Kind of a random idea but I’m looking into repurposing my rear air bags. My boat trailer is about an inch or two too low to clear my driveway apron without stacking 2x4’s under the tires. I’m curious about using the airbags from the GX to raise the trailer while pulling in/out of driveway. Do you think the bags can handle this weight? One on each side of axle, building custom perches to hold the bags. It’s an older ski boat, I’m guessing maybe 2k lbs?
Weight rating of stock rear bags?
- Thread starter trd4x4
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id have to imagine they could handle a 2k pound boat. the gx is about 4700 pounds i think, and some quick searches say the weight distribution is 53/47. so thats about 2209 dry weight on the bags. theyre capable of more though because i think max tongue weight is about 500 pounds. so figure 2400 pounds is within design limit for them.
The Gross Axle Weight Rating on my '07 GX is 3,350 lbs - basically the max weight the rear axle can carry. All of that would be supported by the airbags, other than the weight of the tires/axle/wheels itself (probably a few hundred pounds). It's uncertain if that is governed by the airbags, tires, wheels, rear axle, or something else. Either way, your airbags (when new) should have no problem up to around 3,000 lbs (GAWR minus axle/tire/wheel weight), although they may start leaking if they are cracked/dry rotted.
I have a similar issue with my car trailer and was able to solve it with a careful selection hitch drop amount. I go down initially (lower the ball and raise the rear of the trailer so it doesn't scrape) then I go to high once the trailer is in the driveway (to raise the front of the trailer up so that the jack doesn't scrape).
easier than retrofitting bags on a trailer
easier than retrofitting bags on a trailer
