Airbag issues.

[Bugzilla46310]

Did you read the setting instructions? Recently purchased the Air Ride 5000. Will install them before spring. I believe they say to measure the rear height of the truck without the trailer, hook up the trailer and inflate until you are at the unloaded height. Do you have the duel feed or single feed? I do not think that should effect your issues, but worth asking. As for shocks, you’re wasting money replacing new shocks with another brand of new shocks. Shocks only dampen the movement. Two of my shocks were dead when I replaced them at 65,000 miles with KYB’s. Noticed better ride, but minimal. The most noticeable difference in my truck’s ride comfort came when I replaced the original Continentals with Cooper’s. It’s still a truck, but a better ride.

[TxLoser]

Never read the instructions. Just guessed. Lol. I did read them. Not smart enough to wing it. With a pre 2020 GM HD SRW, if I were to return the truck to the unloaded height I’d be towing with a large amount of rake to the vehicle. When loaded with the trailer it sits level or a hair south of level with zero bag pressure. GM didn’t figure out how to level a truck till a couple years ago. Ram and Ford come off the dealer lot leveled. I did individual lines to each bag. My thought was weight could be different from side to side, and also I could easily isolate which bag/line had an issue if one ever did. What are your thoughts on that?

I know tires and springs are a huge part of the equation, but the shocks did make a difference. The Bilstein 5100 shocks have a firmer valving than the 4600 series. The 5100’s are a slightly more off road oriented shock, and meant for a stock-3” lifted truck with a heavier unsprung weight due to potentially larger tire/wheel combos than stock. My truck is bone stock and rarely see’s even a dirt road, so the “stock replacement” 4600’s are what I should have purchased from the get go. A $160 mistake. My error for not doing more home work and digging the shiny 5100’s.

I think also, it’s subjective. I expect a rougher ride towing. An HD truck and 12K FW won’t ride like a Cadillac, but even my wife who’s not receptive to this stuff noticed. We drove some same roads on a recent trip as we did stock. She said she didn’t recall the roads being so bad. Roads were the same.

[eow]

You make no mention of tire pressure. They may be the source of your jarring if running at max psi.

If you have been on the CAT scales, use your actual axle weights and the tire load charts to determine the appropriate tire pressures.

Factory sticker gives max psi for max load capacity which you may be under with a 1 ton.

[TxLoser]

I start pressure on my Michelins as 75 cold. I need to find an old CAT scale printout from one of my trips and get a number. Truck isn’t far from MGVR when loaded for a trip. Door sticker has the default 80psi. I really need to get some chalk and see where I’m at.

On a side note, I just towed about 50 miles, hitting some highway construction and a road into town that was miserable last time. These shocks really do make it noticeably better. A bump’s a bump, but I’m not looking in the rear camera to see if any parts fell off. It was so bad, I was getting interior rattling I previously only heard on a rough dirt road. I’m quite happy I made the swap. Next I’ll hit the tire pressure and find that sweet spot.

[TxLoser]

Found an old weight ticket from same trailer with my 2500 I previously owned. Same exact truck minus two overload leaf springs. 6160 on the rear axle. I’ll call it 3100/ tire. According to the Michelin chart for my tire and size I’d be at 65-70 psi. That seems low. The 65 anyway. I’ll set 70 next time I tow. Bet that’ll get me in Goldilocks zone.

Thanks again for everyone’s input. Maybe someone can find this thread someday and it’ll be helpful.

[JFlightRisk]

Both of the Tundra TRDs we've had since 2004 came with the 4600s on them, and I got spoiled. When we traded the 2010 TRD on a 2016 F150 SCrew, I had to put new 4600s on it so it would ride and handle like the Toyotas did. The DW stopped saying "oh my!" when we hit a big dip or bump. That's when I knew it was worth it.

[TxLoser]

Post Christmas boredom tonight so I started looking much closer at this tire pressure thing. This is something I’ve really overlooked in the 5-6 years I’ve been pulling with an HD truck.

I’ve ignorantly followed the door jam sticker for the most part when towing. Even towing my previous HT. My GAWR for the rear axle is apparently limited by my tires as it’s the same number as my tires max load capacity at 80psi. I’m about 1000lbs under that towing. That’s a substantial amount as it relates to the recommended pressure. Same with the front. I’m 6-700 under that as well. Can drop those a little as well.

Thanks for turning on the lights for this ignorant poster.

[eow]

Looking forward to hearing how it rides after the tire pressure adjustment.

[TxLoser]

Last night I headed out last minute for some quarantine camping. The new shocks, 70lbs in rear tires, and 15 in the bags are my sweet spot. Ride was great. Thanks for all the suggestions here.

[eow]

Great to hear you found the right setup parameters.

[Dave W]

Happy to hear a happy camper agaom.


Question - wont 70 psig set off the TPMS dash warning light? It will with ,y Ford though can cancel it every start plus occasionally while driving.

[TxLoser]

My truck is a 2019 and on this and previous Chevy 1 ton, there’s no TPMS. Even at the highest trim level which mine is. On one hand I wish I had it, but on the other it’s nice to set it where I want without issue.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

My truck is a 2019 and on this and previous Chevy 1 ton, there’s no TPMS. Even at the highest trim level which mine is. On one hand I wish I had it, but on the other it’s nice to set it where I want without issue.

Interesting that GM feels that SRW one ton trucks are without TPMS. Even the past F350s I've owned had it though not sure the later ones do Sure would make my ride bob tailed smoother without it as way in the past used to down pressure my tires to about 65 psig