Air bag lift numbers

[Harry Moto]

Gentlemen, I've searched my brains out but can't find what I'm looking for regarding the Air Lift helper bags. I'm interested in how much lift they produce at the minimum 5 psi. One fellow posted that he got about 3" lift at the maximum 35 psi, but I haven't found the minimum lift. Any comments about the effect on ride quality at the minumum pressure will be carefully considered as well.

History: I had the 2000 pound Air Lift bags on my Dakota with onboard air compressor and valves. That was a sweet system, lifting the truck maybe .5" or less at the minimum 10 psi, and jacking it up pretty good at 100 psi. Never measured, you wouldn't want to drive it like that (very hard with a lot of air and no load). I could dump the air, back my ball under the trailer hitch, and when I hit the fill switch the ball would rise into the socket all the way. Just latch it, let some air out, and drive away! (after retracting the unloaded jack)

Mission: the TB is to remain very poofy (comfort-ride suspension) and will be used off-road for exploring and shooting trips. Also, I have a 7x14 foot enclosed Pace trailer for my race bike, and the TB will be tasked with towing it. Tongue weight will probably be in the 3 to 5 hundred pound range, maybe a little more. I'm planning to use a 2.5" lift in the front and airbags in the back, but don't know what sort of lift I'll need to go with the bags. Tires will be 255/75x17, planning to use spacers. Thanks for any help you can supply!

[tbangert]

As far as helper bags go, you wont get any lift out of them. I have the airlift1000 bags in the rear for towing and rear load. I maintain about 8psi for normal conditions and when I hook up to a heavy trailer I adjust from there with my crappy walmart compressor (need a good one ) The bags sit inside the spring rather than in between the frame and leaf spring like your Dakota. The part # for AirLift airbags for the stock rear springs is 60779, for z71 springs you can find that number in someones build thread.

[Saxis]

The part # for AirLift airbags for the stock rear springs is 60779, for z71 springs you can find that number in someones build thread.

For Z71 Springs, part #60769.


What lift do you plan on doing? I'm using BDS 2" with a 1/2" shim in front, BDS 2" and Z71 in back. It gives my Envoy a bit of rake, but not much more than my old Air Ride air springs. I'm looking at AirLift bags also, and eventually would like to ditch the 1/2" shim for #87 or #88 front springs. I've been running with the minimal thread engagement on top of the strut from the shims, and it scares me... I've got the stock compressor and lines from the Air Ride, and plan to swap all that when I get the bags and compressor. Planning to use the Air Lift Quickshot with 2 gal. reserve tank for on-board air. Big improvement over the garbage stock compressor.

[Harry Moto]

Thanks much for the replies, all. A good forum is a huge resource!!

Saxis, I'm looking at 2 1/2" front, don't know whose yet; there's one on e-bay, but I'm not done researching. Probably 2" in back, keeping the OEM (poofy ride) springs. Airbags for towing. That's why I was asking, calculating total lift and all that. I don't want to stiffen anything, but I will need to tow the trailer, hence we're back to air bags.

With that, and then with the 255/75x17 tires adding 1 1/4", that's where I want to be. The offroading here includes various slopes and steep angles, going way up is a good way to end up inverted. And the soft ride helps keep the tires in contact. I don't go fast in the dez in a truck, at all. Too much $$$.

<ADDED> I get a Viair compressor and switch, haven't looked at where the tank will end up so I don't know what size I'm going to use, and valves from e-bay. A guy there called 'valves for projects' or something like that has a nice selection of Nupro looking valves for cheap. You can unscrew the stem to service them just like a nupro, so that's the only way I like to go. I'm wanting to use a big tank to make it easier to re-air the tires after exploring at 15psi.

[Saxis]

If you're wanting 2 1/2" lift at a good price, I'd probably hold out for MarkMC's new design. Sounds like he's working hard to get it ready before the first of the year, so not much of a wait now. I'm looking at heavier front springs because I'm interested in getting a new front bumper, since a deer ran into mine and busted it a little.

[Jon A]

With only 5 psi you'll get virtually no measurable lift and you won't notice them from a ride quality standpoint at all, crank them up to 35 psi and you'll get 1 1/4" or so with stock springs and the ride will get noticeably stiffer. I don't like running them that full unless the vehicle is heavily loaded or I'm towing a trailer or something; I typically run them in the 15-20 psi range which gives 1/2" or so lift and just firms the ride up a bit.

It's nice to have that when you need it, but if you want 1.5" or so of lift to go with your 2.5" front (which is about where I liked it) for daily use I'd suggest a 1-1.5" spacer in the rear to give most of the lift and a moderate amount of air in the bags to fine tune it to your preferences.

[Harry Moto]

Thanks, Jon, that's exactly what I was looking for. My plan is to get a 2.5 inch lift in the front and a 2 inch spacer lift in the back with the air bags normally at minimum pressure. Poofy ride, and all that. That they don't lift it or effect the ride at minimums is a key issue.

The cool thing about bags if you have a compressor/tank is when you NEED another inch or two you can air 'em up and put up with the stiff ride for the 2 minutes it takes to get over that section. And for towing, of course!