need new airbags, looking at options.

S

shan rose

New member
May 11, 2009
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MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will probably let go
at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but its about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are leaking as of
yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking at the Fararra
bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?

Shan
 
Shan, if your bags are "hot dogged", rotate them 180°. Those bags are three
layers. An inner bladder that holds the air, a fabric envelope inpregnated
with rubber that helps contain the bladder, and finally, an outer cover
similar to a tire made with u.v. resistant rubber. It can show checking and
cracks, without compromising the integrity of the bag. They are rated for
over twice the air pressure that the GMC puts on them. I would not worry
about them until they start losing air. My personal choice for replacement
bags would be a quadra bag system if money were not an issue. If I were on
a budget, I would choose the sullybag system. Your choices will vary.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an
> original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will
> probably let go
> at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but its
> about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are leaking as of
> yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the
> system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking at the
> Fararra
> bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?
>
> Shan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Or, or if you ever plan to up grade to a wireless air,which you will have
to one day
Use the scully system.

> Shan, if your bags are "hot dogged", rotate them 180°. Those bags are three
> layers. An inner bladder that holds the air, a fabric envelope inpregnated
> with rubber that helps contain the bladder, and finally, an outer cover
> similar to a tire made with u.v. resistant rubber. It can show checking and
> cracks, without compromising the integrity of the bag. They are rated for
> over twice the air pressure that the GMC puts on them. I would not worry
> about them until they start losing air. My personal choice for replacement
> bags would be a quadra bag system if money were not an issue. If I were on
> a budget, I would choose the sullybag system. Your choices will vary.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>

>
> > MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an
> > original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will
> > probably let go
> > at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but
> its
> > about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are leaking as of
> > yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the
> > system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking at the
> > Fararra
> > bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?
> >
> > Shan
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
 
Shan
PM sent
I have some nice used airbags for sale.

Dennis

> MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will probably
> let go at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but its about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are
> leaking as of yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking
> at the Fararra bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?
>
> Shan

--
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
 
Shan,

I haven't used (or even ridden on) either the Sully or the Ferrara bags but
I have talked to several who've used each. The consensus seems to be that
the Sully bags soften the rear ride a little vs OEM, as should be expected
from their much lower operating air pressure. The Ferrara bags are
reported to perform almost identically to the OEM bags -- they run about
the same air pressure. One of those I've talked to developed his own
equivalent system simultaneously with, and totally independently of, the
Sully bag. He recently replaced them with the Ferrara bag and now reports
that he's experiencing less "float" and equivalent performance to OEM.

JWIHear, for what that's worth.

Ken H.

> MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an
> original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will
> probably let go
> at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but its
> about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are leaking as of
> yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the
> system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking at the
> Fararra
> bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?
>
 
The Alex Ferrara bags are working vey well for people that prefer a better
handling.
We have supplied many and have received good feedback. Easy to install.

> Shan, if your bags are "hot dogged", rotate them 180°. Those bags are three
> layers. An inner bladder that holds the air, a fabric envelope inpregnated
> with rubber that helps contain the bladder, and finally, an outer cover
> similar to a tire made with u.v. resistant rubber. It can show checking and
> cracks, without compromising the integrity of the bag. They are rated for
> over twice the air pressure that the GMC puts on them. I would not worry
> about them until they start losing air. My personal choice for replacement
> bags would be a quadra bag system if money were not an issue. If I were on
> a budget, I would choose the sullybag system. Your choices will vary.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>

>
> > MY bags are needing replacement. the right side bag looks to be an
> > original firestone. and has severe checking and is bulging, it will
> > probably let go
> > at some point. the drivers side bag ,is an aftermarket replacement but
> its
> > about 10 years old and also is developing checking. non are leaking as of
> > yet thankfully. Though I do have a leaky airline somewhere in the the
> > system, which I located near the front somewhere. I was looking at the
> > Fararra
> > bag system, does anyone have any experience with this system?
> >
> > Shan
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Jim Bounds (and perhaps others) fits a 4 bag system that will allow travel even with one of the rear wheels removed. More expensive but a nice
feature.
--
Cary, NC

No Coach yet but likely center kitchen, dry side bath Royale, 78, 403, hopefully with good original white Imron paint.
 
