I bought a 5th wheel contingent on a successful test tow. Pin weight is 1500 pounds. When hitched, I was about 1.5 or 2" from the bumper stops over leaf springs. During driving the 5er pulled very nice and stopped very nice. Very stable and smooth on highway.
See pics attached...
BUT. When I hit bumps or sways in the road, I bottomed out, causing instability. I believe that with Airbags or Supersprings, or a entire new leaf spring set, I could do it easily.
I am looking for comments from guys who have towed 5ers. (Not looking for weight police comments ...I am well aware of the capacities and issues involved).
If you tow 5ers, I am interested in your comments on what you did with the spring situation. If springs, please tell me what you bought and how you like them. Or airbags, same thing...
I have heard about Supersprings. Also Firestone Ride Rite Airbags.
Last edited by Gary_Tenison; 03-20-2008 at 10:42 PM.
Thanks. Just got a quote from the RV dealer for Firestone Ride Rites with manual inflation connection (650$), Ride Rite 2445. Or compressor installation for 1100 bucks. Fairly pricey.
I'm sure you know what i recomend...........Firestone ride rites.
I'm having mine installed on Monday only because my dad just had his put on and oh what a difference it made. His trailer is about the same pin weight as yours & it makes a HUGE difference, even when empty w/ 5psi in they help with the ride quite a bit, & when you sit on the tailgate you can notice a big improvement as well ( with only 5psi ).
I'm paying $600 installed only because they have to fabricate a special bracket in order for it to work with a B&W type turnover ball gooseneck hitch. But IMO it's worth it.
I would recomend a good quality digital pressure guage though.
Are you going 5th wheel hitch or goose? $600 seems high if you're going with the 5th wheel one. You should be able to get it done for around $400 or so.
Those jayco's are pretty damn good trailers. You have about the same distance to the bumps as my dad had with his 27' Durango (before he got airbags). You definately need a little spring help.
Good looking rig you got there Gary.
I love that salsa red color, good choice.
Those pics are making me want to go camping right NOW!
Thanks. I am having 2445 Ride Rites put on next friday. 495 installed. Orginal price was 650 but I told them I found the kit on line for 265 and I didnt understand 400 $ to install them. They finally dropped to 495. Having them put on at the RV dealer. They were listed as certified installers on the firestone site.
Its a Jayco superlite 31.5 with quad bunks. My trailering will be within Michigan on flat highways. Only a few hrs drive every trip. I have to say though that it rode very very smooth and straight and I think it wont be a problem at all once I have these airbags. Weight was definately NOT a stop and go problem....power and brakes are fine.
Good call on the airbags. New springs would help, but will effect the unloaded ride. Helper springs only engage AFTER the rear end squats. That's fine if you don't mind the rear end squatting. I like airbags because they allow you to return the rear end to close to original ride height while still allowing a change in suspension dynamics. And they are adjustable. I don't have the in cab inflation system, but I will get it eventually.
For 5er towing, I would air them up to return the rear to within 1/2" of a level truck. Don't overinflate them because then you will be unloading the factory springs and the airbags will be doing all the work. You want the load shared amongst the springs and airbags and their 3 attach points.
As for weights, please check and make sure you are under the rear axle weight limit. The Tundra is a great truck and I still advise everyone to stay within their limits, but I have also realized that ain't gonna happen with the new Tundra. Folks are going to hook up whatever they want and tow away assuming that if it moves and stops within their level of acceptable performance, it is safe. But exceeding the weight limit of a semi-floating rear axle could result in catastrophic failure, not just premature wear.
Enjoy! If I had a 2007, I would tow a 5er as well.
I think with my dad's Durango hooked up, we only put like 20psi in the bags & the truck sat about 1" lower vs. empty. I think it's best to not put too much air in them. Boy are they touchy when airing them up though. You've got to be careful when using the air at a gas station or you'll blow them up pretty easily.
Also, I will be getting a good quality digital tire pressure guage as soon as i get my bags on.
The listed axle rating for the DC is 4150lbs front, & 4150 rear i beleive. It's listed under the camper section of the owner's manual.
Another reason i belive the airbags are the better choice is the fact that with them aired up, you now have 3 bearing points for the weight. Not just the 2 places where the springs attach to the frame. Which if i remember correctly, reading on here at TS with the 1st gen. tundra's, this was a weak spot. ???
I agree on the load points. The reason i decided on airbag versus spring helpers in that putting a helper spring on still leaves all the load on the two spring mount bolts of each leaf set. Some time ago I had a trailer leaf spring snap at that point. That is the weakest point of a spring set where the top leaf is bent to the bolt hole.
The airbags take the load directly to the frame from another load path and then total load can be shared with the springs. I will do as Tom suggests and raise the rear to within an inch or so or original height before towing.
I get them installed friday and will take pics and give a tow review when I get it done. I have learned a ton on this site with all you guys sharing your experiences and I really appreciate it.
BTW they installed a prodigy but I had thought it would be a P3. Does it really matter much? The trailer brakes are electric. Is there any reason I should bother trading out to a P3?
The difference between the 2 controllers is that the p-3 can operate an electric brake system or hydraulic. The prodigy cannot.
I beleive that if you upgrade your trailer brakes to disc, they then become hydraulic. ??? This is quite costly to do, but they work a lot better from what i've heard.
You be sure to post some pics of your rig with the bags on, alright?
hey guys, not trying to hijack your thread here but i see in the d/l instructions for the 2445 air bags that it says to maintain at least 5lbs. at all times to prevent damage, damage to what the air bags? also 5lbs isn't much air, do they maintain the air pretty well or is leakage a problem?
ps: by the way from reading the instructions online they don't appear to be very difficult to install, no drilling or anything.
I have supersprings and can tell you 2 negative points are when compressed they seem to come in contact frame/shackle on harsh roads. Supersprings fix was for me to install the shackle on the highest point, this brings me to the secon issue...now the ride is more like a 3/4 ton truck so if i wanted that i would have save some $$ and put a plain helper spring.
I would seriously look at air bags, i was thinking of getting some. I have seen them as starting at $250, where are you guys getting them for $600?
Are they really that hard to install?
Yeah...nice trailer, had a Jayco once it was a good product.
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old 2007 Tundra DC 8' bed 5.7 4x4
new 2008 ford f350 oil burner
I just ordered a set of Firestone airbags # 2445 . They do not have a compressor or gauge set just the air bags and all the needed brackets needed for a 2007 08 tundra . they came from suspension connection the price was 233 plus 45 bucks for shipping to Canada . I will see how long before i add an on board compressor as i haul and tow a lot with my turk so the load will be change by the day . Mind you i really bought them for the really heavy loads like skid steers or my TT witch has 28 feet and a large slide witch is in the front of the trailer axles .
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Double cab long box 4x4 5.7 L slate grey . would have bought a limited if available with long box
5th Wheel Tow...Need Springs or airbags?
Linear Mode
