Air Bags

[Joe28443]

I am hearing that air springs are a good mod if you are towing. I have a 03 1500 Z71 that I tow a 6K lb camper with. My truck struggles a bit so I am trying to help it out some. Who has done this and does it help. Which air springs did you go with? I am also seeing different views about CAI and that they decrease the low end torqe. Is this true? thanks

[C & A s Dad]

Joe, I am towing a similar camper with an 02 Yuk XL. I added Airlift springs to the rear and it was the $80.00 I have spent in the area of towing stability. My truck has rear coils so they will obviously be different on your truck.

 

I have True Flow CAI and think as long as you buy a unit that retains the factory air box, you are ok. However, it is not going to make a lot of difference.

 

For my truck, the Hypertech MaxEnergy helped more than anything I have done. It made a different truck out of my Yuk XL as far as pulling hills with the camper. I have no problem maintaining speed and can easily increase my speed pulling a hill if I need to.

 

There are other hand held tuners out there but all of my research showed the Hypertech to be the only one to offer HP and TQ gains in the low to mid range. The others outperform the HT but do so in the upper RPM range which will offer you little to no benefits in towing your camper.

 

You can also research a custom tune but be sure to tell whoever you select you need low end grunt, not 6,000 RPM screaming.

[Zembonez]

We have had several customers that tow heavy install the Goodyear Air Ride airbag system. So far they have had nothing but good things to report. I've never had any personal experience with them but if they are good enough to provide air rid for semi trucks, I'd bet they are pretty good stuff. They do help spread load forces, but I don't know if they will help address sway issues though.

[blankey]

I have the AirLift Ride Control air bags on my '04. I mainly got them so after I leveled my truck the back end wouldn't sag even more. I don't have any complaints about them.

[weymard]

I have a ride rite Firestone, great product, indispensable when I carry my camper !

I has a Firestone too in my old dodge ram, and I trip across Europe and Russia with it , very great ! Efficient, comfortable !

And it is easy to fit on Silverado, 3 hours and I am not a professional !!!!

[Joe28443]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like they are liked by everyone.

[Joe28443]

You can also research a custom tune but be sure to tell whoever you select you need low end grunt, not 6,000 RPM screaming.

 

 

 

 

 

I went with the wait4me custom tune, It was the one to go with at the time due to the cost. I know there are a lot of others out there that are better but thats what I have for now