Airbags with leveled rear end?

[RobZ71LM7]

What airbag setup is everyone running with the rear lowered 2" w/shackles? I'm currently running Firestone ride-rites, but would like to either remove the leaf spring/axle spacer block or install lowering shackles.

[LTZTom]

I've decided that you really can't use airbags with a lowered rear, I'm probably wrong but I couldn't figure out how to use them. My truck is lowered to level the truck, using 2" lowering shackles and replacing the stock spacer block with a ½" aluminum block. I was thinking about putting on air bags for when I towed my tandem wheeled motorcycle trailer. I couldn't see a way in the world to install them without having the "jacked up" look again. After reading about the air bags and then sliding up under the truck to see where they mounted, it looked impossible. I wasn't willing to compromise my lowering job for some air bags that I would probably use a couple of times a year, if that. If you figure out a way to use them and keep the lowered, leveled stance, let my know.

[RobZ71LM7]

Thanks. I haven't decided how much I'm going to level it, maybe only an inch in the rear. I do need the bags for towing and truck stuff. I may just leave it as is or call Firestone and see if a shorter height range bag can fit in place of my current ones.

[Jon A]

Yeah, unfortunately I think all airbags eat up some of your compression travel of which you don't have much when you lower. It's not just the bag but the mounts on each end. My Air Lift Ultimate 5000s seamed to eat up about 1-1.5" of travel--even assuming the internal bumpstop wasn't there.

 

While I never lowered mine, I did add a bunch of weight which sunk the rear about 1.5" so with the stock blocks and with no air in the bags I was pretty much sitting on the internal bumpstops. This made for a pretty rough ride over big bumps and naturally adding a bunch of air to the bags would give me travel back but stiffen the ride due to increased spring rate. Taller blocks fixed the issue but obviously that's the opposite direction of where you want to go.

[RobZ71LM7]

Thanks Jon. I'm just going to leave it alone. My main goal was looks since with bags I don't have to let the rear end sag when hauling and towing. And I'm not about to give up bags with as frequently as I load my truck up.

[Jay700]

Go on a mini truck forum they have bags so they can lay rocker panel and still pick the truck up.

I just put Firestone bags on my truck yesterday and I have the leveling block from rough country no problems.