Need towing and air bag help

[Redneck_Randy]

I have a 2003 Z71 1500 that I will use to tow the new pontoon. Problem is the new trailer and boat is very tongue heavy and causes the back of the truck to go down 3 inches when connected. I can't move the winch tower back any more to try and even out the load. I need a set of air bags to help. I'm looking at this set

Firestone Air Bags

Any one have any experience with air bags ? Will this set help level out the truck when towing the pontoon ? If not, what would you recommend ?

Thanks
Randy

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

Yes I have get them don't bother waiting they will fix your problem, the only recommendation I will make is spend the extra money and get the compressor too so you can adjust the ride inside the cab.


JUST DO IT Mine are 11 years old this year and still work great

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

they will level the truck but they won't fix your problem because you don't have a problem..... sagging the rear a whopping 3" is very normal and only takes a few hundred lbs on a 1/2 ton truck....
Now I actually need bags but I had 3,000 lbs of tongue weight on my truck last week....

 

[180shabah]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

He may not technically have a problem, but why sag at all if you don't have to?

Been running bags on the Isuzu since '02 with zero complaints.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

didn't mean that bags would be a bad idea, BUT if he felt that he HAD to have them then he could possibly benefit from knowing otherwise

 

[Seon]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

Yep, it'll cure your sag.

 

[jkust]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

My last two Suv's and my current minivan have bags. They are a must to me for towing. They work excellent even in the van. Both those SUV's and the van the bags came standard along with the aircompressor (GM) so you never do a thing. My buddy added just the bags aftermarket and no compressor to his Toyota to tow his pop up tent trailer and the no compressor is a pain for him

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

I also have the firestone bags on my 05 1500 but I only leave about 10-15 pounds in them at all times but when I need them I add air with two valves I installed back by the trailer hitch with a portably car compressor. I also replaced my factory leaf springs with the same year 2500 springs.

 

[Overkill82k5]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

My truck is bagged too. I have a k3500 SRW 1ton already, but the bags help alot when I'm pulling the big gooseneck trailer. My dad gave me the bags, which were the manual, fill each one seperately with a valve mounted in the fenderwell, on the frame.

I installed air line to them that tee'd and ran it into the cab, under the dash. There I mounted a shrader valve under the dash that tee'd into a small manual valve. I can open the manual valve and bleed off the bag pressure while driving down the road.

I also added a cheap 12v tire inflator, that stays locked onto the shrader valve and just sits on the trans hump. I just plug in the cig lighter adapter to kick on the pump and it airs up the bags. Open the valve and it airs them down.

I think the whole deal (minus bags) cost me around $29 to setup. $20 was for the compressor from advance auto. I looked into the "made for" setups and I wasnt willing to spend that kind of money for the convenience. I did the homebrew thing and it's been working great for 5 years now.

Just figured I would share, for those that are chea.... ummmm... frugal, like me...

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

Thanks for the advice everyone. I ordered the Firestone bags.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

An equilizing hitch would be way safer than using bags.

With my 24' boat and no equilizing bars, my steering is very light and I get a lot of sway. With the equilizing bars on there, sway is gone and steering feels tight again. Bags won't help the light steering condition or the sway.

 

[gt]

Re: Need towing and air bag help

Save the paperwork that comes with the bags, and mark down the part number...

I ordered the Firestone bags for my old Trailblazer. When I got them, I was missing the rubber pads. A call to the 800# (on the paperwork), and they sent them right out.

I had them several months before I got around to installing.. After the install, found 1 bag had a leak between the collet and the bag. Another call, and they sent out a replacement bag in a couple days, no need to send the defective bag back... Lifetime warranty, and great customer support. After that, they were still good after 4 years, just sold the truck...

As previous posts, they did a great job. I tee-d mine, so I only had 1 valve to fill..

Good Luck...
Gary