Air bag spring inserts or airshocks for towing a small trailer.

[c good]

Envoy 4x4. Just turned 200 K miles and it's running perfect. I have a small trailer 1900 lbs, with 900 lbs capacity so about 2800-3000 GVW. Tongue weight is about 350 lbs.

I bought airbags that insert into the coil springs last year. Still haven't installed them. I haven't used my trailer this winter as I had planned. Am planning on using is now summer is here.

The Envoy handles it pretty well with everything stock and just a regular drop receiver hitch. Would like to level out with the squat a little. I have a weight distribution hitch but prefer not t use it as it weighs alot just by itself.

I know many will recommend some z71 springs, but I'd rather just stay with the air inserts or maybe some air shocks? Any input is appreciated.

 

[Mooseman]

I put some air shocks on my Sierra and in combination with the WDH and my 7000# RV trailer with 700# hitch weight, it tows nice and flat. Didn't want to crank the WDH more than it already was. Air shocks are very old school but they work and are cheap.

If you already have the bags, just go with those. Should be the same results.

 

[BrianF]

I know this is an older thread but I'll toss in my half a cent.

I ran Firestone Ride-Rite or whatever they were called. They were in my 2011 Ram 1500. Installed in 2011 not long after getting the truck and seeing how much she squatted under even basic loads. Traded the truck for our 3500 in early 2017. I think it had around 150,000km on it.

The good: the airbags did a fantastic job of leveling the load and adding stability. Each was independent with its own valve. Airbags are great for varying the pressure to match the load. They required a minimum 5psi and went up to 30 or 35psi max. You could use a little bike pump if needed.

The bad: required minimum 5psi so you had to monitor pressure. These specific bags used plastic line to just slid into push fittings. The o rings sealed on the outside diameter of the line. Made for easy installation but this allowed dirt dust to pile up at the fitting. I spent years chasing small leaks at the fittings and finally got it sorted out with some sealant (can't even recall which one finally worked). It leaked bad in the winter so they were useless. It was finally sorted just in time to trade in.

They can be an excellent add on and really transformed our truck under load. But the nuances were one of the reasons we moved up to a bigger truck, we didn't want to deal with anything, just hook up and go.

 

[c good]

I know this is an older thread but I'll toss in my half a cent.

I ran Firestone Ride-Rite or whatever they were called. They were in my 2011 Ram 1500. Installed in 2011 not long after getting the truck and seeing how much she squatted under even basic loads. Traded the truck for our 3500 in early 2017. I think it had around 150,000km on it.

The good: the airbags did a fantastic job of leveling the load and adding stability. Each was independent with its own valve. Airbags are great for varying the pressure to match the load. They required a minimum 5psi and went up to 30 or 35psi max. You could use a little bike pump if needed.

The bad: required minimum 5psi so you had to monitor pressure. These specific bags used plastic line to just slid into push fittings. The o rings sealed on the outside diameter of the line. Made for easy installation but this allowed dirt dust to pile up at the fitting. I spent years chasing small leaks at the fittings and finally got it sorted out with some sealant (can't even recall which one finally worked). It leaked bad in the winter so they were useless. It was finally sorted just in time to trade in.

They can be an excellent add on and really transformed our truck under load. But the nuances were one of the reasons we moved up to a bigger truck, we didn't want to deal with anything, just hook up and go.

Thank you for the info Brian. Super helpful. I've decided to go with the Firestone Ride Rites!