Airbag suspension. Anyone have experience?

[Mud Camper]

I'm considering using the load helper style airbag suspension in the rear of my Hilux to control the extra weight of a camper body. Firestone do a 'bolt on' unit called the Ride-Rite, which appears to be a great idea.

Anyone on the forum used this or a similar system to control heavy loads, and if so, any opinions on the suitability of airbags to control a heavy and high load like a camper?

[mudlva]

yep ran the poly airbags from the arb dealers in my 60 l/c for a couple of years carrying camping and work gear

they do work great for assisting in load carrying and resisting body roll as well

i found that they leaked ever so slowly so ended up installing a little air compressor in the back so i could easily adjust to what ever i was carrying

down fall was even when empty they did restrict wheel travel by quite a big margin

i ended up pulling them out and using a trailer instead but for whet they are designed for they do work well

just ensure they are installed correctly as they will be carrying load and it needs to be set up right

[Mud Camper]

Cheers for that. My rig will be permanently loaded, so empty should be no issue. It's carrying about 1500kg on the back wheels, which is getting up there I guess.

I looked for ARB bags on line, but couldn't spot them on the website. Any suggestions on brand names to look out for would be welcome.

[suzolla]

How much travel do you want, what is the minimum compresed height you need.
Have got some car airbags that may do the trick if you are able to fab up some mounts.
Cheers
Tim

[mudlva]

http://www.traxion.co.nz/product/details.asp?pid=20
i got the red units with the spring wrap

other manufactures

http://www.polyair.com.au/

http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/s ... ?cPath=379

[Mud Camper]

Thanks again Mudlva - sites are great help.

Cheers for the offer on the car bags Suzolla. Best I can make out most car style bags are only good for about 450kg. I think I need more like double that, so might have to go with the double bellows units that are meant to be good to 1100kg each.

I've got a message in to the Firestone dealer in Aus who seem to make the bags for all the main suppliers, should have their opinion on suitabilty soon. In teh mean time, any opinions from those who have tried them would be very welcome.

[tweake]

Cheers for that. My rig will be permanently loaded, so empty should be no issue. It's carrying about 1500kg on the back wheels, which is getting up there I guess.

1500kg load? thats a darn heavy camper. if so you will just break the chassis especially with airbags.
plenty of pics around of broken chassis due to overloading with airbags.
with a permanent load bags are pointless. cheaper and better just to get the springs reworked.
bags are good if your changing loads all the time and you don't overload the ute.

[Mud Camper]

Thanks for that..... I think! 1500kg is the rear end weight all up, ute, camper and unsprung weight, so it's not all on the chassis. Best I can ascertain the GVM on a Hilux is 2500 to 2700 (model dependent) so I'm heavy, but not over the top. At least I hope so!

[tweake]

what hilux? i assume single cab?
any idea of the weight of the camper. going to sit it on the deck or permanent build on the ute?

[Mud Camper]

It's a permanent build, with an extended chassis and an all alloy camper body.

The Hilux itself is a hybrid. It's a 1984 chassis, with a 1990 single cab, a small block chevy, an R series box and bigger rearsprings (1 extra 7mm leaf added and re-set).

The whole rig tips the scales at just under 2400kg dry, (front end 1030kg, rear end 1350kg) Add water, LPG, a bit of food, LOTS of beer and I'm banking on 2500kg on the road with 1500 of that over the rear wheels.

[tweake]

nice

sounds like your under max weight, your added leaf may do it on its own. i do not think you need to go fit airbags, just tweak the springs to suit. spend the $$$ on some good shocks.

[callum007]

I had them in my old cruiser. good at doing what they were designed for. Like others have said, you sound like you will have a constant load so maybe a good set of heavy springs be better for your application.

Thats not that heavy for a hilux. every couple of months I end up having 3200kg in my work hilux.. yes I know the gvm is 2760. then add the trailer of just over 2000kg. might be why I broke a 12000lb winch 2 weeks sgo when I got bogged.

[tow99]

we have a work ute with the firestone airbags on the back and they work good weighs in at about 3t.good quality kit.but the idiots didn't change the shocks to suit and now its like driving a pogo stick.

[tnr]

call carl at west coast hoppers he stocks the universal air range i got a load assist set up for my hilux worked well

[firestonecruiser]

why contact australia for them, we do them here in nz. contact jim hine at bridgestone nz and he will sort you out. otherwise give me the specs on wat bag u want and i can talk to jim.

cheers jono

[Mud Camper]

Cheers for that- I spoke to Bridgestone a month or two ago and they told me NZ don't do anything in the ute range, only trucks. The guy I talked to, may even have been Jim, directed me to Airbag Man in Aussie.

If I got the wrong advice, I'd be pleased to hear about it. I've saved the pennies and am ready to order in the next week or so. Rather my cash stayed here!

[suzolla]

If you are stuck on using Air Bags, I would have thought that Car Air bags would be fine as they are only assisting the existing springs, not carrying the full weight.
Do you want a complete bolt on kit or can you do a bit of fab work.
I have the following
2600lb Capacity 500psi.
DIAMETER 7.25"
2.80" Compressed,
9.50" Extended
6.7" Travel
#2600 Double Convoluted air bag

or
#2600 Double Convoluted air bag
3049lb Capacity 600psi.
DIAMETER 7.25"
2.80" Compressed,
12.0" Extended
9.2" Travel

Obviously you would not pump them upto 5 or 600 psi, it just means that when you go over a bump and the air bags are compressed they can handle the increased pressure.
Cheers
Tim