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- #81
Are you at all concerned about the reliability issues inherent to an air ride suspension?
Yes. I had air bag suspension on TippyR (That was my 60 series on 53" tires - see my Avatar) and blew out at least 3 air bags. All of them for the same reason... poor engineering/fabrication that allowed the air bag to make contact with some other part of the suspension/body.
I am so concerned that I toy with the idea of NOT using air bags at all... just using coil over springs, but having multiple sets of coils, each with a different spring rate to match the various different configurations... Either that or a combination of coils and helper air bags - rely on the coils for the lightest load, then helper bags just for additional loaded situations.
I've used air bags enough that I am confident that they won't wear out just because they are in the dirt and mud. If well engineered to not make contact with the body, then it will take a very unfortunate and unlucky poking stick to take one out. If it does happen, then I will ride home on my air-bump stop.