Has anyone air bagged one of these trucks yet???? - Diesel Forum

Supercab79 · 12-23-2007, 10:14 AM

I'm Pull a 5th wheel camper with my 97 crew cab and after Timbren blocks add a leafs shocks and so on the truck just rides like crap and even stock it rode like crap. I see alot of guys using the super duty springs but I don't want to hack up the bumper or gain the 3" lift from the shackle rev. kit. So I see more and more new trucks fully air bagged and the fabrication isn't the problem for me I was just curious where to start looking for info. and if anyone has done it and what the results were.

Thanks Marc

amberjax · 12-23-2007, 10:58 AM

Let ya know in about a month. I'm going to install firestone A/B on the rear.

caryt · 12-23-2007, 11:58 AM

You complaining about the empty or loaded ride? What shocks are you useing?

Cary

js2941 · 12-23-2007, 01:04 PM

I've been using Kelderman air suspension on the rear for about 4 years now with Bilstein shocks. Has worked very well for me. I pull a 32' 5vr.

spaz1 · 12-23-2007, 09:03 PM

i have air ride 100psi bags and i love them. i leave them on 80 psi and i have no problems with anything. i tow my sander for the winter and empty or full i can't tell the difference. i recommend them and the install was easy.

Supercab79 · 12-24-2007, 09:07 AM

First the ride sucked stock loaded or unloaded and with the Timbens and the add a leaf up front it's almost unbareable. I've never owned anything but a 1 ton or 3/4 4x4 trucks and for some reason the 97 crew cab rides the worst out of all of they. I've always run Rancho 5000 shocks and always had great results. The oil instead of a gas charged shock always seamed to calm the bone jarring ride down. Anyway I started looking into the Kelderman system and the prices are not that bad and they look way heavy duty.

So we shall see
Thanks Marc

midwestman · 12-26-2007, 12:05 PM

I use the air ride set up from Kelderman Manufacturing. You can see it here
http://www.keldermanairride.com/category.php?id=1

I have had it for a couple of years pulling a 24' cargo 40,000 miles a year. I like it.

Midwestman

brencoracing09 · 12-26-2007, 10:20 PM

it says right in the advertisement that the only reason to use it is to gain a better ride? is this what you are going after because it says nothing in the kelderman kit about gaining weight

Mike_Honcho · 12-27-2007, 01:10 PM

What is your goal a true air bag no spring or air bag load assist?

Many people have the air bags, a few have the Kelderman and there is at least one guy on here that has a true air bag no spring suspension. It was a crew cab 250 and red if I remember right.

Supercab79 · 12-27-2007, 08:47 PM

The ride of my 1997 crew cab is terrible. I mean it's bone jarring and if anyone sits in the back forget it I've had people bounce their heads off the roof sitting back there. With the fifth wheel on the rebound going over bumps or overpass transitions is down right scary. It feels like the trailer is going to rip the bed off or break the truck in half. I know an air ride hitch would help but the empty ride is even more of a problem. The truck holds the weight just fine. I just need a way to soften things up a bit.

Marc

Mike_Honcho · 12-27-2007, 08:57 PM

You still didn't answer my question about full bag?

I agree you need to fix the truck first and then maybe consider an airride hitch. That has to be hard on the 5er! I have been looking for some Velvet Ride shackles that were made and discontinued. They are $100ish and easy to do.

What is your tire pressure in the rear when empty? Do you have factory helpers on the rear--if so are they touching empty or close to touching?

Garbage_Mechanic · 12-27-2007, 09:06 PM

Velvet Rides have been reincarnated and improved. sulastic

BlueMule · 12-27-2007, 10:53 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mike_Honcho</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there is at least one guy on here that has a true air bag no spring suspension. It was a crew cab 250 and red if I remember right. </div></div>

That's Jareds truck. You can see some pictures of it HERE The suspension was designed and built by a shop in Tucson. The last time he was here he took me for a ride, it just floats like a big ole cadillac. That truck is now for sale because he just bought an 08 F450. If anyone is interested send him a PM. He goes by Hellstroker on here or if you want his phone # send me a PM

Mike_Honcho · 12-27-2007, 11:33 PM

When I look them up they have different numbers for 250 and 350's. And the same numbers for a 96 250 as a 2002 and different numbers for the 350 but the same for 350 96 or 2k+. Then the Excursion is the same as the Expedition.

Does anyone have these yet? I know the old BFG velvet rides were good.

fixithud · 12-28-2007, 08:26 AM

I looked at the Hellstroker pics, that was pretty cool!

I was also looking at the Kelderman front setup. It would be all I would need for a stock height truck. The only thing, right off, that popped into my mind was why not remove the front spring and replace it with a solid piece from the axle back to the rear spring mount. Basically to mimic the 'coil/radius arm' setup from the 70's that ford used.

The rear spring mount handles locating the axle with the factory leaf setup. I have not looked at the horizontal relationship of the spring mount the and the top of the axle pad though.
I thought it would make it look like a more custom setup than an add on.

Take a piece of proper sized material to fit the spring mount, sleeve it for a bushing, then weld on a plate at the other end that is drilled for the u-bolts. Add a center pin for the axle pad location and go from there with the kelderman bag setup.

Yeah, seems like a lot of work, I think I will just shut up and tie another fly.

Hud