1/2 ton silverado rear air bag system (questions)

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Well I have been trying to develop more welding business on the side for myself, and have finally got to the point where I have aquired myself an engine drive welder. I got a smokin deal on an older Hobart Champion 16, 250 amp machine 8000 watt generator. It has the Onan 16 hp engine and a good amount of hours on it at 2900. However it runs good and as of now i am only welding about 12 hours a week, so it is good enough for what I need. I have it in the back of my truck, and I am also going to be putting a toolbox I am building in the back full of tools and eventually a O/A setup, air compressor, and a skid for it to all be mounted on. That is a good amount of weight for my half ton silverado. It is a longbed and The truck has a 6" lift, and I installed an extra leaf in the rear spring a few months ago, before I even knew this was all going on. The springs are plenty strong to hold the weight, However of course with the extra weight it squats. I would like it level so I started doing some research on the air bag systems that have been engineered for this purpose. I can get a kit from airlift for $400, however being in college I dont have too much expendable income, and I was wondering if it is really as simple as making a couple mounting brackets over the spring for the bag. One on the frame and one on the axle? If anyone has done this or has any suggestions, advice, pictures, or anything at all that would be great if you could help me out. Thanks!!!!
Reply:Ram 1500, I have a Firestone 5000 lb bag kit plus Hellwig Load pro progressive helper spring kit plus KYB Monomax shocks.Also, your brakes are going to be stressed with all that weight.I use EBC Greenstuff pads and EBS drilled/slotted rotors.Iv'e been using this set-up for several years now and works great.http://www.facebook.com/Knappmobilewelding
Reply:I had the smaller Airlift in my 99 f150 and the 5000 lb Airlift in my 97 f250. I wasn't too impressed. You will want to spend the extra and get a compressor so you can add and remove air when needed. If I was doing it again I would just get heavier springs. Or you could just build a small trailer to haul you stuff in. That way you can eliminate the loading/unloading, and 8f you get it with brakes you won't be overloading your trucks brakes.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:And on another note...if you get pulled over the scales with that much weight.....you won't be happy.  Trailer sounds like the smart way till you can get a heavier truck.....Measure with a micrometre, mark with chalk,  cut with a torch.Never force anything...just get a bigger hammer.RoyOld Airco buzz box approx 1974Lincoln mig pack 15Lincoln 175 square wave1954 9" south bend lathe
Reply:If you are running stock springs with a block lift you could get some 3/4 ton springs. But, if you are using an ad-a-leaf it won't be the right height.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:OKay lots of good information to start off with. Now I can start narrowing down the solutions that you guys have given me, however there are many issues yet with the solutions... Originally Posted by KnappweldRam 1500, I have a Firestone 5000 lb bag kit plus Hellwig Load pro progressive helper spring kit plus KYB Monomax shocks.Also, your brakes are going to be stressed with all that weight.I use EBC Greenstuff pads and EBS drilled/slotted rotors.Iv'e been using this set-up for several years now and works great.
Reply:First off, a 6" lift in a work truck? Why?Aside from that, buying bags and making your own brackets is not that hard - get ideas from the store bought version and have at it.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveFirst off, a 6" lift in a work truck? Why?Aside from that, buying bags and making your own brackets is not that hard - get ideas from the store bought version and have at it.
Reply:Originally Posted by vettelvr75OKay lots of good information to start off with. Now I can start narrowing down the solutions that you guys have given me, however there are many issues yet with the solutions...Okay! Awesome. I was looking into the firestone system.A trailer would be the first choice for me, I would love to not have to haul the stuff in the bed of my truck all the time. However, my current living situation would make it very difficult for me to store the trailer when I am not using it. Secondly, I have been seeing a whole lot of ads on craigslist in my area recently for stolen welding trailers. Makes me leery of putting it all on a trailer, even with locks and everything, still a high rate for me.... A lot harder to grab a 700lb welder out of the bed of my truck than to just pull it off a trailer or take the trailer. I do have the stock springs, with the add-a-leaf, and to my understanding the specs with the ad a leaf were the same as 3/4 ton? I looked into upgrading to a heavier spring but the only thing I dont care for with that is it is always the same ride height. If I have all the junk on the bed it might be a good ride height but if I take it out and have the bed empty the back will be really tall, and also lose traction. Basically my question is this, Could I just purchase some air bags like these here http://www.amazon.com/2600-Bags-Sing...ywords=air+bag (I would buy better quality bags this is just for an example) and then couldnt I just make mounting brackets that bolt on the frame and to the bag the same way the prefabbed kits are?
Reply:Originally Posted by Willie BSurely you have been to the parking lot at any local high school. Lift kits are store bought status for red necks. A rusty Ranger with an 8" lift, worn out 34" mudders, and non functional stacks make you the man! My son's buddy has a 99 350 Ford with made of steel, but shaped like cement blocks between axles and springs. With tailgate Open, it's eye level to the floor of the bed. The ride is awful!
