Just installed air bags on my chevy 2500HD. I'll be towing a 12,000 lb 5th wheel. How much air should i put in air bags for a starting point?
I would start by measuring you ride height empty, then hook up the trailer and add air until you are just a little squated down from the empty measurment. Like 1/2" lower. I like the truck to be a little squated on the rear when towing cause I think that they ride better and are a bit easier to control Or add air until it is level and run.
Add enough to keep the truck level or slightly higher in the rear. You want the airbags to take the load, but not take too much as you will have too harsh of a ride.
I am about to install my airbags on the rear of my truck. I am going to put a air pressure gauge on my pillar for my main tank res air pressure then in my overhead console I am going to install 2 air switches to control each bag individually and will use a semi truck air pressure gauge there that has 2 needles and hook up each needle to each bag. I can use that to compensate for sidewinds and if/when ginpoles come along you can use the bags to manipulate the top location of the poles.
These guys have it right on. I run 65 to 70 in mine, similar trailer. Here's a time saver for you. Get your fifth hooked up, then air up the bags. Should lift the stab jacks pretty much off the ground, very little motoring to get them to where you can pull the pins out and put them up. When you park to unhook, just drop the jacks, motor them down until the motor loads, then let the air out of your bags. You should be able to drive out from under it without having to sit there and jack it up and down forever. Maybe everyone else does this, but I felt pretty smart.
i feel the need to only run 40lbs in my HD bags i nthe back and that makes a world of diverence with my big goose..... 40lbs lifts my truck right up with a ton of tongue weight on it...
