Air Bags

[dannymanson810]

Hey Guys - Bought my first Ram 1500 end of 2024. Ram Sport 2024 GT Night Edition ETorque. Have to say I love the appearance inside and out and also how it drives. Bit of a school boy error when I purchased it as didn’t realize the importance of payload when towing. Figured with a towing capacity of 11,000lb I would be good when it came to upgrading my travel trailer (Current one has a loaded weight of 4000lb) whilst I don’t overload the truck bed and have both a weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes it really doesn’t take much to reach my 1430lb payload capacity or go over. Considering having air bags fitted which I know will not increase payload but interested in peoples experience with how it improves overall towing performance and which ones are the best to get. I believe you can get built in compressors etc. someone also mentioned to look at Timbren Load stops so interested in any info on those either. Any feedback would be appreciated. As alluded to I really do like the truck and all for making it better if I can. Upgrading to a 3/4 tonne is not an option at this stage and even if I were to get a new travel trailer I doubt very much if the total loaded weight would exceed 6000lb

 

[Rebob0510]

Last year I bought a new 26' Camper and I went with Timber Grove air bags in my truck. (2020 1500 Hemi Crew Cab short box 4x4) I looked and looked and really like the fact there was no modification required to the truck to install them. Some kits require you to cut the part where the stock rear end bumper would go. I started out with Timbrens and while they did work the truck rode like a lumber wagon because it was just riding on those hard bump stops the whole time. The install of the timber grove bags was about an hour, You lower the spare tire down (helps with routing the airlines) mount the bags to the top where the stock rear end bumper went, Mount them to the bottom and route the lines. They come with a T fitting and I put the Schrader valve by the license plate on the rear bumper which makes it easy to fill/deflate them. I put about 40psi in the bags and it levels the truck out nice and rides very good also. I bought a cheap handheld 18v air pump from harbor freight and it will pump the bags up to 40psi easily, This way when you get to the campground you can let the bags back down to the normal 3-5psi and then air them back up when you get hooked up. I towed the camper from NY top Myrtle beach and back last march, Making the same trip this march. This is mine and my brother truck on the way back home from SC

 

[dannymanson810]

Last year I bought a new 26' Camper and I went with Timber Grove air bags in my truck. (2020 1500 Hemi Crew Cab short box 4x4) I looked and looked and really like the fact there was no modification required to the truck to install them. Some kits require you to cut the part where the stock rear end bumper would go. I started out with Timbrens and while they did work the truck rode like a lumber wagon because it was just riding on those hard bump stops the whole time. The install of the timber grove bags was about an hour, You lower the spare tire down (helps with routing the airlines) mount the bags to the top where the stock rear end bumper went, Mount them to the bottom and route the lines. They come with a T fitting and I put the Schrader valve by the license plate on the rear bumper which makes it easy to fill/deflate them. I put about 40psi in the bags and it levels the truck out nice and rides very good also. I bought a cheap handheld 18v air pump from harbor freight and it will pump the bags up to 4-psi easily, This way when you get to the campground you can let the bags back down to the normal 3-5psi and then air them back up when you get hooked up. I towed the camper from NY top Myrtle beach and back last march, Making the same trip this march. This is mine and my brother truck on the way back home from SC

Thank you

 

[LaxDfns15]

I second the Timber Grove bags. Super heavy duty, I've overloaded the bed and aired them up without issue. No modification other than pulling your bump stops out (they're just stuck in there), so if you ever want to remove them you just unbolt them. I have an onboard Airlift compressor to inflate/deflate mine as well as a valve in one of the bed holes by the tail light in case it ever fails. Only note is that on my truck the bags lift the back end about 1/2" with 5 psi in them measured by the Airlift compressor.