Air bag back axel

[Teamidris]

The new rear springs are sagging, which is okay I guess, because it is 30 now and new stuff doesn’t last like old and maybe they have been under there a decade?
Anyhoo, the front springs have been reset last year and a third leaf added, which is great because I can crawl under it again to grease the kingpins. (It was so low it kept touching the front bump stops).
But, and it’s a big but, the backend is now so low the portapotty works it’s way to the back of the shower tray
My fix is the replace the rear bump stops with air bags and run the standard bump stop further out so it sits on the spring retainer casting (assuming it ever gets that low)
Picture is it up in the air to wash the chassis and a bit of welding, but mostly cleaning to look for rust)

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[Teamidris]

It’s coming together. I wanted a bolt on kit, but it needed the extra bracket to make sure it never rotated. It was easier to drag the welder out than invent a clamp.

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[Teamidris]

Well into it now. Left hand side is all bolted in and sealed. (See piccy) Needs a bottom plate assembly which I will invent once the right hand side is in.
I may need to make a decision on the axel breather, so no point rushing.

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[Teamidris]

Wow this isn’t worth the effort
These 6mm platforms replace the bump stop axel plates. If I had intentions of changing these out I would have done it when there was space to put the grinder.
All welded on now. I used the air bags to get them square. I failed.

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[Teamidris]

That works, as in, I drove it to the petrol station and it didn’t explode
A lot of work compared to getting the springs re-set, but maybe marginally cheaper?
I can park it tail-down when camping which is a bonus

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[Teamidris]

Logically I would say the bags can’t be filled with air and locked off, they would need an accumulator…

Driving along I can hear air going in and out of the fire extinguisher air tank (tested at 600psi and under the seat)
So logic seems to match reality. If the bags halved height I could see my 70psi hit 140psi and that would need an emergency escape route

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[V184]

Surely the air bag kits worth more than the truck ?

[Teamidris]

Erm, the lockgate diesel stove is definitely worth more than the truck
£80 bought me four air bags, because it didn’t say a pair. So £40 plus air fittings and 6mm nylon air hose, which I ought to carry on stock anyway…
Less than £100. So yes, more than the truck is worth

[Teamidris]

Slight air leak. A two piston 30 amp compressor arrived today from ebay to fix that.
I put a gauge in the heater plastic panel.
Honestly feels more worth it a week later
It swooshes air in and out of the tank and sounds a bit like waves at the beach .