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11-10-2019, 03:40 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Kingston, TN
Posts: 1
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Air Lift air bags for GMC 2500
Anyone out there have experience with adding Air Lift Load Lifter 5000 to their vehicle? Our 2015 GMC diesel 2500 HD Denali SRW does a great job of towing our Brookstone 5th wheel but on some roads we get some hobby-horsing. I have talked to someone who went from a motorhome to fifth wheel, had 3/4 ton Dodge SRW I think, added the air bags to smooth out the ride, was pleased with results.
Does anyone out there have experience with this, the Air Lift 5000 is the specific product (off Amazon) I am looking at.
Am curious too if it smooths out the "normal" ride too, when not towing.
Thank you for looking. Any responses appreciated, plus and minus.
Have a blessed day!
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11-10-2019, 06:21 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,443
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Might try new shocks first, Bilsteins are very good for towing. You might also check your pin weight percentage, it should be in the 20% to 25% range.
__________________
Russ & Paula, Portland, OR. The Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW Aisin 4X4 14,000# GVWR.
2005 Keystone Copper Canyon 293FWSLS Rear Kitchen 12,360 GVWR
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11-10-2019, 09:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,824
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I recently added a set of Airlift 5000's with in cab compressor control to my P32 chassis motorhome and found it did a good job of helping out with ride on poor pavement, and in cross wind conditions. The in cab compressor control I found is helpful in fine tuning, in my case I found the best ride occurs around 60 psi, and optimal stability seems to occur around 80 psi, so with the in cab controls I can make adjustments to line up with road conditions. I can't say if they will help with your issues, but they certainly have helped with mine.
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
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11-10-2019, 11:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,500
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I have used them for years they work very well and are easy to install . Worth the money.
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11-10-2019, 03:52 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 683
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Also have had multiple trucks with them for over a decade. Love them. Also agree the wireless remote compressor is great. About $1000 installed for the whole setup here locally.
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11-10-2019, 07:29 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1,211
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Get better shocks and don't waste your money on air bags. They won't stop "hobby-horsing". For what you want to do with them, air bags are a mistake.
And yes, I've had them before. On several trucks.
__________________
2014 F350 DRW 6.7L CC FX4 King Ranch Ruby Red Metallic 158,000 Miles 4,450 Hours
2018 Cherokee Grey Wolf 29TE | Because I'm home, no matter where I am.
2018 Honda CB650F | Because the truck leans the wrong way when I turn.
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11-11-2019, 10:50 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,596
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If you're near max on the RAWR then shocks won't help. Bags will stiffen the rear end up keeping it from bouncing up and down. Shocks are always a good investment but only help when the suspensions not maxed out.
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11-12-2019, 11:50 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 683
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I concur with Cumminsfan. I have new Bilstein shocks and tow near max payload frequently.
When crossing long bridges with poor slab stepping the Airlifts absolutely can cut down or eliminate bounce. Just add air until smooth and after the bridge I hit my preset button and return to normal pressure. Works great.
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11-13-2019, 05:17 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2,951
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn5thwhl
Anyone out there have experience with adding Air Lift Load Lifter 5000 to their vehicle? Our 2015 GMC diesel 2500 HD Denali SRW does a great job of towing our Brookstone 5th wheel but on some roads we get some hobby-horsing. I have talked to someone who went from a motorhome to fifth wheel, had 3/4 ton Dodge SRW I think, added the air bags to smooth out the ride, was pleased with results.
Does anyone out there have experience with this, the Air Lift 5000 is the specific product (off Amazon) I am looking at.
Am curious too if it smooths out the "normal" ride too, when not towing.
Thank you for looking. Any responses appreciated, plus and minus.
Have a blessed day!
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I've heard of Brookstone and I think they are heavy 5ers, full-time RVs? I'd suspect you are at or likely well over payload and rear axle capacity of the truck. You can band-aid it with bags, but it isn't the proper fix.
__________________
2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD gas 6.0 dually
1994 K1500 Suburban shop mule and plow truck
2006 Lakota 29RKT 5th wheel
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11-13-2019, 05:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 12,995
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Brookstone 5th wheels are the best, top of the line Coachmen 5th wheel. They compete with other manufacturers top of the line 5th wheels.
So they are the heaviest trailer that Coachmen makes.
I do not know if air bags will help or not but I think any bucking has to do more with the roadway vs the truck/trailer. I say this because my rig was nice and smooth most of the time. But every once in awhile the spacing of the highway joints matched oddly with the wheels on my truck and trailer and I would get that bucking you are trying to eliminate with air bags. My thought is air bags will not eliminate that completely.
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11-13-2019, 03:30 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,345
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Try shocks but with a stiffer valving rate. Call bilstein or rancho for help. you need more damping in the rebound of the shock. To absorb the bump. If you need air bags. thats putting a band aid on a bleeding wound. If you need bags imo you need more truck.
__________________
08 GMC C-4500 w/Custom bed. 8.1L
45ft 2007 Teton Reliance Experience XT-4
TSLB Trailer Saver w/ 3rd airbag
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11-15-2019, 09:13 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,052
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Shocks are unlikely to do much of anything for your towing experience (assuming the ones in place aren't shot) Air bags will likely help cut down on excessive/rythmic bouncing between truck and trailer. Basically, they stiffen the hinge between the truck and trailer. I've had them with several truck/trailer combos and really like them. While the bags don't increase the payload capability of the truck they do make towing up around the max much more manageable.
The bags will pretty much do nothing for your ride when not towing as they are in parallel with your strong rear suspension. Some people report an improvement but I believe that's often just them wishing and thinking they notice some improvement.
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11-15-2019, 09:30 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 70
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Air bags will smooth out your ride a lot better than shocks. I’ve been using them for years.
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11-15-2019, 09:41 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,100
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Put a pair on our previous motor home, Chevy G30 21' Winnie.
Night and day difference and completely adjustable. I did not opt for an onboard compressor. Bought a combo jump pack/air compressor and ran them about 50psi. Also added a Hellwig sway bar for better wind stability.
As others have stated new shocks are a good idea as well.
Air bags should never be used as a "fix" for exceeding gvwr or gvwcr.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
04 Jeep Wrangler TJ
"On the road to find out..."
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