How to Pick Heavy or Standard Duty Compressor Kit for Suspension Enhancement

Question:

I have a 2011 ram 3500 4x4 dually and tow a 16500 gvwr fifth wheel trailer. I have firestone ride rite air bags on the rear. Id like to install an on board compressor to be able to adjust on the fly. Im not sure if I need the standard or heavy duty model. We tow pretty frequently. I have been manually adding 30psi to the air bags prior to hitching up. The truck still squats down about 2. Bad bridge joints and interstates make our truck buck like a bronco we have a Trail-Air pinbox, inflated to the top of the arrow. Adding more psi in the truck air bags gives a very stiff uncomfortable ride. Im guessing I need to lower my air bag psi? Being able to adjust on the fly for differing road conditions may give us the ideal ride comfort? We purchased this fifth wheel new in July and still dont have the ride dialed in for comfort yet. Our previous fifth wheel was about 1000 lbs. lighter, we filled the air bags to 15-20psi prior to hitching it had a MorRyde pinbox and it gave a comfortable ride. So our question is on board compressor with or without air tank? for the ability to adjust on the fly. Will this help smooth out the ride, and if so, a standard or heavy duty compressor? Thanks.

asked by: Bill M

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you plan on using the compressor pretty frequently I would go with a heavy duty compressor # F2097 as it will inflate the bags much quicker and was built for higher weight setups like what you will be towing.

Firestone recommends the heavy duty compressor for towing trailers that are longer than 20 feet in length and on vehicles with 8 lug wheels (this indicates higher towing capacities).

Higher pressure in the bags will create a stiffer/bouncier ride. To soften the bumps I would try lowering the PSI in the bags as that will smooth things out. I would add just enough air pressure to the bags to allow the truck to no longer sag.

expert reply by: Jameson C