You really cannot travel on it. Do you want to put 4000 pounds on one tire that is rated for about 2500 pounds? Not for very far.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> Jim Bounds (and perhaps others) fits a 4 bag system that will allow travel even with one of the rear wheels removed. More expensive but a nice
> feature.
> --
> Cary, NC
>
> No Coach yet but likely center kitchen, dry side bath Royale, 78, 403, hopefully with good original white Imron paint.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
yeah I'da loved a quad bag system but i'm a Student again and on a pretty tight budget. I'm also living in my rig, so need to stay road worthy. so a
cheap and viable option is what im looking at right now. :)
 
Duce,

I would say to go with a set of good used original bags if money is an issue.

We replaced our nice original '78 bags with a 4 Bag system because we wanted to and had the funds at the time.

We never noticed a harder ride, although with the higher air pressure it probably was. One upside of the higher pressure is a higher spring rate and
less roll.

We rotated our original air bags about once a year to control hot-dogging; easy to do and no problem.

The only perceived shortcoming we had with the original one-bag system was that if for some reason the single bag blew that side suspension would
collapse; don't personally know of that ever happening to anybody, although someone, somewhere must have done it.

If you have trouble finding a set of originals, send us a PM.

Good for you becoming a student again!!

Don and Susan Jeffers
78 Eleganza III Cad 507 EFI
 
Main reason for Hot Dogging is wrong height.
At correct height, the cones apply equal pressure so only gravity will
influence its attitude.

On Tue, Apr 11, 2017 at 8:06 PM, Don Jeffers
wrote:

> Duce,
>
> I would say to go with a set of good used original bags if money is an
> issue.
>
> We replaced our nice original '78 bags with a 4 Bag system because we
> wanted to and had the funds at the time.
>
> We never noticed a harder ride, although with the higher air pressure it
> probably was. One upside of the higher pressure is a higher spring rate and
> less roll.
>
> We rotated our original air bags about once a year to control hot-dogging;
> easy to do and no problem.
>
> The only perceived shortcoming we had with the original one-bag system was
> that if for some reason the single bag blew that side suspension would
> collapse; don't personally know of that ever happening to anybody,
> although someone, somewhere must have done it.
>
> If you have trouble finding a set of originals, send us a PM.
>
> Good for you becoming a student again!!
>
> Don and Susan Jeffers
> 78 Eleganza III Cad 507 EFI
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
> Main reason for Hot Dogging is wrong height.
> At correct height, the cones apply equal pressure so only gravity will
> influence its attitude.
>
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
> jimk
> http://www.appliedgmc.com
> 1-800-752-7502

To back up what Jim K says. If the rear ride height is correct then the cones surfaces are parallel to each other and there is no hot dogging.

When I got my coach 15 or 16 years ago the bags were hot dogged. I rotated them and set the rear ride height to the correct dimension. It was
originally way too high. That greatly improved the steering and the bags have never hot dogged again.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Shan,
I'm a believer in sticking with the single bag system over the 4 bag system. In the single bag system, road bumps and shock is transferred through
the airbag to the opposing bogie and wheel. This substantially reduces the road shock transferred to the frame resulting in a smoother ride.

With the 4 bag systems, road shock and bumps are transferred to the frame as a rotating torque on the bogie. The rear tires are also going to
experience higher road shock loads as these loads do not get balanced out immediately. If you have each isolation valve closed and a tiny leak in one
bag assembly, over time the opposing wheel is carrying more of the weight from that side.

We have some hyway railway crossings that are so rough everyone slows to a crawl going over them. With the GMC, you can feel how bad the crossing is
one the front wheels, but when the back wheels go over them its barely a whimper.

Just my farmboy mechanic way of seeing things.

