Airbag installed - Real world towing experience?

[UNSTUCK]

Love my airbags on my ram 1500. They are a must with the soft coil springs. I installed my system with an automatic height adjusting valve. This is a must for boats. If not, once the boat is in the water your rear end goes sky high because no weight is on it anymore. You have to back much further into the water to retrieve the boat. And it looks funny. You’ll be happy with the bags though. Really helps the ride and control.

[Dank]

Love my airbags on my ram 1500. They are a must with the soft coil springs. I installed my system with an automatic height adjusting valve. This is a must for boats. If not, once the boat is in the water your rear end goes sky high because no weight is on it anymore. You have to back much further into the water to retrieve the boat. And it looks funny. You’ll be happy with the bags though. Really helps the ride and control.

I didn't think of this at all... is this really a thing? probably 6-700 lbs tongue weight (guess)?

[UNSTUCK]

Yeah, most airbag systems use the Schrader valves attached to the rear bumper. You just fill them up with your air compressor till you’re happy with the ride height of the truck. This is fine for a TT.
Try hooking the boat to your truck then adjust your air bags to your ride height. Then unhook the trailer. See how that affects the height of the truck.

[Dank]

Yeah, most airbag systems use the Schrader valves attached to the rear bumper. You just fill them up with your air compressor till you’re happy with the ride height of the truck. This is fine for a TT.
Try hooking the boat to your truck then adjust your air bags to your ride height. Then unhook the trailer. See how that affects the height of the truck.

yes, that's what I have installed (Schrader valve) -- . but don't have a boat again till the spring to try it with... so you are saying once the boat comes off the trailer, the rear end is gonna go popping up? so- you have to deflate it / inflate it every time you drop your boat in?

[2in2out]

yes, that's what I have installed (Schrader valve) -- . but don't have a boat again till the spring to try it with... so you are saying once the boat comes off the trailer, the rear end is gonna go popping up? so- you have to deflate it / inflate it every time you drop your boat in?

Yes. Some systems come with an onboard compressor and regulator to adjust the range and ride on the fly. If you get a system with a compressor, make sure it is mounted high enough, and far enough forward so that it doesn’t intake water. I made the mistake of launching my first boat in a shallow launch and submersed the compressor in my Range Rover. $2k mistake, and 5 compressors later the manufacturer fixed the problem that kept making the new ones fail after 2 months.

[Dank]

Yes. Some systems come with an onboard compressor and regulator to adjust the range and ride on the fly. If you get a system with a compressor, make sure it is mounted high enough, and far enough forward so that it doesn’t intake water. I made the mistake of launching my first boat in a shallow launch and submersed the compressor in my Range Rover. $2k mistake, and 5 compressors later the manufacturer fixed the problem that kept making the new ones fail after 2 months.

I don't have the compressor... just a manual air valve. How much are we talking? like, an inch or two or ??? --- I guess I'll wait and see in the spring..

[UNSTUCK]

On my truck it was several inches. I doubt a leaf spring f150 would be as bad though. I put the boat in the water one time and hated it so much that I installed the rest of the system the next week.