How Does Airbags For Trucks Work?

Have you ever heard the term “airbag” directed at a pickup’s suspension? No, aside from their pneumatic properties, these components aren’t anything like the life-saving devices found in your pickup’s steering wheel, dash, and seat bolsters. Regarding a pickup’s suspension, airbags are a completely different animal. 

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If you aren’t well-versed on the topic, air suspension can be a tricky concept; however, with a little guidance from our staff, you’ll be an expert in no time! In this article, we’re covering the basics of air suspension on trucks, including what this useful system is, the components that comprise it, and some of our favorite kits currently on the market!

Towing Air Suspension

First, let’s talk towing and hauling. Towing-centric suspension, like add-on airbag systems, is the most common form of air suspension, especially on pickups. These systems consist of durable rubber air bladders that work alongside your pickup’s other suspension components. 

These bladders, or “airbags,” are installed between your pickup’s frame and rear axle; when inflated, the airbags stiffen up and support your pickup’s rear suspension, increasing rear ride height, reducing spring sag, and improving overall stability.

Depending on the kit, towing airbags can add hundreds to thousands of pounds of load-leveling assistance, keeping your trailer stable and level.

Full-Replacement Air Suspension

Then, we have full-replacement air suspension, often installed for aesthetic purposes on lowered and significantly lifted applications. These systems typically replace your pickup’s coil and leaf springs with air bladders, allowing you to raise and lower your pickup with air pressure! These systems typically require custom fab work and are commonly seen on show trucks; think about any massive SEMA build or body-dragging dually you’ve ever seen. 

While aesthetically pleasing, full-replacement air suspension systems don’t offer much benefit in real-world use.

While some air suspension kits are more complex than others, each features the same basic components. These include: 

• Airbags: Airbags, also known as air bladders, are thick, durable rubber bags installed between your pickup’s frame and axle. These components are filled with air by either a Schrader valve or an onboard air tank/compressor, providing load-leveling assistance or ride height adjustment. 

• Air Lines: Air lines supply air from the air tank/compressor or externally-mounted Schrader valve to the airbags. These durable lines are traditionally manufactured from thick nylon tubing for maximum durability. 

• Airbag Mounts/Crade: These components are used to secure the airbags to your vehicle’s chassis. Typically, airbag mounts and cradles are manufactured from heavy-duty steel for maximum strength and durability. They often feature a simple, bolt-on design that’s specific to your application, eliminating the need to cut or drill into your pickup’s frame. 

Alternatively, several airbag kits include air compressors and air tanks that mount aboard your pickup. When wired into the electrical system and plumbed into the airbags, these components allow you to increase and decrease pressures with the push of a button! They also don’t rely on an outside air source, making you less reliant on gas station air pumps on long hauls. 

Airbag systems with on-board air add several components to the above list, including: 

• Compressor: This product utilizes an electric motor to draw in external air, which it then places under a vacuum to reduce its volume. 

• Air Tank: Pressurized air is then placed into the air tank, which stores air until you increase pressure inside your airbags.

• Pressure Gauge: The pressure gauge may be manual or digital; in either case, it monitors the air pressure of your bags, allowing you to verify that the PSI in the bags matches your load without ever leaving your pickup’s cab!  

• Air Management System: While not included with all onboard air systems, air management systems feature a standalone computer that monitors the pressure in your vehicle’s airbags compared to the load on the hitch or in the bed. They’re typically load-leveling and auto-adjusting, making towing and hauling a breeze!

How Does Airbag Suspension Work?

Air springs install either between your truck's leaf springs and frame or inside its coil springs. Working in conjunction with an air compressor, they provide additional support at the front or rear of your vehicle, allowing you to maintain a level ride height when hauling a heavy payload. These air springs are adjustable, giving you the ability to inflate and deflate the bags manually or via remote control. You can even adjust the bags individually, which improves handling when you're carrying a heavy, uneven load. This degree of control allows you to create the perfect balance of load support and ride comfort with no compromises.

