Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? #2872908
01/11/21 11:08 PM
01/11/21 11:08 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula Offline OP
I Live Here
Dragula  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Got me a real nice 2011 2500 diesel shortbed. It rides great, but when I hook the trailer to it, it drops that back like a rock. I have bags on my 2003 2500 diesel and they have been great, should I do that again, or add the helper leafs? I was also planning to add a rear sway bar if that matters.

DSC07060.JPG
Last edited by Dragula; 01/11/21 11:08 PM.

'70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9)

'66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage

'71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2872937
01/12/21 12:05 AM
01/12/21 12:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
At least with air bags you can change the stiffness of the ride when it's empty or not towing.

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2872941
01/12/21 12:11 AM
01/12/21 12:11 AM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 259
n.c.
G
geo. Offline
enthusiast
geo.  Offline
enthusiast
G

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 259
n.c.

wondering what your tongue weight is?

Do you have an equalizer hitch?

I'm asking 'cause I just bought an '08 Mega Cab.

I used air lift bags on my Durango, but I know its more involved and $$$ on a vehicle with leaf springs.

I'd probably go with bags again, 'cause I like the unloaded ride too.

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: geo.] #2873097
01/12/21 11:36 AM
01/12/21 11:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
N
NITROUSN Offline
I Live Here
NITROUSN  Offline
I Live Here
N

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
Bag it and don't look back. I like to run the fill line to the fuel door. Stays nice and clean, easy to get to, and does not take a beating when mounted in the rear.

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2873140
01/12/21 01:12 PM
01/12/21 01:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing Offline
top fuel
W.I.N. Racing  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,094
Byron, NY
bag it!


'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: W.I.N. Racing] #2873397
01/12/21 08:52 PM
01/12/21 08:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
R
ruderunner Offline
master
ruderunner  Offline
master
R

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
Get a proper hitch


Angry white pureblood male
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: ruderunner] #2873417
01/12/21 09:20 PM
01/12/21 09:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,459
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
Rhinotruck
Rhinodart  Offline
Rhinotruck

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,459
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
I had bags on my 2004 quad cab 4x4 shortbed one ton and loved them. The original owner had a 200 gallon diesel tank in the back to fill his construction equipment and left them on when he traded it in. Bad it and forget it! The only thing I wish he would have put in was a built in compressor with a switch in the cab. To change stiffness there were dual fillers in the bumper to fill it manually.


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Rhinodart] #2874223
01/14/21 12:58 PM
01/14/21 12:58 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula Offline OP
I Live Here
Dragula  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Originally Posted by ruderunner
Get a proper hitch


Can you elaborate on this?


Bags it is....Might even opt for an on board compressor with pressure read out. My tongue weight must be up there pretty good, none of the 1/2 ton truck like my trailer and my '03 2500 ended up with bags on after a few years.

Last edited by Dragula; 01/14/21 01:00 PM.

'70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9)

'66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage

'71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2874270
01/14/21 02:09 PM
01/14/21 02:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,131
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
5
5thAve Offline
Doesn't care what this says anyway
5thAve  Offline
Doesn't care what this says anyway
5

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,131
Canada -- Posts: 4034 -Registe...
He probably means using a weight distribution hitch.
You might want to check the tongue weight to make sure it's not overloading the hitch on the truck,

Bags sound like the best way to go. I guess that's the one disadvantage of the newer truck suspensions.

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2874536
01/14/21 11:09 PM
01/14/21 11:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,350
Aurora, Oh.
M
max_maniac Offline
master
max_maniac  Offline
master
M

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,350
Aurora, Oh.
Is this for a tag trailer? If so the proper weight distribution hitch is all that's needed. Never had any issue with my 2500 with a tag. However when I went to a heavier and longer gooseneck trailer I added bags.

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: 5thAve] #2874984
01/16/21 08:07 AM
01/16/21 08:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
R
ruderunner Offline
master
ruderunner  Offline
master
R

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,710
ohio
Originally Posted by 5thAve
He probably means using a weight distribution hitch.
You might want to check the tongue weight to make sure it's not overloading the hitch on the truck,

Bags sound like the best way to go. I guess that's the one disadvantage of the newer truck suspensions.


Yes weight distribution hitch.

Just because the rear end doesn't squat doesn't mean the package is balanced properly. If you've never towed with weight distribution you don't know what you're missing.


Angry white pureblood male
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: Dragula] #2875032
01/16/21 11:03 AM
01/16/21 11:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,060
Atlanta, GA
M
mgoblue9798 Offline
super stock
mgoblue9798  Offline
super stock
M

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,060
Atlanta, GA
air bags 100%

Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: mgoblue9798] #2875053
01/16/21 12:18 PM
01/16/21 12:18 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,963
new jersey usa
1
11secdart Offline
master
11secdart  Offline
master
1

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,963
new jersey usa
Air bags !!! I had a set on my 02 Durango, when I bought my 08 H.Q.C. I actually made brackets to adapt the same set to the 08 after 17 years one bag developed a leak I purchased a new pair and they bolted right to the same brackets. when I purchased the 08 the nose sat lower than the rear , I installed a 2 inch leveling kit the air bags are good for keeping the truck level even when not towing.

5D5290EF-4F10-4EFA-9518-B5DAEC33D2F7.jpeg77D849C8-2F8F-4DC3-AADE-552C46FD1DC2.jpeg
Last edited by 11secdart; 01/16/21 12:23 PM.

68 Dart 410 / 904
92 D150 original owner
21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4
23 Audi Q5
16 Honda HRV
Re: Towing rear suspension, air bags or helper leafs? [Re: 11secdart] #2904135
03/29/21 10:40 PM
03/29/21 10:40 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula Offline OP
I Live Here
Dragula  Offline OP
I Live Here

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,379
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
I towed with weight distribution hitch on my RV....Never needed one with a Dodge.....I did get the air bags on...Perfect fit. I just need to wire in the compressor and the they are done. Love how they fit no messing around. Wondering if a Hellwig rear sway bar will fit with the air bags?

Feels like I need new shocks on this truck too. I am thinking Bilsteins, what say Moparts?

Last edited by Dragula; 03/29/21 10:42 PM.

'70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9)

'66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage

'71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1