custom one off air ride...where to start

[buggy5872]

I want to add air ride to my 1957 chevy 5700 series truck. I use the truck to tow my 36' fifth wheel camper that weighs about 11k lbs. Obviously there is not an off the shelf kit for it. I am looking to build the air ride using ridetech 3500lb. 1T Rolling Sleeve air springs. A combination ride height/dump valve a 5 gallon tank and compressor. Not trying to lay frame or anything like that just improve the ride. The truck is rated at 19500 gvw so it rides rough. I have narrowed it down the parts I need except for the compressor and building the suspension arms form scratch. I think I have the suspension arms figured out. I need some help on the compressor though. I am looking for something that will perform well but don't need some mega expensive compressor. Anyone have any suggestions for me? Anyone see any problems with the springs I am looking at using? This is my first time I have messed with air ride. Here is the truck it will be on......

[ddubbs]

Beautiful truck you have there sir. I was just watching the show Gearz and they were putting a airride setup on a old international semi. The company that they dealt with was Keldermann airride. They build kits. I know you want to build your own but they would be a good source for the info on the type of air management system. I do believe the system they used was a Accuair setup. Hope this helps you out. AWESOME TRUCK!!!
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[buggy5872]

I have looked at their air ride set ups but my problem is my fuel tank is behind the rear end and I have to build my system on the outside of the frame.....

[woodwright]

How about running an engine driven compressor? Find an old York AC pump. They put out a ton of air and I think they're cheaper than big electric pumps.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by woodwright

How about running an engine driven compressor? Find an old York AC pump. They put out a ton of air and I think they're cheaper than big electric pumps.

No room on the engine for anything else....engine sits down in between frame rails and I just fit the a/c compressor and alternator in there. They are between the front cab mounts and about 1/2" below the floor. Engine sits completely under the floor.

[N2TRUX]

Normally I don't recommend build from scratch until I know the persons level of expertise. If you built that sweet beast, then its obvious your fab skills are in line with building the suspension too.

I feel that the best bang for the buck these days are ViAir compressors. We have several vendors here that sell them, and a twin pack would be great for your rig.

[broey]

can you post some pics of your undercarriage? we could get a better idea of how everything looks and help from there.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Normally I don't recommend build from scratch until I know the persons level of expertise. If you built that sweet beast, then its obvious your fab skills are in line with building the suspension too.

I feel that the best bang for the buck these days are ViAir compressors. We have several vendors here that sell them, and a twin pack would be great for your rig.

Yes I did build it so my fab skills are up to par. There is a build thread for it in the 47-59 forum. I will look at the ViAir Compressors...thanks

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by broey

can you post some pics of your undercarriage? we could get a better idea of how everything looks and help from there.

Here is the only pic I could find showing the tank in the way. The rear wheels are singled up so it looks like there is a lot of room but the inner tires are about 5" away from the frame. I will try to get my buddy to take a couple pics. its over in his building.

[Pro Performance]

Firestone has some systems called R4 Tech that are made for heavy duty trucks. I don't have much experience in them, but it might be a start or even some you can adapt to your newer chassis????

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by Pro Performance

Firestone has some systems called R4 Tech that are made for heavy duty trucks. I don't have much experience in them, but it might be a start or even some you can adapt to your newer chassis????

There is no aftermakret systems for the chassis I have. The problem is the rear axle is narrow and there is just enough room for the leaf spring between the tire and the frame. My thought is to make a "trailing arm" of sorts to go from the fromt spring hanger and after the wheel kick out from the frame to allow the room for the air spring. Then use a panhard bar to keep the it centered. I chose the chassis because of the narrow axles worked out to fit the body.

[broey]

what exactly are you trying to accomplish with the air ride? do you actually want to raise and lower the truck? or just help with load while towing?

[buggy5872]

tying to make it ride decent. It rides like a buck board empty and a little harsh with the trailer.

[broey]

what about removing a couple leafs and adding bags over the axles?

[BR3W CITY]

VIAR makes a whole line of compressors, and in some cases I'd consider running a pair of smaller compressors, as redundancy is nice with air components.

If you don't want to really raise or lower it, then building a link setup or such for the rear would be pointlessly expensive. Your basically looking at an air-over-leaf or air-helper type of installation, leaving the leaf springs in place to locate the axle. You may be able to remove some leafs or even have a new leaf pack put together; this means you can run a slightly "softer" leaf spring and let the air bags make up the difference. When your un-loaded it means a better ride, but loaded you'll get the same control, if not a tiny bit more since you can adjust the bag pressure helping with the feel.

A setup like this can be built pretty much cheaper than any other air ride setup, and doesn't require the fab of a link setup. Personally I'd stay away from the sleeve bags, as I do not like the construction of them compared to a bellows-style bag like those from Slam. A pair of bags, a pair of smaller compressors like a viar 280 or 350, a 5-10 gallon tank would get you pretty well started. Then its a matter of building some simple cups and mounts, or modifying some universal parts. Throw it one with a good shock just to help with the dampening, and you have a functional setup.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

VIAR makes a whole line of compressors, and in some cases I'd consider running a pair of smaller compressors, as redundancy is nice with air components.

If you don't want to really raise or lower it, then building a link setup or such for the rear would be pointlessly expensive. Your basically looking at an air-over-leaf or air-helper type of installation, leaving the leaf springs in place to locate the axle. You may be able to remove some leafs or even have a new leaf pack put together; this means you can run a slightly "softer" leaf spring and let the air bags make up the difference. When your un-loaded it means a better ride, but loaded you'll get the same control, if not a tiny bit more since you can adjust the bag pressure helping with the feel.

A setup like this can be built pretty much cheaper than any other air ride setup, and doesn't require the fab of a link setup. Personally I'd stay away from the sleeve bags, as I do not like the construction of them compared to a bellows-style bag like those from Slam. A pair of bags, a pair of smaller compressors like a viar 280 or 350, a 5-10 gallon tank would get you pretty well started. Then its a matter of building some simple cups and mounts, or modifying some universal parts. Throw it one with a good shock just to help with the dampening, and you have a functional setup.

I had thought about that type of set up but have no room for a bag. I have at most 5" clearance between the frame and tires.

[king-918]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

I had thought about that type of set up but have no room for a bag. I have at most 5" clearance between the frame and tires.

You could go inside the frame?
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[ERASER5]

OK, no bags over the spring. But air-over-spring does not always mean "over" the spring. How much room do you have from Axel tube to frame? Or inside frame to pumpkin? The bag will work just as well off set from the springs. Shocks could be an issue possibly.

I looked at the biuld thread, but I could not find a shot of the spring/axel/shock view. Speaking of build thread, WOW would be an understatement! Now I need a few hours to read and absorb. That truck is freaking cool!

[buggy5872]

Here is a shot from the back I was able to get.

There is really no room. If I could nmove the tank there would be all knids of room but there is nowhere to put the tank. As far as under the frame on top of the axle, ther is 3" to the pump stop and maybe 6" total with out the bump stop. Could I remove the bump stop and put an air bag in with an internal bump stop? do bags have a bump stop inside them? Inside the frame is limited. Frame width inside is only 28" and pumpkin is 23" wide to where the axle housing flattens out.. then there is valving for the brakes and stuff in the way.

[ERASER5]

Yes some bag have internal stops, but I have no idea how much load they could carry.

Boy, when someone says you have a "tight" truck, they really have no idea do they?

[rambler]

I've read that some people have built bumpers with built in airtanks.. primarly rockcrawlers.. and not sure if that would work or not?