Air bag(s) for the rear end

[cmann250]

What 's the verdict on air bags if the ride of my truck is ok now and doesn't squat with a reasonable load on it? I found a truck with a Kelderman air ride rear that I think I could persuade the owner to sell to me if I removed it. If I go that route, are all the parts there to put it back to regular leafs?

One way or another, I'm going to purchase a truck that was a donor that has 2 bags on the rear. Is the ride so much better? If it's a world of difference, I'll spring for it. I don't know anything about air bags, but I keep stumbling into air bag set-ups. I know CumminsPower59 and bmoeller has or had Kelderman's. Anyone else?

[SNOOT]

I have a single bag setup but never have put it on the truck as I wish I had something for the front as well.

[CumminsPower59]

Caleb, I had a Kelderman single bag on my 92, worked really well. All that I had to remove was the rear shackle hangers. I kept them as I took the Kelderman off the truck and returned it to stock before I sold it last week.

[PToombs]

On a Kelderman set up the bag is only used when empty. When you have a load the Kelderman frame bottoms out the bag and the truck rides on the springs like normal. It makes a much smoother ride empty.

[CumminsPower59]

Kind of, it can be used like that, but you can put more air in it. I hauled a full load of pavers in the back of it, put some air in it, and brought the back end back up to normal.

[xohcef]

I have a Kelderman dual bag set up in my truck as well and I really like it. No matter what, empty or loaded I always ride on just the bags. Its the smoothest ride I've felt in a Dually. Plus I like to be able to run a lot less pressure unloaded and set the rear down some.

[bmoeller]

The air bags are usually good for 100+psi. Running empty, the Kelderman single bag setup only needs ~22-24psi on a club cab truck. Add more load, add enough more air to put the ride height back where it was before. Makes the truck ride great, loaded or not.

Have yet put enough of a load on the truck to make it so the air bag couldn't support the weight. I'll be adding an air ride control valve and dump valve to mine. That way, it will be self-regulating, and I won't have to mes with it.

[cmann250]

In either case, would it be less of a headache in the grand scheme to wire up a compressor? I'm trying to determine the total cost which will determine how bad I want a good ride I'm looking to improve the ride when empty. My leaf springs handle most loads pretty well.

[bmoeller]

Got mine for $400 off of CF. IIRC, Ike paid $200 for his with a new bag.

Just a simple 12v air compressor is plenty for the air bag. You'll just need a shut off valve to limit the pressure to the tank and an on/off switch for the power. The "stock" line that came with it, has a valve stem on it like a tire. Very little change in air pressure changes the height.

I'm just going to be more eloberate with it because I'm easily annoyed. I know it is an option on the new ones now.