Air bags versus ride leveler bars

aastek · Veteran Member

Air bags versus ride leveler bars

kgarnett · Senior Member

Air bags may make the vehicle level, but do nothing about restoring weight back onto the front wheels. You need a weight distribution hitch to restore weight back onto the front wheels.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

A bit like the choice of better headlights or better tail lights.
They do different things. It is not an either/or question.
And be very cautious fitting air bags to leaf sprung vehicles. They place huge loads on a section of the chassis not designed for those loads. Bent chassis are a common result.
Cheers,
Peter

KJB · Guru

aastek wrote:
Would like to get peoples thoughts on the pro and cons of using air bags versus standard ride leveler bars
i currently have ride levellers but have the opportunity to get air bags and them fitted for nothing
Thanks
Kurt

What Make/Model of vehicle and caravan ?

"Ride leveler Bars" or more correctly Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH ) have a different purpose compared to adding Airbags to a Tow vehicles suspension. Both can make the Car/Caravan Combination "look" level (but is the problem excess weight ?) by different means. Airbags are not a "good idea" fitted to a leaf spring suspension - may work initially but can result in chassis fractures and bending especially if the initial problem is that the axle is over loaded and the rear is "sagging"..... I think the reason to consider either needs a little more investigation......... KB

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi aastek,
This subject has been repeated many times both on this page & in the Techies' page. Doing a search will find many of them, just going up on this page will find the most recent one.

As mentioned above, airbags are NOT a good idea for leaf sprung vehicles but you can use them (with moderation) in coil sprung cars, 4wds. There was another option a number of years ago - air shockers but they too caused some damage to the chassis when the vehicles were over loaded.

Do a Google search on insurance company photos or check out recovery mechanics in remote areas eg Alice Springs, Mt Dare, Birdsville, Coen or the Pilbara.

Radar · Guru

aastek wrote:
Would like to get peoples thoughts on the pro and cons of using air bags versus standard ride leveler bars
i currently have ride levellers but have the opportunity to get air bags and them fitted for nothing
Thanks
Kurt

Hi Kurt.

I have airbags fitted to my dual cab ute running approximately 10psi. They were fine when we had a light caravan, now have a larger caravan and moved towards needing better suspension. I have now spent about $3000 having a specialised suspension company make our dual cab ute very capable at towing without becoming harsh and uncomfortable.

Would I fit airbags again, a big No, rather put my money with the Suspension Shop.

Have had weight distribution bars and their gone to a better home.

We are running under our load limits which is important.

Hitting the road · Senior Member

I have air bags under my Grand Cherokee to assist when traveling with the vehicle when loaded with out the van. I also have a the Weight Distribution system which i can use at any time with the van. My Grand Cherokee has a manufacturers tow capacity of 3500kg though I only tow around 2600kg anyway.

For me the air bags are well worth having for the times where camping access tracks may be a bit gnarly and I need unhindered articulation between car and van, with some additional lift

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I don't know if they do the same thing but my VW has air suspension on all four wheels. It's self leveling when adding a load and when cornering. They are so comfortable for rough roads. I wouldn't have anything else in a 4WD.

I stick to the car's and caravans load limits and WDHs are NOT recommended for my vehicle's model.

KJB · Guru

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
I don't know if they do the same thing but my VW has air suspension on all four wheels. It's self leveling when adding a load and when cornering. They are so comfortable for rough roads. I wouldn't have anything else in a 4WD.

I stick to the car's and caravans load limits and WDHs are NOT recommended for my vehicle's model.

Your vehicle's Air Suspension is a completely different, integrated , system designed by the manufacturer as a "Air Suspension" from the outset.

They are a great system but are a completely different "kettle of fish" to just adding air bags to an existing leaf spring suspension. KB

Dick0 · Guru

Leaf Springs - NO

Coil Springs - YES

deverall11 · Guru

We have airbags on a 200 series LandCruiser. They are used for the sole purpose of stiffening up the rear
suspension. More comfortable then stiffer springs as they are let down when not towing and ride is restored.
Not used for levelling. WHD bars are for that.

Brodie Allen · Guru

And there's a whole lot of different WDH's who in my
estimation are trying to emulate the advantages and
science of the Anderson WDH system.

Don't care what you get, but at least give them look.

Simply amazing control on our lumpy roads. Actually
reduce "porpoising" rather than amplifying the phenomenon
and then damping it with control paraphernalia.

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

I also think there are problems with weight distributing hitches (WDH) if you take the caravan off road with an off road hitch and have different rotation of the car and caravan while heading over rough terrain such as across creek beds. The WDH would stop any twisting motion between the car and caravan. I think air bags would not have this problem.

Brodie Allen · Guru

Derek Barnes wrote:
I also think there are problems with weight distributing hitches (WDH) if you take the caravan off road with an off road hitch and have different rotation of the car and caravan while heading over rough terrain such as across creek beds. The WDH would stop any twisting motion between the car and caravan. I think air bags would not have this problem.

Only cross creeks once in a blue moon - want to drive safely and

comfortably the rest of the time.

Just looking at your avatar - you certainly need a WDH.

Where will your front wheels be when you use the brakes

and the van weight shifts forward and down onto the towbar?

Hitting the road · Senior Member

Agree, I am no expert, but dynamics should considered...hence what I wrote re air bags vs WDH systems off road. A WDH system would add a lot of stress and weight to the hitch as the van articulates in opposite directions to the vehicle. Where you might have had a tow ball weight of say 230kg on flat level terrain, that can easily double if twisting or lifting the draw bar on the van through terrain changes...

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Dick0 wrote:
Leaf Springs - NO
Coil Springs - YES

I agree.

My dad had a LandCruiser, leaf spring model. He traded it for a Range Rover, coil spring model. The ride difference was extraordinary.

However, he only towed trailers not caravans and although the RR was self leveling, I don't know if that would work with a caravan.

Anyway, my point is that coil springs are much more comfortable.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
Anyway, my point is that coil springs are much more comfortable.

Apples and oranges.

Coils MIGHT be a more comfortable ride, or they MIGHT NOT be. It depends which coils you are comparing with which leaves. Each has their advantages and their disadvantages.

You should not generalise.

Cheers,

Peter

Radar · Guru

aastek wrote:
Would like to get peoples thoughts on the pro and cons of using air bags versus standard ride leveler bars
i currently have ride levellers but have the opportunity to get air bags and them fitted for nothing
Thanks
Kurt

I think the gentleman needs to come back with his mode of travel as we are really only guessing at an answers.

He may have or may not have coils, the list just goes on.

aastek what is it you need to know for what car and propose.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
Anyway, my point is that coil springs are much more comfortable.
Apples and oranges.
Coils MIGHT be a more comfortable ride, or they MIGHT NOT be. It depends which coils you are comparing with which leaves. Each has their advantages and their disadvantages.
You should not generalise.
Cheers,
Peter

Well of course no one has ridden in every vehicle ever made, just like no one has assessed every WDH and Air bag, so every comment on this forum is in the opinion of the author. So are you going to ask every post not to generalise?

As I said, I've ridden in both forms of transport and, in my opinion, coil springs are much more comfortable than leaf springs. Furthermore, air suspension, from my experience, is an order of magnitude more comfortable than either coils or leaf. Happy now?