Air Bag Lifters

[chuck blanford]

Has anyone installed the air bag lifters that are advertised in GMCMM?
What was your experience, and what are the advantages/disadvantages?

Thanks

Chuck
77 Kingsley

 

[scott woodworth]

Hey guys,

Could someone tell me what air bag lifters are? I don't get GMCMM.
Does anyone have experience with other suspension mods such as the 4 air
bag system or 6 wheel disk brakes?

- -Scott Woodworth

 

[bartz paul]

Scott:

The bag lifters are a kit of plates and hardware. You remove the bags,
install the plates at the bag anchoring/mounting locations on each of
the suspension arms (i.e. two plates per bag) and then re-install the
bags, however the bags mount at the upper hole of the plates.

The principal is that the plates holding the repositioned bags, allow
the bags to be positioned about two inches higher in elevation than
original, provides a longer lever. Thus, less air pressure is required
to elevate the coach to any given height. Additionally, it's claimed
that a softer ride is achieved due to the lower bag air pressure.

I installed both the four-air bag and six-wheel disk brakes on our coach
in March 1995 at the GMCMI Myrtle Beach Rally and am very happy with
them. While installing them, there was no end of spectators watching
the installation throughout the day and two GMC'er friends even helped
with the wrenching.

The air bags definitely dampen the side-to-side and fore-to-aft movement
of the coach while under motion. At the time, they eliminated about 60%
of the wiggle one experiences when traversing rutted asphalt pavement.
Bridgestone R-265 tires took care of the remainder of the wiggle.

My wife was the instigator behind upgrading the brakes once she learned
that brake fade was not a factor in mountainous driving with them
installed.

Paul Bartz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Woodworth [SMTP:myvair]
> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 1998 8:44 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Air Bag Lifters
>
> Could someone tell me what air bag lifters are? I don't get GMCMM.
> Does anyone have experience with other suspension mods such as the 4
> air bag system or 6 wheel disk brakes?

 

[9675.0203]

Justin,

Do you have the address, tel # of Ray Rhodes? How about the cost?
The ones I have seen an add for are from Paul Bennett in Columbia, SC,
cost ..$119.95+SH for a complete set for both sides.

HR in Indy
9675.0203
==============================================================

>
> I haven't seen the ad you mention but I have installed air bag lifters which I
> bought from Ray Rhodes in Dallas. They are great. The ride is noticeably
> smoother (softer) because of the lower air pressure in the bags. I have not
> noticed any disadvantages. Handling is fine. I had one problem. Mine came
> with 'star' type lock washers. After about 2,000 miles the nuts loosened up.
> I replaced the lock washers with the split type and have not had any more
> trouble. I probably have 20K on the lifters.
> You do not need to make any adjustments to the leveling mechanism. It works
> the same.
> Justin Hill
>
> .

 

[bartz paul]

Justin:

The pin fixing the suspension arm to the center casting is the fulcrum.
The bag is at the opposite end of the arm from the fulcrum, making the
arm a lever. The air bag lifters extend the length of the arm. With
the air bag lifter installed you have a longer lever.

Think of the effect as the mechanical advantage you get in going from a
short handled lug nut wrench to a longer one. It is easier (less force
is required) to turn the lug nut with a longer vs. a shorter length
wrench.

Thus, with air bag lifters installed, less air pressure (force) is
required to raise the coach to any given level compared to not having
the lifters.

Paul Bartz
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CHill113 [SMTP:CHill113]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 10:50 PM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Air Bag Lifters
>
> They are extentions about 3 inches long that bolt where the air bag
> nows bolts in. Then the air bag is bolted in new holes about 3 inches
> higher. This 'fulcrum' effect (if that is the correct term) doesn't
> require as much air pressure in the bags. The pressure is
> automatcally adjusted by your present leveling device.
>
> Justin

 

[chuck blanford]

Justin

Does your coach still have the full range of motion re
raising/lowering/leveling that you had pre-lifters?

Chuck

- ----------
> From: CHill113
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Air Bag Lifters
> Date: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 9:47 PM
>
> I haven't seen the ad you mention but I have installed air bag lifters
which I
> bought from Ray Rhodes in Dallas. They are great. The ride is noticeably
> smoother (softer) because of the lower air pressure in the bags. I have
not
> noticed any disadvantages. Handling is fine. I had one problem. Mine
came
> with 'star' type lock washers. After about 2,000 miles the nuts loosened
up.
> I replaced the lock washers with the split type and have not had any more
> trouble. I probably have 20K on the lifters.
> You do not need to make any adjustments to the leveling mechanism. It
works
> the same.
> Justin Hill

 

[9675.0203]

Dave Greenberg previously wrote the following:

"Hi Chuck,

I had Alex Sirum install them when I was having new brakes done and
frankly I can't say I feel any big difference. They are supposed to
carry less air and theoretically they move the bags a tad farther away
from a flailing tire in case of a blowout, but I do know they don't let
you raise or lower the coach as far as you can with out them.

Probably someone out there has better experience to relate.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
Delray Beach, FL
davegreenberg1"

=====================================================================

>
> Justin
>
> Does your coach still have the full range of motion re
> raising/lowering/leveling that you had pre-lifters?
>
> Chuck
>
> ----------
> > From: CHill113
> > To: gmcmotorhome
> > Subject: Re: GMC: Air Bag Lifters
> > Date: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 9:47 PM
> >
> > I haven't seen the ad you mention but I have installed air bag lifters
> which I
> > bought from Ray Rhodes in Dallas. They are great. The ride is noticeably
> > smoother (softer) because of the lower air pressure in the bags. I have
> not
> > noticed any disadvantages. Handling is fine. I had one problem. Mine
> came
> > with 'star' type lock washers. After about 2,000 miles the nuts loosened
> up.
> > I replaced the lock washers with the split type and have not had any more
> > trouble. I probably have 20K on the lifters.
> > You do not need to make any adjustments to the leveling mechanism. It
> works
> > the same.
> > Justin Hill
>
> .

 

[the hamiltons]

I put air bag lifters on a couple of years ago based on the comments of
some experienced users. My results have been no change in ride or control
and I assume that is because the lower air bag pressure is off set by the
increased mechanical advantage. I notice no difference when lowering the
coach but have lost about an inch in maximum height for campground
levelling. The benefit I like is the 20 to 30 or so lbs less of pressure in
the bags which means less time the pump runs to level or to "travel". I
adjusted the pump pressure regulator to cut off at 100 psi rather than 120
psi. The last 20 psi takes longer than previous 20 psi.

Al Hamilton