Are airbags worth the hassles?

[Heath]

Just an off the wall question, after watching an "arse dragging ute" today that lifted and lowered its self a few times it got me thinking...

I figured we all want a lift for off roading and to fit the tyres and give better clearance underneath, but for most of the time a lift isnt required (even to fit bigger rubber). And dont the lifts we have actually contribute to wear in the drive train (bad cv angles etc). If we follow this train of thought wouldnt air bag suspension be a perfect solution?

It can be at exactly the height you want. Low for road stuff and higher for off road and fully jacked for the gnarly stuff. After all how much of our driving actually utilses the full range of motion in the suspension cycle? Rover do it so I wonder if it would be worth considering. I guess the price and longevity would be the problem.

[badnuz]

if you ran bags the risk of puncturing(sticks etc) them off-road, rendering them un-useable would be a constant concern i think?

[Taz]

An be prone to popping? I don't know what they focus on in the design but I would think that reaching full articulation on them all the time couldn't be good?

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

I dont think artic would be a problem they use airbgs in crawlers in the states alot and seem fine when setup rite, but here in NZ offroading conditions i think you would get punctures.

[juz]

All spot on comments and most airbagged vehicles I know of blow lines/bags often anyway,without involving mud sticks rocks etc.

[Pedro]

All spot on comments and most airbagged vehicles I know of blow lines/bags often anyway,without involving mud sticks rocks etc.

been running air bags for about 4 years, never had one puncture, or air line burst, if lines are run withen spec then line should not blow, also run lines where they are protected

pedro

[Taz]

I dont think artic would be a problem they use airbgs in crawlers in the states alot and seem fine when setup rite, but here in NZ offroading conditions i think you would get punctures.

Well there ya go I guess they have a better range than I knew of, which isn't much!

[rokhound]

If you are looking into forced articulation systems, then hydraulic should also be on the list, none of the issues that apply on low pressure air bag systems, but you do have high pressure hydraulics that need looking after. Just another line of thought anyway.......