Airbag suspension - yes or no?

[Eggman]

Hi, I am a tradie and I'm in need of a suspension upgrade. I know everyone on here loves ultimate suspension, and I have got a quote from Brendan and probably will go down that path.

However, a few of my tradie mates have had air bags put in and rekon they are a good cheaper alternative. I have read a bit on here about Airbags causing bent chassis so I am somewhat hesitant to have them on my triton.

So my question is are air bags a really bad idea??

[4wd26]

You have a MN, you have a steel tray
You are a tradie who will occasionally overload

Airbags are a really bad idea

[Froggy]

Airbags can be useful when towing etc to level the vehicle and trailer.
They should never be used to support the full weight of the load or as a cheaper alternative to a suspension upgrade suitable for the the load. Especially in Dual Cab utes where the limits of the chassis are already being tested.

[har05l]

No

[al coholic]

If you are loaded with tools all the time Brendan should be able to sort out a heavy duty leaf spring solution without using airbags.

Airbags aren't the only contributing factor to a bent chassis at the end of the day though, it's more overloading of the vehicle with too much weight behind the axle.
I do know one member here however who had ultimate successfully install airbags without issue. Done outback to hardcore 4wd trips and everything in between

Regardless, if you think you can load 400 - 500kg or more onto your tray and be right, you can forget it. You would be better off with a tool trailer

There are other things to consider like GVM and rear axle weight (1800kgs) which all comes into it as well.

[4wd26]

Airbags can be useful when towing etc to level the vehicle and trailer.
They should never be used to support the full weight of the load or as a cheaper alternative to a suspension upgrade suitable for the the load. Especially in Dual Cab utes where the limits of the chassis are already being tested.

nope not even then, in a triton IMO- way too many mishaps.

[Kegsy]

Popcorn

[ag9111]

I do know one member here however who had ultimate successfully install airbags without issue. Done outback to hardcore 4wd trips and everything in between

Hmmm. Think thats me.

Yes I run airbags with ultimate suspension but run no where near GVM.
I only use them when
I tow a fairly large heavy trailor that I can load so only about 60kg down weight. ON ROAD
On outback trips when heavily loaded in the tub, at about 6 to 8 PSI
When carrying 500kg plus in the tub at work ON ROAD.
All other times I run about 3 PSI to keep them inflated. Only needs about 10 to 12 PSI to level out.
I have heard stories of +20PSI

DO NOT USE THEM TO CARRY WEIGHT, ONLY TO ASSIST THE SUSPENSION

Although I have an MN, I run an ML tub
I also have a Canopy, long range tank and on board water so I am already nearly 200kg heavier than most vehicles

It can be done, but very carefully

[sam]

NOOOooooooo .

[fridgie]

The cons outweigh pros.

As Ag said it can be done but extreme care is required.

[Eggman]

Cheers guys, looks like I will be saving up my pennies and getting ultimate

[snowman]

if you were to do a risk analysis the probability would be low but the consequences are massive!

remember if they are used incorrectly and do damage it is a bent chassis. immediate write off.

So on a risk analysis matrix that would be in a 'don't do it' zone.

[Kegsy]

Snowy just described my days work

[Hymie]

I'm one of the very few like ag. I run airbags when towing a full size van only level out the ride and assist the suspension. Usually 20psi when towing 5psi when not.

But who ever said it was a cheap alternative? Mine cost about $1000 fitted so when you consider it is only on the rear you can easily upgrade the rear leaves and shocks for less than that.

But back to the air bags being a bad idea, as a tradie I would say yes they are a bad idea, too easy to overload and when my air bags are able to hold 100psi that is just crazy talk.

But if you know your loads weight and you are diligent with the pressures and can limit yourself to use them only when necessary, then yes they are great and money well spent including offering fuel saving by keeping the van and ute sitting squarely on the road.

I know there are those that swear against them but all the facts are what is required not blaming airbags for bending a chassis but blaming incorrect use and operator error.

[rossx]

Hi as a newbe just come back from Pedders who has suggested both 350kg springs and foam cell shocks allround plus air bags am looking at $3300 no change .My truck and i have just completed 10000 k of tough going and lots of bottoming out on departure and driving a bucking horse.
The unit is also required to tow a caravan when required with a 175 kg ball weight putting the GVM well and truly tested .
What suggestions
Rossx

[rossx]

Thanks will do located in ACT but will be down in melbourne in a couple of weeks

[Cowboy Dave]

Ultimate are closer to you than Melbourne.

Air bags can be a goer but are also bad news if done wrongly or for the wrong reasons as recounted elsewhere in this thread.

$3,300 does sound a bit rich, but then I gather air bags aren't all that cheap.

If you don't get airbags the ultimate exercise should leave you with a fair chunk of change from what you've been quoted thus far.

[jmos]

Ultimate suggested airbags in my case,
the occasional caravan trip, under loaded but needed some levelling out.
Havn't purchased yet, got some saving/begging to do

From Ultimate
I have compared your vehicle details and driving conditions against our database and have put together a suspension set-up to suit your requirements. This suspension upgrade will vastly improve the comfort, handling and load carrying ability of the vehicle, both empty and when towing.

On the front, I recommend our Raised Heavy Duty coils. These coils will work perfectly with the bull-bar and up-coming winch, supporting these accessories at approximately 40mm over standard height without sacrificing comfort. In the rear, I would run with a modified Comfort leaf spring and Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags. This set-up will provide the best of both worlds; Great comfort when the vehicle is empty without compromising the load-carrying requirements for when towing. This will not increase the actual mass able to be towed, but will allow the vehicle to handle these weights much more efficiently.

I then recommend we match these springs with our Aussie Ryder Twin Tube Gas shock absorbers. The Twin-Tube design is reliable and robust, having proven itself across some of the harshest tracks in the Australian Outback. These shocks are completely re-buildable and, as such, we are able to customise the valving to suit the spring rates used on your vehicle. These shocks also come with a 2yr/80,000km warranty (whichever comes last).

[rossx]

thanks have put a request for Ultimate to review my needs will wait and see what they suggest.

[AussieTriton]

Yes to airbags. I plan on fitting them at a later date, and I will wire/plumb a permanent compressor to them with a bleed valve to control the pressure from the dash.

[tritonvx80]

Yes to airbags, and they can be a real suspension upgrade. Airbags can also be very good for on road handling improvement. I use them also in the front, to level out a bit the heavy bullbar and winch. It makes my car handle much better on tarmac. And even if you dont overload your tray they can help a lot by keeping your car straight. I use airbagman.

[viking shippy]

I have ultimate suspension and I tow nothing over 2t
My truck rides fine and doesn't..give me any ride height problems
I thinks save your money...after all...bog standard suspension and airbags you will eventually need to replace spring and pistons...

[joe_da_hoe]

airbags = bad

[ag9111]

In that situation, yes. But that is way overloaded and taken the vehicle massively beyond its limits.

Airbags are not bad if used properly

Don't give then a bad rap because some people don't use them properly

[srb]

Ag9111 is 100% correct on this!

In the beginning i was always one totally against airbags...
I always thought air bags were for HD load carrying applications.
And this is where people go so wrong and brake their chassis.

If used purely as a leveling aid for e.g towing caravans on the highways or carring a small loads to the tip on occasional basis, then you won't have a drama.

Air bags are not such a good idea used in HD applications carring at max GVM over sand dunes or outback tracks!