Starting point for air bags

[BaliMawr]

Well, I think I got it. Front end is dead nuts on 37", same as unloaded level. Rear squatted 1.5", 40 lbs. of air brought it back up an inch. The bags will go to 70lbs. Can't test-tow until I do final torque of the hitch. Gotta make an extension to get up to 250 ft/lbs, so that'll have to wait until tomorrow. Redarc makes appropriate lights.

Question about tension bar angle- Is it more important that I have adjustability in the L brackets at the trailer (up and down), or that the bars are parallels to the trailer frame? I could throw in another washer at the hitch head and lower the L arms, and the bars would be more parallel, but then I wouldn't be able to lower the l brackets any more. But I'm not going to get any lighter, only heavier, so I guess I only really need upward adjustability at the l brackets on the trailer, right? Talking myself through this.

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[jsalbre]

It’s really a lot of back and forth. If you put air in after you adjusted your WDH then ou’ve taken pressure off of the bars and they’re technically not adjust properly anymore.

Raising and lowering the L brackets makes large scale adjustments, changing the angle of the head makes small scale adjustments. The further from parallel (to the trailer frame) the bars are the more sway control will be in effect.

 

[BaliMawr]

That makes sense, about the sway control. Also about the air bags. I instructions are unhelpful about air bags and setup. I guess I need to air up first, then set the hitch. Most set up instructions ignore rear and squat, focusing entirely on the front end lift.
Weather went to shit this weekend, so I’ll be t revisiting this again next time we load up.

 

[BaliMawr]

Well, I added 30 lbs to the bags, had two volunteers sit in the cab, and adjusted the hitch until the front was sitting at 100% unhitched height. The back still squatted 1" and when I test-drove with just myself, it felt SLIGHTLY light in the front, and the rear was a little bouncy. Might try 40 psi next time. How/where do you guys get measured with scales? I have no idea.

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