Commonly debated question...

I don't really want to do anything with my truck like hauling or towing. The only detrimental weight that would be added to it is my sub box and a buddy which would probably equal up to 350lbs. And then inlcude me...

I want to drive it daily, but still just want it strictly for the streets.

The air bag systems once again still sounds like a good investment than anything else. Adding the extras to keep the system handling safely sounds worth it. I figured the water seperator and such would already be on the air system. It should be a typical thing since air compressors pump the air which has moisture in it. Tanks fill with water and bam! I still think if it was hardlined, it would be best. don't see how a stell line can burst from air?

I still wonder about the problem of using the truck in the winter. It gets cold enough in our city to shut off the power! What kind of stress does it face in the winter?

Dam dude where do you live? I only know one guy that ran air in the winter here in Toronto. It was a 4X4 surburban with shockwaves in the front and bags in the rear. The only problem that he had was the salt ate the seals on the shockwaves and they were done after 1 winter.

Use DOT aproved air lines. If there good for transport trucks then they should be ok on yours.

if that idiot of a shop guy has so much problem with air suspensions, he doesnt know what he is doing.

if his setups have problems with blowing air springs and air lines, then he shouldn't be installing them.

don't expect an airbag to install itself properly. your stock springs do not rub on anything does it? so why does a softer compound rubber should? exactly, it shouldnt.

there are people in here that drive their bagged truck everyday, rain or shine. like me. same air springs for 2yrs now, and just recently replaced air lines. why? because the shit is 2yrs old, plastic does not last long.


yes you run the risk of puncturing lines, springs, etc. there is one solution. DONT LET IT HAPPEN. do your shit right and quit complaining about the damn price and just DO IT.

i really dont think you will ever blow a hydrualic line.. They are rated on average of 4500psi.. which is far more pressure than the weight of an average vehicle can produce.. You'd be most likely to get leaks at fittings, or your seals in the cylinders. Yeah, it can be messy.. But its nothing that cant be cleaned up with a little elbow grease..

its honestly all personal preferance... I like my hydros because of the travel i get, the speed i get, and the fact that i dont need to wait for an air tank to fill up. I know that whenever i hit the switch, the truck will lift. you really would have to TRY to let your batteries get low enough to the point where they wont lift. on my 4 battery setup, a charge will last a good 2 or 3 weeks easily.

air has its issues too.. You dont get as much suspension travel, valves can freeze in the winter, and yes, you can puncture a bag.. But its all in the quality of the install.. If you make sure theres plenty of room around the bag, and its not rubbing anywhere, you wont have any problems.. make sure you run your lines away from anyhting hot, and away from anything that can rub on them.. It will be fine.. And for valves freezing.. go to a truck supply store, and get soem air brake antifreeze.. works wonders..

It all comes down to what you like better, and what you want out of your system. Hydraulics can ride just as good as bags.. or they acn ride horribly.. all depends on the setup..

Bags can also ride awesoem.. but can ride terribly as well..

man the fuck up

I agree with Mark.

It's all in who sets up the ride and how well they do it. You can make either hydraulics or bags go bad if the install is wrong.

I never had a problem with my air ride. I have had my valves freeze but since the fronts where under the hood and the rears were under the bed the heat of the truck would warm them up in no problem.

Lines don't just blow for no reason. They rub on shit or someone routes them through sharp corners.

Bags dont blow for any reason. They have to be pushed past their design angles or they have to be rubbed or over pressured.

All of this shit is common sense if it seems fuck-ed up it is fuck-ed up. Do it right the first time and the shit will last along time.

TRu that, I wish I would have done my shit right the first time, after all the problems i had i could have already had my truck painted with the money i spend on repairing shit instead of improving shit

i have only seen a hydraulic line bust 1 time in my life and that was this weekend. the only reason it busted was because it had been rubbing on a part of the frame and caused a weak point in the line...


with that said, both air and hydraulics are designed to handle the wear and tear of everyday driving. the key to avoiding problems is preventative maintenance and PROPER INSTALLATION.

haha i feel ya. i've changed my rear setup once, re-plumbed and re-wired the air system who knows how many times just because i didnt like it. but yea it adds up

so all in all. do it right. whatever your definition of right may be. i just hope it's good

lol yes a tru mini trucker is never done with his truck were always wanting to re-do things make this better and such.

me personally im about to down size my 12 gallon tank to 2 3's or 2 5's so they can go under the bed and then smoothen the bed out