POLYAIR BAGS for VXCruiser few more questions

[furnace]

I have ordered the air bags for my cruiser,there is just a couple of things i'm wondering.
I made enquiries which airbags i would need for a 3" lift and the information i got was use the bags for the 1"lift and use a 2" bag spacer,i told this works fine,not really familiar on how they work i'm just wondering if someone can explain where this spacer would go and if alters articulation..any other information would be appreciated..many thanks for the info so far given

[Windsock]

G'day Furnace,

Good for you for ordering these.

I have standard 110 LR coils in the rear of my truck and I have 1.5 inch thick spacer between the bottom of the airbag and the retainer bracket of the coils. This gives the bag something flat to press against when inflated and also protects the base from rubbing against the retainer bolts. I would imagine this is something like what they are talking about, a flat piece of hard foam like stuff to fill the extra gap. I could be wrong however as I haven't seen this system installed on anyone elses truck.

I cannot imagine it impacting on articulation at all while the airbags are deflated. Like I said in the last post, when I am wanting full articulation I hoist one wheel up in the air compressing the bag and then let the air out before sealing again, when the wheel is sitting flat again the bag is in a state of vacuum and frees up the coils to do all that they can do.

One other point, I have the air valve inflation points somewhere very handy and quite high so when and if you get stuck somewhere with them inflated you can access them easy for deflating or whatever. Hard to do if under mud if mounted low.

Hope that helps.

[furnace]

G'day Furnace,

Good for you for ordering these.

I have standard 110 LR coils in the rear of my truck and I have 1.5 inch thick spacer between the bottom of the airbag and the retainer bracket of the coils. This gives the bag something flat to press against when inflated and also protects the base from rubbing against the retainer bolts. I would imagine this is something like what they are talking about, a flat piece of hard foam like stuff to fill the extra gap. I could be wrong however as I haven't seen this system installed on anyone elses truck.

I cannot imagine it impacting on articulation at all while the airbags are deflated. Like I said in the last post, when I am wanting full articulation I hoist one wheel up in the air compressing the bag and then let the air out before sealing again, when the wheel is sitting flat again the bag is in a state of vacuum and frees up the coils to do all that they can do.

One other point, I have the air valve inflation points somewhere very handy and quite high so when and if you get stuck somewhere with them inflated you can access them easy for deflating or whatever. Hard to do if under mud if mounted low.

Hope that helps.

Thanks a heap again for the info and hints,its helped me no end.
I have to wait for about 2 weeks for them, there is a new agent in Auckland [ Traxion Disribution ltd ] they were very helpful indeed,they were waiting for stock.
Some of the people i enquired with were not very helpful at all and one told me it couldn't be done with the 3" lift,i had to e mail the manufacturers in Aussie and they put me back to Traxion who were great

[Windsock]

Just went out and took some pictures of the set up I have to maybe show better what I said above about the spacer over the spring retainers (see below). The material is like a hard compressed foam with almost a hard plastic finish. Quite durable. When I get a round to putting new springs in the rear I'll need to place another spacer in here and I reackon I'll cut up a camping mattress and zip-tie the discs together to get enough in there.



Next shot is from open road use with a deck full of firewood and bags inflated to 18psi. There is signs of only a centimetre of movement either side of the spring coil and this after coming accross river flats and using a bit of articulation. The load is on a flat deck so can move around quite a bit in the rough without these inflated. At the top right of the airbag is the canvas and polyurethane patch I had to do to repair a hole I got at the top of the bag.

[furnace]

Shit hot that shows me what i needed to know,i understand now about that spacer,thanks a heap for the photo's,do you gain any lift when inflated
I tow a 25ft caravan and also sometimes have a checker plate canopy which is quite heavy

[Windsock]

Yep, I get a bit of lift. The amount of lift is a function of the amount of inflation (stating the obvious perhaps).

At about 5-8 psi I notice the first signs of lift when all the sideways slack is taken and the bags inflate vertically. At about 13-15psi it is about 25-35mm, and at 18-20psi it is about 50mm. All a bit vague on exact lift as I have never really measured it but pretty sure it is no more than 50mm. I don't inflate the bags over 20psi unless by mistake. Be wary of inflating at service stations, the bags are a small volume and some service stations have a very big airflow.

[furnace]

Yep, I get a bit of lift. The amount of lift is a function of the amount of inflation (stating the obvious perhaps).

At about 5-8 psi I notice the first signs of lift when all the sideways slack is taken and the bags inflate vertically. At about 13-15psi it is about 25-35mm, and at 18-20psi it is about 50mm. All a bit vague on exact lift as I have never really measured it but pretty sure it is no more than 50mm. I don't inflate the bags over 20psi unless by mistake. Be wary of inflating at service stations, the bags are a small volume and some service stations have a very big airflow.

the compresser in my truck should be ok then with a bit of luck,a bit of lift would be good as i loose a bit of wheel travel with the flate deck

[Windsock]

You shouldn't have any worries with an onboard compressor I think as in the field I use a Supercheap 12v comp and only use the service station if necessary.

Are the polyair bags you've ordered coming with a accurate handheld pressure gauge (if you don't already carry one)? I have one with mine and find it very useful to make sure each bag is the same pressure otherwise you could be into an interesting ride.

[furnace]

You shouldn't have any worries with an onboard compressor I think as in the field I use a Supercheap 12v comp and only use the service station if necessary.

Are the polyair bags you've ordered coming with a accurate handheld pressure gauge (if you don't already carry one)? I have one with mine and find it very useful to make sure each bag is the same pressure otherwise you could be into an interesting ride.

Not to sure on that one,i'll ask when they let me know they have turned up.. ...cannot the 2 bags be connected together so only have to blown up from one point

[Windsock]

Not to sure on that one,i'll ask when they let me know they have turned up.. ...cannot the 2 bags be connected together so only have to blown up from one point

Hmmm, interesting idea. I have a separate inflation point for each of the two bags. If they were joined you'd get air moving from one bag to the other as each spring compressed or extended (I guess the pressure would remain the same throughout the system??). This would most likely allow better inflated articulation but what about clearance between tyre and deck? Is the purpose of the bags to give uniform and level lift? I think if the bags were connected you'd have a lot of movement and this in turn may remove the lift advangae you seek from them.

See what the manufacturers provide with your kit when it shows and keep us informed of how you go with installation and use.

[furnace]

Not to sure on that one,i'll ask when they let me know they have turned up.. ...cannot the 2 bags be connected together so only have to blown up from one point

Hmmm, interesting idea. I have a separate inflation point for each of the two bags. If they were joined you'd get air moving from one bag to the other as each spring compressed or extended (I guess the pressure would remain the same throughout the system??). This would most likely allow better inflated articulation but what about clearance between tyre and deck? Is the purpose of the bags to give uniform and level lift? I think if the bags were connected you'd have a lot of movement and this in turn may remove the lift advangae you seek from them.

See what the manufacturers provide with your kit when it shows and keep us informed of how you go with installation and use.

MANY THANKS WINDSOCK FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE,much appreciated