airbags on Ibeams

[70shortwide]

Just got off the phone with airbagit.com. the guy i talked to also recomended a 2600lb bag. he also said not to use a triple bellow bag. never said why, just that they were normally used on the back.
I need to find a double bellow, 2600-lb bag that has a diameter of 5"

[marz68]

Just got off the phone with airbagit.com. the guy i talked to also recomended a 2600lb bag. he also said not to use a triple bellow bag. never said why, just that they were normally used on the back.
I need to find a double bellow, 2600-lb bag that has a diameter of 5"

I think with triple bellow bags the center will push out if they are mounted at an angle compared to double bellow. I could be wrong but this is what I see happening.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

2600 lb bag is correct and as for airbagit.com I do not recommend them. Read reviews on them from s10forum.com and other mini truck sites with people on them that use air bags. I'd recommend suicidedoors.com as well. Great guys there and you can find good deals from them at times. Even though I dont care for mini trucks, a lot of them know their stuff on the topic of air bags and suspension and what works with what, etc.
Good luck on the project! My plan on my 66 was to use my lowered I Beams and then use bags on it instead of springs so I can lower it while cruising in shows or cruise in and slam while parked but I am going with a Dodge Dakota front end now.

[wickedinhere]

Just got off the phone with airbagit.com. the guy i talked to also recomended a 2600lb bag. he also said not to use a triple bellow bag. never said why, just that they were normally used on the back.
I need to find a double bellow, 2600-lb bag that has a diameter of 5"

I think with triple bellow bags the center will push out if they are mounted at an angle compared to double bellow. I could be wrong but this is what I see happening.

I dont know why they would push out in the center? The ones i used on the front seem to be very stiff, I have seen some triple bellow bags that are very tall
with no problems. Look at the kelderman air ride they use huge and very tall airbags with no problems at all. I used the triple on the front of mine to make sure to have good clearance of all suspension parts. I woudnt put to much trust in anything airbagit says thats where i got my triple bellow bags but thats all i would order from them and thats the only place i could find what i needed.

[70shortwide]

I may have to go to them anyway. like wickedinhere says, its the only place to get whats needed. i havent found any other bags that were as small in diameter as those. if you go any bigger you will have problems with clearance on the Ibeam itself. right where it kicks up to go out to the spindle

[wickedinhere]

I looked at alot of different places and never found smaller bags thats why i went with the triple bellow bags they carry 2600lbs and are smaller.
I dont know why they would say not to use them on the front they are way stiffer that a normal bag plus the bag has 2 metal bands to keep them from
buldging on the side.

[tybob81]

wickedinhere how many miles have you logged on that truck with the triple bellows? That is the first time I have seen triple bellows in the front. I thought about doing that a while back but was unsure how that style bag would react up front. I say it should ride very nice since you wont have to use so much psi to lift the front.

[wickedinhere]

wickedinhere how many miles have you logged on that truck with the triple bellows? That is the first time I have seen triple bellows in the front. I thought about doing that a while back but was unsure how that style bag would react up front. I say it should ride very nice since you wont have to use so much psi to lift the front.

I am still building the truck so no miles yet. It does lift the front real easy so it should ride pretty good. I should have it ready to drive in about a month if i quit running into problems.

[SMF Speed&Custom]

I'd also recommend a good shock up front or else you will have a really bouncy ride. I have riden in and seen lots of guys drive air bagged vehicles with no shocks and they ride like crap!

[70shortwide]

so should i go ahead and get the triple bellows? I dont see any easier ways at this point... maybe someone has a better idea? I dont have a problem with shocks, i just scored a real nice set off craigslist that i think are gonna be just right. production was slowed down today because i went out and bought another truck. back on track friday, i have some testing to do tommorrow.

I have:
king pins
djm beams
spindles (still need cleaned up) already off the beams
proportion valve


still need:
everything air (i know i know, get on the ball)
brakes
calipers (getting new ones)
rotors turned
any new brake lines that need changed (for discs/proportion valve)

[SMF Speed&Custom]

Sounds like your getting a roll on thing though. Once you gather all the parts together, it will go pretty smoothly. I am one that likes to gather every part that I think I will need FIRST and THEN start on it so I can finish it from start to finish without so many hold ups. Notice I said "without so MANY holdups" because there will always be a few thrown in there.
Just be sure to keep us posted on this with lots of pics and info on how you did it. If I ever buy another 60's Ford pickup I may bag the I beams. I was going to do it with mine I have now but going to just do the Dakota front end so it will ride better and handle.

[70shortwide]

thats my plan. my truck is out in the driveway to make room for the ibeam project inside. I HOPE to pull it in and out within a weekend. Im not counting on anything. at least i have a garage. the main reason for trying to get it done all at once is i have to take my streetbikes and go cart to my buddies while i work on the truck. (more room and they wont get scratches that way)

[crewcabfan]

I looked at alot of different places and never found smaller bags thats why i went with the triple bellow bags they carry 2600lbs and are smaller.
I dont know why they would say not to use them on the front they are way stiffer that a normal bag plus the bag has 2 metal bands to keep them from
buldging on the side.

hey wicked do you have any pictures of the finished product? i'm doing the same set up but my triples dont have the steel bands around 'em. were you able to clear the shock or did you modify and how?
by the way thanks to Marcelino for sharing his knowledge .

[ka_jd7and1]

2600 lb bag is correct and as for airbagit.com I do not recommend them. Read reviews on them from s10forum.com and other mini truck sites with people on them that use air bags. I'd recommend suicidedoors.com as well. Great guys there and you can find good deals from them at times. Even though I dont care for mini trucks, a lot of them know their stuff on the topic of air bags and suspension and what works with what, etc.

I can link the reviews from s10forum.com for you if you'd like.

[wickedinhere]

I looked at alot of different places and never found smaller bags thats why i went with the triple bellow bags they carry 2600lbs and are smaller.
I dont know why they would say not to use them on the front they are way stiffer that a normal bag plus the bag has 2 metal bands to keep them from
buldging on the side.

hey wicked do you have any pictures of the finished product? i'm doing the same set up but my triples dont have the steel bands around 'em. were you able to clear the shock or did you modify and how?
by the way thanks to Marcelino for sharing his knowledge .

I just got the truck running, i havent bought my front shocks yet but the stock shock will fit so you should have any clearance problems with shocks.
I need to measure and get mine ordered i am probably gonna go with djm shocks.