OME 866 vs. AirLift Bags for rear

[Augie]

I have cheap Air lift system for the last 3 years. Mine are 60755 which are the tallest bag they make that fit LC coil spring. I would not recommend this though unless you have fixed rate spring that are about 2-3" taller than stock. The additional height cause the progressive rate coil spring to uncompress the soft part and could make the truck to feel unstable. It would work good if you got the pressure are right. Get the regular height one and just pump it up when you are carrying extra load.

I also install bypass valve. This basically are just a small ball valve that could isolate or connect both bags. I run it open off road and does not notice any less articulation. Close the valve and it isolate both bag and improve handling quite considerably compared to open.

 

[dinibili]

Augie
I would have thought having the two airbags connected would be dangerous at any thing faster than a rock crawl. Any situation where the weight of the vehicle is transferred from one side to the other (cornering at speed or on a steep side slope)) would allow the air to transfer from the heavy side to the light side and exacerbate stability problems, as you would be losing "spring reaction" from the side that needs it most.

Donald (on the Rock)

 

[Adam R]

Dinibili,

If the bags are not properly sized, your concerns could be valid, but mine are only load carrying springs for the most part. If I put iin 50 lbs of air, I can get one inch of lift and a rock hard ride. In off-camberr, the high side is likely already extended beyond the height of air spring while the lower bag is pushing hard to expand. Again, properly sized, I believe you get a more stable ride off-camber. I'm not sure it is a night and day difference, but I don't feel less stable with the bags in. Either way, my butt inclinometer avoids off camber as much as possible.


Adam

 

[Augie]

Dinibili, the weight transfer would be a much higher concern if you run airbag front and rear. With our limited articulation IFS I found this not to be a problem. My airbag setup would be too complicated for most people. I like the flexibility I have though. I could adjust my lift from 1-4" and off road at full pressure it would not hamper articulation with the valve open. I admit mine are a bit tricky to set since higher pressure does not automatically guarantee higher payload in my case. I am running them with Progressive rate OME 865.

I am agree with Adam R. Properly sized airbag would work good and you would not change stability of the truck. The only drawback is the pressure would need to be maintained a lot more versus no maintenance coil spring.

 

[dinibili]

In terms of front and rear air bags and interconnections on heavy vehicles (Trucks and alike) they will often cross the airlines especially on Tandem drives so that the front LHS is linked with the rear RHS and visa versa. The current series 3 Discos do a similiar thing (Crosslinked) for a similiar reason.

 

[dclee]

In terms of front and rear air bags and interconnections on heavy vehicles (Trucks and alike) they will often cross the airlines especially on Tandem drives so that the front LHS is linked with the rear RHS and visa versa. The current series 3 Discos do a similiar thing (Crosslinked) for a similiar reason.

Interesting, neve thought of that. Would the effect of this be like a poor man's XREAS or KDSS? That gets one thinking...

 

[dinibili]

Interesting, neve thought of that. Would the effect of this be like a poor man's XREAS or KDSS? That gets one thinking...

What is a poor man's XREAS or KDSS?

Donald (on the Rock)