Air bag assist

[frosty]

Anyone running air bag assist on their truck? I put some air bags on the truck and had planned to just run a manual fill setup. But after buying a small compressor I am planning on running it now.

I am planning on buying a single gauge with dual needles. My questions are on the switches needed. I'd like to run an individual switch per rear bag to air up/down as needed. Not really sure what to buy though.

I'd like to keep the setup as easy and simple as possible. Thinking of a power switch for the compressor and a switch for each of the bags. I can power on the compressor when needed then air up the bags from there.

Anyone have any suggestions, experience with these setups, want to tell me to pound sand or?

[Kack]

most setups have a button to run the compressor to air up both bags. Don't usually see a setup to run individual bags. There is a 12v momentary solenoid dump that lets the pressure out when you push a button

[ehall]

Feel like fabbing? Cadillacs from 85-95 (ish) had a simple level control with a sensor under the rear seat that trips a compressor under the hood. This was a precursor to the more complex ride control systems used today and is pretty straightforward. I have one in my 85 DeVille. If you want go this route don't try to fake it with a mercury switch--the Caddy switches are very slow to react so they don't activate over every bump.

[frosty]

most setups have a button to run the compressor to air up both bags. Don't usually see a setup to run individual bags. There is a 12v momentary solenoid dump that lets the pressure out when you push a button

The reason for running the bags individually is for load carrying purposes. Mainly when carrying a camper or load in the bed. When cornering or in windy situations one bag compresses and pushes air to the other bag making the roll worse. From what I can tell in searching on this no heavy rigs (buses, dump trucks, semis, etc) run the bags together. I cant say I'll ever carry a camper or anything but figured I'd plumb them separate to start with.


Feel like fabbing? Cadillacs from 85-95 (ish) had a simple level control with a sensor under the rear seat that trips a compressor under the hood. This was a precursor to the more complex ride control systems used today and is pretty straightforward. I have one in my 85 DeVille. If you want go this route don't try to fake it with a mercury switch--the Caddy switches are very slow to react so they don't activate over every bump.

So its an automatic load leveling setup? I know I can get one like the big rigs use and set it up at the ride height I want and it'll take care of itself. Problem is that I'd rather control it myself due to a compressor that is probably a bit smaller than it should be for this application. At the very least it doesnt have a high duty cycle nor do I have an air tank to help.

But if they have switches and whatnot then it might be worth a trip to see what can be salvaged to run.

[rwolf]

Couldn't you put a check valve in the line to prevent the transfer between bags?

[frosty]

Couldn't you put a check valve in the line to prevent the transfer between bags?

I dont think I would be able to air them down then as there is only a single fill/dump fitting per bag.

[dan58]

Interesting idea. Does your truck squat with a trailer attached?

[Grason]

i have some on my truck, there is a little guage and switch in the cab so i can fill em up and let air out from inside.

[ehall]

So its an automatic load leveling setup? I know I can get one like the big rigs use and set it up at the ride height I want and it'll take care of itself. Problem is that I'd rather control it myself due to a compressor that is probably a bit smaller than it should be for this application. At the very least it doesnt have a high duty cycle nor do I have an air tank to help.

But if they have switches and whatnot then it might be worth a trip to see what can be salvaged to run.
The leveler only kicks in when needed and unless you have a big leak somewhere the air bags should act pretty much the same as the Cadillac air struts. The old Cadillac ELC is three independent sub-systems: a sensor that detects load by monitoring the relative angle of a rear control arm, a light-duty air pump and the associated parts, and a pair of air struts in the rear.

The sensor itself attaches to the body, with a plastic arm that attaches to the control arm. When weight is added and the back of the vehicle drops down, the plastic lever moves the sensor switch to the "up" position which causes the compressor to engage until the arm is back to neutral. When weight is removed and the back rises up, the lever moves the sensor switch the the "down" position which activates an exhaust solenoid. The sensor also incorporates a 15-30 second timer so that it does not engage over every speed bump or pothole.

