Traveling for a Year. Tips?

Thanks! I have both of those planned. I’m either going to buy a wireless onboard air so I can even monitor the bags. But i have no idea if they need periodic adjustments in the real world. Or I’ll have a small air compressor I’ll just plug up when needed.

I did t know that tpms addons were cheap but it was on the list for the trailer tires!
 
I have a small Viar system with a 3gallon tank. It comes into play a lot more than I ever thought it would. I have adjusted my airbags throughout trips depending on road conditions and also how the truck/trailer has been loaded out. The bags are a small sealed quantity of air and are also effected by heat/cold and even elevation. I also emptied my bags whenever we would stop and unhook so the truck would ride better unloaded. I didn’t spring for the fancy one so I had to manage mine manually. I have a 43’ triple axle 5er and I think I paid $150 for my tpms system. I can try to find the receipt from when I bought them.
 
skyhighZJ said:
I have a small Viar system with a 3gallon tank. It comes into play a lot more than I ever thought it would. I have adjusted my airbags throughout trips depending on road conditions and also how the truck/trailer has been loaded out. The bags are a small sealed quantity of air and are also effected by heat/cold and even elevation. I also emptied my bags whenever we would stop and unhook so the truck would ride better unloaded. I didn’t spring for the fancy one so I had to manage mine manually. I have a 43’ triple axle 5er and I think I paid $150 for my tpms system. I can try to find the receipt from when I bought them.
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That’s a good point about bleeding off when not needed. Unfortunately with mine the bags replace the coils, so I will need to just find a more suitable psi for unloaded use I reckon.

I totally spaced on thinking for elevation. Great point! Duly noted thank you. I’ll prob just use the air pump I already have for now a d pick up a nice air system out west and make it a fun weekend install.
 
Anyone have any exp with the antisway WD hitches that use chains instead of the sway bars? See pick for the Andersen one.

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ckruzer said:
That’s a good point about bleeding off when not needed. Unfortunately with mine the bags replace the coils, so I will need to just find a more suitable psi for unloaded use I reckon.

I totally spaced on thinking for elevation. Great point! Duly noted thank you. I’ll prob just use the air pump I already have for now a d pick up a nice air system out west and make it a fun weekend install.
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For reliability, I would likely use an air-helper vs replacing the coils with bags. If a bag or line bursts, a replacement can end up bad. A helper wont be fun, but you wont be on your bumps either.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
For reliability, I would likely use an air-helper vs replacing the coils with bags. If a bag or line bursts, a replacement can end up bad. A helper wont be fun, but you wont be on your bumps either.
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You referring to these, airbag helpers that go inside the coils?
Air Lift 1000 HD

This is what I was originally planning on...
 
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I would likely go with something like this one: LoadLifter 5000, where the helper is outside the coil. But yes, i would retain the steel coil spring incase the bag deflates on the road.

The ones in the coils likely work just fine, Im always afraid they will snag/bind for some reason.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I would likely go with something like this one: LoadLifter 5000, where the helper is outside the coil. But yes, i would retain the steel coil spring incase the bag deflates on the road.

The ones in the coils likely work just fine, Im always afraid they will snag/bind for some reason.
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I have used both. I prefer the stand along bags that go outside the coils. The ones in the coils really do not lift the truck they expand and prevent the coil from compressing under load.
 
everywhere ive looked it appeared they replaced the coils. did not realize they go around it...

Ill give AirLift a call today
 
I got on the horn with airlift. they said their 5000 bags are going to mount next to the coil, not over/around it. in regards to the 1000HD bag inserts, they stressed about "prevent coil from compressing under load", that that is exactly what they are designed to do, but they do not prevent compression from occurring. Just prevent bottoming out, and keeping the load level up to 2000 Lb payload. They said either would work for this situation, however for frequent use the 5000 bags are recommended.

Going with full bags then, however the 1000HD was a pleasant thought/detour. Haha. It was a cool convo with them tho.

I found some *amazing* priced onboard air kits on Amazon.

Now. Airlift 5000 vs Firestone Ride Rite
 
ordered airlift 5000 bags. found a few brake controllers that plug into the factory harness and work, they are in the 60$ range compared to the 199$ for the OEM controller, which after research, some said they had issues with it not communicating very well. probably going to go ahead and order that tonight. taking advantage of some labor day sales.
 
a_kelley said:
Just any random controller can be made to plug and play with a $15 off the shelf harness
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Did not know that. I thought I’d have to chase a few wires or two and do splice work on a minimal. These days, with my schedule, I’ll gladly spend a little extra for a more plug n play type install.
 
ckruzer said:
Did not know that. I thought I’d have to chase a few wires or two and do splice work on a minimal. These days, with my schedule, I’ll gladly spend a little extra for a more plug n play type install.
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I would recommend something from the Prodigy series, but anything that is proportional should be fine. I have had multiple P2s and really like them. I have had good luck getting controllers and harnesses, etc from etrailer. They have good customer service as well.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I would recommend something from the Prodigy series, but anything that is proportional should be fine. I have had multiple P2s and really like them. I have had good luck getting controllers and harnesses, etc from etrailer. They have good customer service as well.
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I’ll check them out for sure. Keep hearing that name repeatedly and I believe it’s one of the ones on my list that comes with a pigtail for plugNplay. Another one I am looking at is one by an outfit called CURT?
 
I like my tekonsha Voyager. Older design, supposed to be proportional. Four wires, one light, manual proportional apply and two knobs (sensitivity and gain). Works well and is like $30 for a used unit as long as your not changing trailer/load constantly it works pretty well. Advance Auto sells a unit about $100 that's proportional and digital display. Good if you got multiple trailers. Can adjust gain and sensitivity by number. (Write it down for each combo). Proportional = harder you brake, harder it applies. (Most use internal accelerometer plus a microcontroller tied with the settings to output a pwm signal) the one from advance does not apply brakes unless it's actually receiving G Force input. (But has manual override as well)
 
went with the prodigy p3 and picked up some new mirrors as well
 
It came with a strange pouch. I’m guessing for removal and storage during non towing? Theft deterrent option?

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Bags arrived. I’m impressed with the material, it’s more than I thought it would be

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Tossed on the mirrors today in a hot moment between family times. I like it, one less but if chrome. Lol

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