Are airbags needed to tow with 6" lift???

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Icejob8

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Ok guys, so I am going to install a Superlift 6" Suspension Lift on my '10 Ram 1500 with 35x12.5 tires. Every year early summer and then early fall I tow my boat. A 22' pontoon boat with dual axle trailer. In total I will probably spend 4-5 hours trailering total.

So, do I need air bags?
Why or why not?
If yes, which bags, why those bags and where to buy?

Could you if your able attach pics of your truck with trailer attached?

I want to make sure I don't damage my truck, lift kit etc and certainly don't want to put anyone in danger by doing something unsafe.

Thanks so much for your help!
 

Rzrman328

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Depends on how bad your boat sags the truck.

Bags definetley wouldn't hurt but can't really say if they're needed at this point.
 
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Icejob8

Icejob8

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Well, if it helps...
Currently my truck is "leveled" with Rancho Struts. The rear is about 1/2" higher than front. With the boat and trailer on, the rear is a little lower than front. It's not crazy, just a little lower. So let's estimate the rear drops about 1.5... the first half inch goes to "level" the next inch would be the sag. Obviously these are rough estimates, but pretty close.

Will the lifted suspension react about the same as stock? I don't know if the Superlift coil with Bilstein is softer or harder than stock. If it's softer it will sag more, if harder it would sag less???

Like I said, I just don't want to damage anything or do anything unsafe and I have no experience with a lifted truck. I have to be responsible, especially with 2 young kids with me.
 

R.L.K.

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Imo , you'll be fine with a load as you described in your OP .
FWIW , when you load your gear put the bulk of the weight above the axles and aft of the axles on the boat trailer .

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adubree86

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I have a 6" zone lift. I haul a fair amount of firewood in the box. My next purchase will be bags. I've also towed a decent amount of firewood on a trailer and it sags a bit but nothing horrible. If I didn't haul so much in the box I probably wouldn't worry about bags.

I'm gonna go the cheaper route and throw in an airlift1000 kit. It's only like $80 for the kit and will work with the lift without unbolting anything.
 
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Rzrman328

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I'm gonna go the cheaper route and throw in an airlift1000 kit.

The 1000's work with the 6"?

Thought I had read they weren't big enough...I was lookin at the 5000 setup but will go this route too if they work.
 

adubree86

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The 1000's work with the 6"?

Thought I had read they weren't big enough...I was lookin at the 5000 setup but will go this route too if they work.

They supposedly do. The don't fill the entire coil height wise as they are made for just the standard coils but once inflated they still expand into the coils and work the same. There is a guy on youtube that posted a video with them on his ram with a 6" lift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIDspPH4Aug
 

Rzrman328

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They supposedly do. The don't fill the entire coil height wise as they are made for just the standard coils but once inflated they still expand into the coils and work the same. There is a guy on youtube that posted a video with them on his ram with a 6" lift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIDspPH4Aug

Holy crap, that video was perfect.

Guess I'm goin with the 1000's lol
 

xrsman

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Personally if I were putting airbags in I'd go with something more heavy duty than the 1000's.

I had them in my 2014 with a 5" lift. I had 1" of rake, but it still squatted.

Here's a pic with my Rv on the back

b7dd66e170b268cb89a4ffc2ca56fb12.jpg

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Rzrman328

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How much weight?

Squat doesn't look too bad...could be the angle though.
 

xrsman

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How much weight?

Squat doesn't look too bad...could be the angle though.
It was about 950 lbs or so. I've got better pictures somewhere comparing no airbags, to the 1000 with the RV, but I can't seem to find them.

I did find these though. With the tractor I'm guessing it's around 1000-1200 lbs of hitch weight. With just the empty dump trailer it's about 400 lbs. With the empty dump trailer it squatted 1", taking my take away, but the truck sat perfectly level.


b1c36009364ea07ad7d1fc1c1c354e7b.jpg0113873a47757d8bbcfc2f614c5b7afc.jpg68c62a883870df4d3ac40ff2233fea02.jpg

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Icejob8

Icejob8

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I think I am gonna give the 1000's a try. I don't tow often, boat isn't very heavy. The YouTube video seems to say it works...worse case scenario it doesn't help and I am out $80.


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