right. Inflate your air bags so that your truck is sitting in it's normal unloaded position. That is when the truck is in it's optimal level as designed by the engineers for driving. If your front end is up to high your steering and braking are compromised. If the back end is to high, traction and rear braking will be distorted. A change either way will also affect the ride and fuel economy.
Posted 2008-01-20 10:55 PM (#74914 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Painted Horse is right. Inflate your air bags so that your truck is sitting in it's normal unloaded position. That is when the truck is in it's optimal level as designed by the engineers for driving. If your front end is up to high your steering and braking are compromised. If the back end is to high, traction and rear braking will be distorted. A change either way will also affect the ride and fuel economy.
Posted 2008-01-21 11:50 AM (#74945 - in reply to #74915) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Member
Posts: 38 Location: marcola, oregon
Thanks for everyone's help! The air bags were already on my pickup when I got it so I didn't have instructions. I'll add "check air bag pressure" to my list! Ola!
Posted 2008-01-21 11:34 PM (#75028 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Veteran
Posts: 285
We put air bags on our truck last year. Hubby said they have made a huge difference. But he did say when we just drive down the road without the trailer and there is still a lot of air in the bags, the truck seems to drive more roughly. he will just let the air out.
Posted 2008-01-21 11:53 PM (#75031 - in reply to #75028) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
Where do you get air bags and who installs them? I wonder if my truck needs them... I pull a 2 H LQ gooseneck and my truck squats a little when I am loaded up. I drive a 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado 4x4 with xtra cab, 6.0L with tow package. It seems to pull fine but the truck and tires do squash down when I lower the trailer on to the ball.
If you are good with mechanical tools you can install them yourself fairly easily. They will bolt on with many trucks. Just make sure they don't rub on anything or they might pop. If you want to get them installed, call around to some of your local RV or trailer dealers.
Posted 2008-01-22 7:30 AM (#75040 - in reply to #75031) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
My ford dealer would have installed them when I bought the truck. But he wanted a couple of hundred bucks for the job, So I took the truck home and put them on myself. It takes about 90 minutes to install.
I would suspect any place that installs Gooseneck hitches could install the Air bags
Posted 2008-01-22 9:01 AM (#75048 - in reply to #74866) Subject: RE: Ride Rite Air Bags
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
We also have a set of the ride-rite's on one of our rigs. It's a 2001 F-250 and it mainly pulls our 3 hrs. L.Q. wagon. I keep 50 psi in the air bags which seems to do a great job, yet they're not so hard that I feel as though I need to decrese pressure without the trlr. 50 psi works good for us all the time. And yes, they will slowly loose air pressure, but a word to the wise, if you do put some air in them yourself... do NOT leave the air chuck connected for very long! They fill up WAY quicker than a tire, which takes some getting used to. A short 2 second burst of air will be a good place to start, and go from there. I also installed mine myself. Not too hard, just want to make sure you have GOOD drill bits and check then double check for wires, hoses, lines, etc. on the inside of your frame rail before you drill. Talk to y'all later...
P.S. http://www.truckspring.com/ ussualy has some pretty good deals with free shipping, that's where I ordered mine from.
Ride Rite Air Bags