Reply:I put the FireStone Ride Rit AirBags on my 99 Ram2500 Single Rear Wheel.  The Install was very VERY easy (I did have the bed off though...)The point of them was when I have me SA250 on the truck, but I keep my Trailblazer302 on the truck 99% of the time with a KNAACK Job Box, Bottles and other tools.  They really help with the weight.  I think I keep 50PSI in them.  Now a guy I know who is currently looking into AirBags for his 2001 Ram2500 was telling me about a Company that makes a AirBag with Bump Stops in them.  Knowing this now I wish I woulda done more research and went with them.  After installing my AirBags I should have mounted them Lower on the Frame to optimize there lifting ability...(Here's What I used)http://www.xtremediesel.com/Fireston...r-Springs.aspx(If you go through XDP let me know,  I can save you 10% on the final sale with free shipping.)  Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Originally Posted by vettelvr75I do have the stock springs, with the add-a-leaf, and to my understanding the specs with the ad a leaf were the same as 3/4 ton? I looked into upgrading to a heavier spring but the only thing I dont care for with that is it is always the same ride height. If I have all the junk on the bed it might be a good ride height but if I take it out and have the bed empty the back will be really tall, and also lose traction. Basically my question is this, Could I just purchase some air bags like these here http://www.amazon.com/2600-Bags-Sing...ywords=air+bag (I would buy better quality bags this is just for an example) and then couldnt I just make mounting brackets that bolt on the frame and to the bag the same way the prefabbed kits are?
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveFirst off, a 6" lift in a work truck? Why?Aside from that, buying bags and making your own brackets is not that hard - get ideas from the store bought version and have at it.
Reply:A lot of people say do a trailer. A trailer is fine if you work in the middle of nowhere and have a safe place to hide it in. Where I work, a trailer will not fit. Even a long bed would be a pain. Up-town apartments, town houses, alleys. Its just not practical.http://www.facebook.com/Knappmobilewelding
Reply:Make sure some one cant steal your trailer.Instead of an air bags on the rear I would try something like senseatrack shocks, you know the ones with the big spring on them and 3/4 ton leaf springs.Forget about the mud tires. My tire engineer friend says only thing mud tires are good for is depriving idiots of money. The muds demand a premium price, are made with soft rubber that wears out very quickly compared to highway and AT tires and their construction tends to lower fuel economy.He claims that the average mud tire user that puts them on and drives runs 99.5% or more of their mud tire miles on pavement and that after around 25,000 miles soft rubber mud tires are worn out beyond being useable as an off road tire.He recommends a good highway tire or AT tire and snow chains to put on for when you do go off road or buy a dedicated set of muds and rims for off road use.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Originally Posted by mad welder 4Make sure some one cant steal your trailer.Instead of an air bags on the rear I would try something like senseatrack shocks, you know the ones with the big spring on them and 3/4 ton leaf springs.Forget about the mud tires. My tire engineer friend says only thing mud tires are good for is depriving idiots of money. The muds demand a premium price, are made with soft rubber that wears out very quickly compared to highway and AT tires and their construction tends to lower fuel economy.He claims that the average mud tire user that puts them on and drives runs 99.5% or more of their mud tire miles on pavement and that after around 25,000 miles soft rubber mud tires are worn out beyond being useable as an off road tire.He recommends a good highway tire or AT tire and snow chains to put on for when you do go off road or buy a dedicated set of muds and rims for off road use.
Reply:I genuinely need a snow tire. I run Bridgestone Blizac tires. I only get 45,000 miles running them summer and winter. Most of the serious off roading happens with the Power Wagon. I settle for what I can get in 900-16, (35" tall), when that's not enough, tire chains. If that's still not enough, there are two PTO winches
Reply:My 31x10.5 yokohama ATS tires did pretty good in the snow in maine last winter.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:I out bags on our new truck.First time out they were bottoming out so I had to take a couple shims out. Has been working good since.We do have a leak somewhere in those stupid push lock fittings (garbage). So I will be replacing all of them with compression fittings.We have been running around 40-60psi in them.Built a box for the junk.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Push fittings are fine if you are cheap the system can tolerate some leakage.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Kind of hard to tell but do you have four bolts holding down the bottom plate? two U bolts and two homemade style U bolts?
Reply:Yes ours uses two U-bolts to hold the lower plate to the leaf springs.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:If you only portable weld 12 hours a week you need a trailer not air bags. If you are a welder / fabricator you should be able to fab a removable neck for your trailer so it is very difficult to steal. It's easier to upgrade your towing capacity with a trans cooler and shift kit, than load carrying capacity with suspension and brake mods. When you add a trailer with brakes you don't over burden the tow vehicle brakes. With a trailer you don't unload you un hitch. With a trailer when you replace your current ride you haven't spent money that you won't be getting back at trade in or resale. Also you can rent a vehicle with a hitch if your current ride goes down and you can keep on working. Lastly. in the event of a catastrophic failure {fire} you hopefully won't loose the truck and weld equipment both at the same time. Hope this helps.