Rear airbags suspension discovered... is this a win for me?

[mannym]

I hope they didn’t do any heavy towing with it! That would be my immediate concern.

They had an overland setup. I do have the extended bumper to bumper warranty for another 75k miles.

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[NC_Overland]

They had an overland setup. I do have the extended bumper to bumper warranty for another 75k miles.

That’s good and also better

Edit: you said in the first post that you were guessing they had an overland set up. You verify that they did?

 

[Freems]

I hope they didn’t do any heavy towing with it! That would be my immediate concern.

Just a hair over spec w/bags @30psi

 

[NC_Overland]

Just a hair over spec w/bags @30psi

I towed a 6800 lb mini excavator once. On the trailer, it was well over 8k. It didn’t sag like that at all though and it was like 4 miles. Mine was barely under level and I don’t have air bags. Your tongue weight must be crazy. lol.

 

[Freems]

I towed a 6800 lb mini excavator once. On the trailer, it was well over 8k. It didn’t sag like that at all though and it was like 4 miles. Mine was barely under level and I don’t have air bags. Your tongue weight must be crazy. lol.

My child up elk hunting (middle of no where) breaks down, weather was setting in, about 30 miles back to the house. Went the speed limit home no drama.

 

[PLP1]

I purchased a 23' Rubicon from a local Jeep dealership last weekend. Well today my brother noticed a small hose zipp tied to my rear passenger side bumper. I followed it down and low and behold I have rear airbags. Is this a win for me? I am guessing the previous owner must have had some overland gear and rack installed therfore the need for additional spring support. Should I leave them or replace? I also wonder if they would be covered under the extended warranty I purchased from Stellantis, since they were already installed when I purchased the vehicle.

Manny
23' Sarge Green Rubicon

see the picture and video - worth thousands of words:

i installed the AEV HD springs in the rear of my 2019 Gladiator Rubicon ecodiesel in conjunction with my Icon Stage 7 (2.5" lift) kit and airbags because of some sag in the rear.

Some important backround: I have an Alucab canopy camper with second 12 gallon water tank, 50Liter National Luna fridge, 12v lithium, solar panels, full rear seat deletes, Goosegear cabinets, ARB full front bumper, Warn winch, EGR and catalytic converter system full delete and engine remap, .....altogether weighing 3200kg fully laden with primary fuel tank full and auxilliary 35liters). No issues with front suspension except the "death wobble" after about 35,000km which was completely resolved by changing the factory panhard with a Clayton. Our Gladiator has been deployed almost exclusively on overland journeys - Baja California, Western USA, California to Alaska in Oct-Dec (f---g cold); and recently 5months and 22,000km of 70% pretty heavy offroad (rocky and rutted trails) in Peru/Bolivia/Chile/Argentina/Uruguay.)

The engine and suspension revisions with AEV HD springs and airbags in rear was working beautifully through Peru and Bolivia UNTIL the left rear spring broke and punctured the airbag! I think i remember hearing the snapping sound.

(BTW, the Rubicon transmission and ecodiesel without the EGR, DEF, Catalytic converter system and a remap ran amazingly with so much torque and extended power band also at altitudes frequently between 3000 to 5800meters througout Peru and Bolivia (extremely high sulfur diesel there).

So, i'm looking for a better solution to carry my rear load without airbags.....anybody have any suggestions, please? (Didnt seem like the AEV HD springs were all that HD, except maybe the load rating will require even more HD springs? OR, maybe they were a defective set? AEV nor its reseller in California (Tiny Rig Co.) have not responded in 3 months and numerous calls and emails.

Now planning next overland journey through Croatia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Azerbijian across Turkmenistan enroute to Shanghai so don't want another snapped coil and punctured airbag that will be almost impossible to replace/repair without waiting weeks for a replacement and the hassles of import/customs procedures.

.........any advice for better solutions without air bags?

 

[tysongladiator]

Your choices are probably going to be either Heavier duty springs or Air Springs (Not airbags).

 

[PLP1]

Your choices are probably going to be either Heavier duty springs or Air Springs (Not airbags).

What do you recommend, please? Pros and cons of air springs or heavier duty springs? Which heavier duty springs? Thanks!

 

[tysongladiator]

What do you recommend, please? Pros and cons of air springs or heavier duty springs? Which heavier duty springs? Thanks!

I had airbags for over 4yrs and they worked out good. But the airsprings that I have now are better. The can support more weight and unlike the air springs on full size trucks, they're not connected to the axles which means they don't interfere with flex when offroading.

As far as heavier duty springs, most major aftermarket suspension companies have HD springs. I can't speak for all companies, but I do know that the HD springs for Metalcloak are just longer springs. In other words, if you order HD springs for the 3.5" lift, the springs are from the 4.5" lift. You'd have to research more on what would suit you. Not only do you have HD springs, but you can also get dual rate and triple rate springs which could increase how your Jeep rides.

There's so many companies out there, you could get lost doing research. Metalcloak, Rock Krawler, Synergy, JKS, EVO, AEV, Elevate, BDS, etc. And then there's accuair. It's really a lot. The aftermarket supply for Gladiators has really grown.

 

[tysongladiator]

I had airbags for over 4yrs and they worked out good. But the airsprings that I have now are better. The can support more weight and unlike the air springs on full size trucks, they're not connected to the axles which means they don't interfere with flex when offroading.

As far as heavier duty springs, most major aftermarket suspension companies have HD springs. I can't speak for all companies, but I do know that the HD springs for Metalcloak are just longer springs. In other words, if you order HD springs for the 3.5" lift, the springs are from the 4.5" lift. You'd have to research more on what would suit you. Not only do you have HD springs, but you can also get dual rate and triple rate springs which could increase how your Jeep rides.

There's so many companies out there, you could get lost doing research. Metalcloak, Rock Krawler, Synergy, JKS, EVO, AEV, Elevate, BDS, etc. And then there's accuair. It's really a lot. The aftermarket supply for Gladiators has really grown.

Research for your interests is key.

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