--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
We drove our coach for 8 yrs with the original bag system. I noted that the bags were getting a little checked and decided to proactively make the
change before they blew, So on the way home from a GMCMI rally, I bought the Sully system with the intention of changing as soon as we got home. Not
soon enough. We stopped at our daughters home for a couple of days where I pulled in and leveled up. 30 minutes later a cannon went off, and found
the coach down on the frame with a blown bag. Fortunately I had a spare bag that got us the remaining 80 miles home. I changed out the bags to the
Sully system and a week later headed out for a short camping trip. I noticed NO difference in ride between the original and Sully system, and have
been riding on them now for 3 yrs. Only differences I have found is 45-50 lbs pressure in the bags as opposed to the 85-90 lbs, meaning less stress
on the air related components, and full raise is not quite as high as the original...about an inch less. JWID
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
Any commentary on "Bag Risers" ?? (bracketry that raises the bags upwards 2 inches or so...)

Steve W
1973 23'
Southern Califoria
 
I have installed quite a few sets of them with my wireless remote
suspensions, and they perform like they are supposed to. I have not
encountered any problems with them. YET.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> Any commentary on "Bag Risers" ?? (bracketry that raises the bags upwards
> 2 inches or so...)
>
> Steve W
> 1973 23'
> Southern Califoria
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Bag risers will give you a softer ride and also cause the rear to be less
stable as it will change the characteristics.

> I have installed quite a few sets of them with my wireless remote
> suspensions, and they perform like they are supposed to. I have not
> encountered any problems with them. YET.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
> On Apr 12, 2017 7:55 AM, "Steve Weinstock"

>
> > Any commentary on "Bag Risers" ?? (bracketry that raises the bags
> upwards
> > 2 inches or so...)
> >
> > Steve W
> > 1973 23'
> > Southern Califoria
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
not sure what "hot Dogging" is, for me that was what you meant when you were trying to show off lol, but here is what my right side bag looks like. I
found out the leak in my left is not from the bag but rather the checkvalve that failed on my Air Zenith compressor. its been giving me 7 years
trouble free operation and its like $25 for a new one so no biggie. I like my 150 psi airpressure as it also drives my Nathan K3LA Airchime, which I
perfer to the punny stock honk honk horn that no one in LA listens to, the Nathan gets their asses out the way! and fast! :d

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BjicTtfTmXaVR2cUMzckMybGc/view?usp=sharing
 
That doesn't look like hot dogging but rather like a severe aneurysm that might blow at anytime. Better replace it NOW!

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> not sure what "hot Dogging" is, for me that was what you meant when you were trying to show off lol, but here is what my right side bag looks like. I
> found out the leak in my left is not from the bag but rather the checkvalve that failed on my Air Zenith compressor. its been giving me 7 years
> trouble free operation and its like $25 for a new one so no biggie. I like my 150 psi airpressure as it also drives my Nathan K3LA Airchime, which I
> perfer to the punny stock honk honk horn that no one in LA listens to, the Nathan gets their asses out the way! and fast! :d
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BjicTtfTmXaVR2cUMzckMybGc/view?usp=sharing
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Hot dogging is when the bags deform into a curved shape - like a hot dog.

Steve Jess - Tucson, AZ
Mid-day/PM newscaster
Arizona Public Media

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Shan Rose
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 4:34 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] need new airbags, looking at options.

not sure what "hot Dogging" is, for me that was what you meant when you were trying to show off lol, but here is what my right side bag looks like. I
found out the leak in my left is not from the bag but rather the checkvalve that failed on my Air Zenith compressor. its been giving me 7 years
trouble free operation and its like $25 for a new one so no biggie. I like my 150 psi airpressure as it also drives my Nathan K3LA Airchime, which I
perfer to the punny stock honk honk horn that no one in LA listens to, the Nathan gets their asses out the way! and fast! :d

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BjicTtfTmXaVR2cUMzckMybGc/view?usp=sharing
20170412_154755.jpghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BjicTtfTmXaVR2cUMzckMybGc/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com

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