Leaf Spring Air Suspension

Most trucks on the road today use leaf springs, a set of curved metal bars stacked together, as the basis of the rear suspension system. When a very heavy load is being towed or carried in the bed, the distance between the frame and leaf springs begins to close, which can lead to bottoming out if the truck hits any bumps or potholes. An air spring bridges this gap and helps shore up the suspension, greatly reducing the chance of bottoming out and vastly improving your truck's handling and braking when under a load.

Coil Spring Air Suspension

Coil springs, often found on the front of modern trucks and SUVs, can begin to sag if the vehicle is overloaded with equipment such as a heavy snow plow. Coil spring air bags help prevent this issue by installing within the spring itself. Once the bag is installed, it can be inflated to maintain a level ride and improve your vehicle's handling and safety.

Firestone RED Label Air Bag Suspension Kits are a premium, commercial-grade airbag system engineered exclusively for heavy-duty ¾ and 1-ton pickup trucks. Each kit includes everything necessary to install Firestone RED Label airbags, including all mounts, air lines, and fittings. Each kit is rated up to pounds per pair, leveling even the heaviest trailers! 

RED Label airbags utilize commercial-grade bellows for maximum strength. Each airbag is pressure-tested before leaving the factory, ensuring leak-free operation and reliable service out of the box. 

Features: 

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from BWHY.

• Levels rear-to-front

• Stabilizes and maximizes your load capacity

• Each air spring is pressure tested before leaving the factory

• RED Label springs use commercial-grade bellows

• Made using high-strength steel components

• Mounts between the frame and suspension

• Rated up to lbs per pair

• USA-made

The Air Lift Air Bag Kit is a simple, easy-to-install system engineered for coil-sprung rear suspension systems. These kits include small airbags installed within your vehicle’s rear coil springs; when inflated, this system adds up to 1,000 pounds of load-leveling assistance, ideal for light loads and half-ton applications. 

Air Lift Air Bag Kits include everything necessary for installation, including airbags, air lines, fittings, and valves. They can be installed front or rear, whether your pickup needs a little help with a snow plow or your SUV needs a bit of load-leveling assistance for a travel trailer. 

Features: 

• Provide up to 1,000lbs of leveling capacity

• Specifically designed for coil-sprung vehicles

• Reduce bottoming out when towing or hauling heavy loads

• Helps to balance uneven loads, increasing traction and stability

• Installs inside of existing coil spring

• Available for front and rear applications

• Backed by a limited lifetime warranty

What Are Airbags on a Truck?

The main purpose of airbags on a truck is to keep your car level when you are hauling or towing around Logan. It functions similarly to a balloon, pumping air into the airbag when there is a heavy load to keep the truck from squatting. When you are not towing you can simply let the air out of the airbag. Airbags are a towing system that can shift the way you drive while hauling. Hauling heavy loads with an inefficient suspension system can cause issues like braking or acceleration issues, or difficulty controlling your vehicle. Airbag systems are helpful in a variety of situations because not all roads are created equally and your vehicle can sometimes use the extra support. 

What are the Pros and Cons of Airbag Suspension Systems?

Airbag suspensions systems are great when you are moving on different roads. If you are hauling on smooth roads and dirt roads, airbags help protect your vehicle from overload. An issue that is associated with airbag suspension systems is high maintenance activity. If you are only using this suspension system every once in a while, your dealership may recommend another system that has lower maintenance requirements. 

How do Airbag Suspension Systems work?

Before you decide on the suspension system that will suit your needs in American Fork, you may be wondering how airbag suspension systems work. Or “do airbags lift your truck?” and the answer to that question is no. Airbag suspension systems are not the same as a lift kit, and both serve different purposes. An airbag suspension system is easy to install and attaches to holes that already exist in your truck frame. When they are installed, they operate like a tire. You inflate and deflate the airbag system with an air system that is placed at the rear of the bumper. There are also some systems available that allow you to control the air pressure from your front seat for added convenience. 

You must be aware of the fact that airbag suspension systems do not increase the hauling capacity of your vehicle, but operate as a protection for your vehicle. 

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