New OME and Airbags

[Brentbba]

And one more for yucks - kudos for the first person that finds the air valves for the airbags. Hint - the black valve covers are off, so they are pretty easy to spot - or you are blind. hehehe

Will post aired up and aired down with the trailer tomorrow.

 

[Rookie2]

Brent,

I assume an equal amount of pressure is distributed to both bags. You rig looks slightly tilted down to the right. Obstacle illusion??

Nice looking setup and rig. Don't see you draggin her through Ruby-con anytime soon .

R2

 

[MoJ]

Brent - Nice looking rig. Any idea what happens if you wheel while they're inflated? I assume you'd get less flex?

 

[Scamper]

Brent,

I see you went with the two-valve install vs the single valve. I just used one vavle to keep it simple, and since I couldn't envision a situation where I would want to pump one side more than the other. Pretty good idea on where to put them...I used one of the bottom holes where the pintle hook goes.

Tom

 

[Rogue]

[quote author=Scamper link=board=2;threadid=16732;start=msg163270#msg163270 date=1085448133]
Brent,

I see you went with the two-valve install vs the single valve. I just used one vavle to keep it simple, and since I couldn't envision a situation where I would want to pump one side more than the other.
Tom
[/quote]

What about the Cruiser lean?

 

[scottm]

[quote author=Scamper link=board=2;threadid=16732;start=msg163270#msg163270 date=1085448133]I see you went with the two-valve install vs the single valve.[/quote]

With a single valve, I think loading one side would compress that bag and push the air to the other bag, inflating it more. Stability is the primary reason I installed airbags, the truck is rock solid around curves with a heavy trailer now. I even had a large pop-up fishtailng lightly, and didn't notice 'till I looked in the mirror. My brother has had a lot of experience with these things, lost pressure in one side with a heavy trailer and the single bag still helped with stability.

 

[Brentbba]

Optical illusion=poor photography, no lean at all, but I guess I could certainly fix any cruiser lean with a little more air on one side vs the other. Truck went up about 3/4 inch more with bags inflated to 25-30 psi.

Scott - didn't know about the two valve until I picked it up. The install instructions I read had the 'T' going to one valve. What's done is done and I can live with it. I would have preferred one valve, but dumb me, wasn't something I discussed with them prior to the install.

Have an 'after' pic with airbags at 25-30 psi from this morning. Will deflate to about 10 psi and take a 'before' pic this afternoon when I put the trailer away. I also want to check pressure to really ensure no leakage! Truck sank a little when I hooked her up the morning, but I'm nowhere close to the sag I had before. Hopefully the pics will show it. I've also used a std hitch instead of the weight distribution hitch to get a fair analysis.

Truck drove a little harder and very minor 'bouncy' feel at pressure w/o the trailer, but just fine with it. First drive impressions - wish I'd done this two years ago!

 

[Brentbba]

Scott/Scamper - rechecked my paperwork that came with the Airlift 1000. It does say 35 psi max.

 

[Scamper]

That's good news...even though mine says 25, I'll take it that they're good to 35. Can't believe they made two versions of the 1000 bags--maybe I just got old instructions... So far, I like this setup a lot and wish I too had done it a while ago.

Tom

 

[Brentbba]

Ok, here's the pic with the airbags inflated. When you compare it to the next pic note the alignment/sag on both the cruiser and the trailer. I think you see the sag in the w/o pic best looking at the cruiser.

With Airbags:

 

[Brentbba]

And here's a pic without the airbags inflated:

 

[scottm]

I'm sure the real difference will be when you drive it, you'll hardly feel the trailer when maneuvering. I'll be interested if you ever have to do a panic stop with a heavy trailer and inflated bags. My rear brakes locked very briefly, I thought the brake compensator would've biased the braking to the front.

 

[yomama]

I would have liked to have seen a pic before the OME.....

Yomama

 

[Brentbba]

Yo - sag was much WORSE b4 the OME, believe me.

Scott - really liked the ride. I'll be playing with the psi some as I use it. DS bag is not holding pressure. Reinflated w/o trailer last night and will check tonight and then give installer a call. Hopefully just a leaky connection.

I felt the brakes from the trailer much more so I dialed down the juice on the controller a little and everything was fine.

PPC - the 1000 w/compressor and single guage ran another $150 or so w/o install, so I went with manual inflation method.

Geez - no comments on the beautiful trailer?

 

[Beowulf]

Brent,

[Slight thread hi-jack]

Your troop is very lucky to have enough funding for a nice trailer like that. I had no idea the troop trailer you were talking about was sooooo kewl. Our troop is new and we're broke so everything gets stuffed in the back of an old Ford pickup and my cruiser. We look like a bunch of gypsies going on outings.

Congrats!
-B-

 

[Brentbba]

B - Az-tex trailers in Fontana, CA really works with scout troops, basically at cost. Not the best quality trailer in the world, but the price was right, about $1200-1500 I think. They swapped out the free rolling axle for one with electric brakes for all of $250 when I was getting quotes of $1000 from trailer/rv places to retrofit.

You should have seen our old one. Thing was from 1970 - no shiat! Bottom frame was rusting thru and side wood paneling was in bad shape. Don't know how it held all the weight of equip. we had. It's got a good home and some fair warning on it's shape with a fairly new troop in San Clemente, just thankful for the trailer in any shape.

Go sell LOTS of popcorn this fall and get yerself at least a small utility trailer. I'll take some interior shots if you are interested and send to you offline.

 

[yomama]

Brentbba,

The reason I asked was I think you would have been ok with just the springs and not even needed the airbag setup? I am improving my boat trailer, so adding weight to the tongue. I may look into the bags.

Yomama

 

[Newps]

Nice looking rig and trailer. Thought I would say hello, I am in Newport and am looking for a 80 LC right now. When I get mine I will let you know. Maybe we can head up to Big Bear for some trail running.

 

[Brentbba]

Newps - Welcome.

Hope you find a good one. There are certainly lots running around South Orange County.