Custom fab Air Spring setup for an OBS

[apextrans]

I couldn't find what I needed to work with a B&W hitch so, I just made the stuff my damn self!!! Set the RV in the fifth wheel & pumped 'em up with great results. Have driven loaded with 'em yet but we take the first trip of the season this weekend. Pics below..

 

[apextrans]

some more....

 

[Mike]

You need air bags on a 1 ton? Are you pushing the GCVW just a hair?

 

[Diesel_brad]

Yeah the stupid mounting plate for the B&W I went w a Drop-n-Lock. Much nicer setup. Only had to open up one hole and reused two others. Then i used airrites "reese" style airbags. Worked awesome. and they went on the outside of the frame, overr the springs for more stability. It sucks you had to go thru all that for airbags. Looks good though. A chevy kit may have worked for you, thats how theirs mount

 

[apextrans]

You need air bags on a 1 ton? Are you pushing the GCVW just a hair?

I dont know. Whats the gcvw for an OBS? Pin weight on the RV is 1890lbs, so I guess i could be over. I really put them on to keep the truck level & smooth the ride out. It squatted the truck about 2" before I put these bags on.

Yeah the stupid mounting plate for the B&W I went w a Drop-n-Lock. Much nicer setup. Only had to open up one hole and reused two others. Then i used airrites "reese" style airbags. Worked awesome. and they went on the outside of the frame, overr the springs for more stability. It sucks you had to go thru all that for airbags. Looks good though. A chevy kit may have worked for you, thats how theirs mount

Never heard of drop-n-lock. They have a fifthwheel setup as well?

 

[Diesel_brad]

I dont think they have a 5th wheel set up but i may be wrong. Their gooseneck hitch is the $#!+

 

[Mike]

I dont know. Whats the gcvw for an OBS? Pin weight on the RV is 1890lbs, so I guess i could be over. I really put them on to keep the truck level & smooth the ride out. It squatted the truck about 2" before I put these bags on.

If you have 4:10's your GCWR is 20,000 and your towing capacity is 12,500. Now if you have 3:55's then you drop to 16,000 GCWR and 10,400 for your towing capacity.

So if your pin is 1890 lbs then unless you, the wife, kids and dogs and fuel together weigh in at 110 lbs combined you might just be over the limit. What does the trailer weigh alone?

 

[apextrans]

Trailer is 11000 with everything stocked & gear loaded. I've got the 4.10's

 

[Mike]

You are right up to or over the limit, no doubt the truck can handle it fine though. Keep an eye on those 305's, are they load range "E"?

 

[VanBoy]

My 90 E350 has a similar set up (yet to be installed). Makes you remove the axle bumper mounted on the frame. I just don't recall how the unit was mounted to the axle (bolted), but as in the shape of the mounts.

My 99 E350, they went to mounting the air bag back on the spring. BUT, they mount it forward of the axle, yes, offset. Don't know why.... might get a system for the 99, but I'll see. (The 90 I got off of EvilBay.... cheap.... got a front AND back less then the price of a back. )

Watch your welds- not saying you are a bad welder or anything, but that one bag and the location of the brake line. If it was I, I would get a custom brake line (be it steel or rubber) and mount it on the outside of the mount instead of through/under. If that weld were to ever break and slam into the brake line and smash or cut it....


Wait a minute.... Your truck has stops for a OEM overload spring set up? Were they removed to install the hitch? I find it funny that you have the stops, but not the spring.....

 

[OLDBULL8]

Now I'm gonna have nightmares about no jack stands. Wish I wouldn't have looked at those pic's.

Nice looking installation tho.

 

[VanBoy]

Now I'm gonna have nightmares about no jack stands. Wish I wouldn't have looked at those pic's.

Nice looking installation tho.

I noticed that....... but I wasn't going to say anything....

 

[apextrans]

You are right up to or over the limit, no doubt the truck can handle it fine though. Keep an eye on those 305's, are they load range "E"?

Yes they are load range "E". I went with 305 instead of 315's for that reason.

My 99 E350, they went to mounting the air bag back on the spring. BUT, they mount it forward of the axle, yes, offset. Don't know why.... might get a system for the 99, but I'll see. (The 90 I got off of EvilBay.... cheap.... got a front AND back less then the price of a back. )

Watch your welds- not saying you are a bad welder or anything, but that one bag and the location of the brake line. If it was I, I would get a custom brake line (be it steel or rubber) and mount it on the outside of the mount instead of through/under. If that weld were to ever break and slam into the brake line and smash or cut it....


Wait a minute.... Your truck has stops for a OEM overload spring set up? Were they removed to install the hitch? I find it funny that you have the stops, but not the spring.....

The systems that mount for or aft of the axle centerline are the 2000lb. systems. directly over the axle is the 5000lb. system. The brake line - I tried positioning things with the line outside of the bracket & it was just too tight so I tucked it inside. I plan on doing the disk brake conversion for the Sterling axle this summer so at that point, I will remove & properly bend it for good clearence outside the perch. We took the RV out this weekend & I didn't want to disturb anything I didn't need to as I was running short on time & couldn't afford to create any other problems before we had to leave. Brake line fittings are pretty rusty back there. I am having a problem with the wire feeder on my welder at times so some of the welds look a bit ugly but the penetration was good.
I have the OL springs. I removed them in anticipation of installing the bags on top of the springs as I've done in the past & then plans changed to what you see here & I haven't put them back on yet but plan to do so. Need longer U bolts after installing a 1" block to the bottom of the spring pack to level the truck.

Now I'm gonna have nightmares about no jack stands. Wish I wouldn't have looked at those pic's.

Nice looking installation tho.

Thanks.

I noticed that....... but I wasn't going to say anything....

Come on guys.....I had the stands under there while I was underneath working. There was enough clutter in the pictures so I took them out to shoot the pictures. I got 3 mouths to feed, I can't get killed in the driveway....

 

[apextrans]

Here's a few pictures I took when we got back today before storing the RV. Lifted, Loaded, & Level.. It rode much better than I expected with the bags & RSK. Doesn't have any power to climb a hill & needs tranny work, but it rides nice.

 

[BigRigTech]

My F350 cab and chassis has air bags front and rear....Put on by the truck builder when it was new. I have to re-plumb once I get my new 12ft steel deck mounted tommorow night...It also has Kenworth rear shocks and adjustable front shocks.

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