If you wanted to incorporate this into an automatic system you would need to fabricate a lever (probably easier to buy a truck-specific sensor), or if you wanted a manual setup you could just feed the sensor output to a pair of indicator lights (high and low). I have the FSM if you want the wiring and whatnot.

[frosty]

Interesting idea. Does your truck squat with a trailer attached?

It did after the D60s and bigger tires went on the Jeep. It doesnt know that the bags are in. :D I dont have overloads though and I am sure the springs are a bit tired in general.


i have some on my truck, there is a little guage and switch in the cab so i can fill em up and let air out from inside.

Bought with the kit? Did you put it together yourself? If so then what parts did you use? Telling me you have them does me little good with the complete lack of info given. :flipoff2:


The leveler only kicks in when needed and unless you have a big leak somewhere the air bags should act pretty much the same as the Cadillac air struts. The old Cadillac ELC is three independent sub-systems: a sensor that detects load by monitoring the relative angle of a rear control arm, a light-duty air pump and the associated parts, and a pair of air struts in the rear.

The sensor itself attaches to the body, with a plastic arm that attaches to the control arm. When weight is added and the back of the vehicle drops down, the plastic lever moves the sensor switch to the "up" position which causes the compressor to engage until the arm is back to neutral. When weight is removed and the back rises up, the lever moves the sensor switch the the "down" position which activates an exhaust solenoid. The sensor also incorporates a 15-30 second timer so that it does not engage over every speed bump or pothole.

If you wanted to incorporate this into an automatic system you would need to fabricate a lever (probably easier to buy a truck-specific sensor), or if you wanted a manual setup you could just feed the sensor output to a pair of indicator lights (high and low). I have the FSM if you want the wiring and whatnot.

Cool. I guess I need to head over the Crazy Rays and take a look around. Let me think on it and if I need the FSM I'll get back to you.

[dan58]

It did after the D60s and bigger tires went on the Jeep. It doesnt know that the bags are in. :D I dont have overloads though and I am sure the springs are a bit tired in general.

I bet it rides a helluva lot better than mine does. I'd bet a dump truck with a milk crate seat is about the same ride. :mikey:

I'm just happy to see that a rig with 60s was on your trailer. :cheers:

[frosty]

I'm just happy to see that a rig with 60s was on your trailer. :cheers:
:lol: Still got a ways to go sadly. Lack of time and money lately has put a damper on things.

[Ripster]

I have air bags on the back of mine, but I was to cheap/lazy so two schrader valves control mine mounted below the tailgate.
I tow with quite a bit of tongue weight and am very pleased with how well the bags handle the weight.

[frosty]

I have air bags on the back of mine, but I was to cheap/lazy so two schrader valves control mine mounted below the tailgate.
I tow with quite a bit of tongue weight and am very pleased with how well the bags handle the weight.

Yeah I thought I'd just leave the manual valves on mine till I found a compressor I figured I'd try. I also put my fill valves inside the fuel filler door. Out of site and out of the weather.

[Grason]

It did after the D60s and bigger tires went on the Jeep. It doesnt know that the bags are in. :D I dont have overloads though and I am sure the springs are a bit tired in general.



Bought with the kit? Did you put it together yourself? If so then what parts did you use? Telling me you have them does me little good with the complete lack of info given. :flipoff2:



Cool. I guess I need to head over the Crazy Rays and take a look around. Let me think on it and if I need the FSM I'll get back to you.




they came on the truck, hense i did not install. they work ill try and dig up some info for ya guy.

[CrawfishStu]

I had a set on a previous truck, well explorer. I had everything hooked up all nicely. Dual guages etc. I had problems with it leaking etc. When you let them go down to nothing they tear pretty easily. I wound up with two valves that I could manually pump up and I was very happy with that setup. Dead simple and reliable.

I never had them hooked together so I can't help you with that.

I have a set in the shop to go on the ram right now though.

[Shane]

dan, you should see what mine rides like empty :D