Onboard air + Airbags

[dday6]

I put this video up on hornblasters. Figured I'd post it here if anyone was curious how it sounds

That is so awesome!

 

[Glamiskid]

Hi 8ball, I started back up on this project and was planning on installing my tank this weekend. I just tried fitting it up and realized it's too large. Do you have a link to the tanks you used?

Also, when mounting your compressors and tank. Did you drill through both sides of the box frame or did you go through one side and tap the hole?

I appreciate any suggestions

 

[8ball_99]

Sure, NP. I used two different size tanks. On my passenger side I used the 5 gallon tank and on my Drivers side I used a 3 gallon tank. You can use either or both doesn't matter. I did mine that way because my 5 gallon is the main tank that stays at a higher PSI and my 3 gallon tank sits at a lower PSI with a regulator between them. Typically the 3 gallon is at 90 psi. That way tools and stuff don't need a regulator and it's just less pressure going to the airbag stuff. The 5 gallon is at 175psi for my train horns and to just give me more air on tap basically. Having that larger 175psi tank feeding the smaller tank helps that tank maintain it's pressure when using the air.

I drilled and tapped the frame. No reason at all to through bolt the tanks. I mean you could, but the tanks aren't very heavy and I could pull myself off the ground just on one bracket with 2 bolts and I used two brackets per tank. Nutserts, would also probably be a good option. I used one of those and a couple of clips to mount my horns to the underside of the cab.
5 Gallon tank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072JDBRGG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3 Gallon tank

Amazon.com

 

[Maloyo84]

8ball_99 how did you mount the Daystar cradles to the bottom mounting plates? I’m about to drill and tap mine in…..

 

[8ball_99]

8ball_99 how did you mount the Daystar cradles to the bottom mounting plates? I’m about to drill and tap mine in…..

I don't think I have any photo's, but what I did was remove the metal spacer that bolts to the axle for the bump stop to hit. I drilled and tapped it so I could bolt the cradles directly to it. I figured out location by installing the bags and just setting the cradles in place. I jacked the truck back up and marked the bolt locations for the cradles. Removed the spacers, drilled and tapped them. Then installed them back on to the axles. Hope that makes sense. It sounds complicated, but it really wasn't. Circled below is the spacer I was talking about. You can even see where I marked the ouline of the craddle and wrote DR for driver's side.

 

[longbucks]

Thanks for all the info 8ball_99. I printed out this post as well. My installer did the air bags and on board air with the day star cradles. Works great!

 

[Jase]

Yes, I specifically told him about the standard silverado bag mounts because of this thread! So... thank you!
And yeah aside from the convenience of having the airbags for towing, I don't really have any other need for the full onboard air setup as you did. Thus, plan to go the bluetooth route.
This truck is my daily driver and I don't do a ton of "off-roading" (GASP!). I am an avid outdoorsman though and this truck checks all the boxes for me, which is why I got it. Plus, there is no better looking truck on the market and its not even close!

Hi NebraskaZR2
I am interested to hear and see how your install of the airbags went ?
Also do you have any model / Part numbers of the items you used ?
By the sounds of things I am in a similar position to you with what I am wanting to do with my ZR2.

Also a big thank you to 8ball_99 for starting this thread and all the info he has shared. So helpful.

 

[MN_ZR2]

Hi 8ball_99-

Thanks for the details on your setup. I think I'm going to do something similar. Have you experienced any noise from your Daystar cradles?

Thanks in advance

 

[8ball_99]

Hi 8ball_99-

Thanks for the details on your setup. I think I'm going to do something similar. Have you experienced any noise from your Daystar cradles?

Thanks in advance

Np, I never had any problems with the setup. Everything worked great. I actually don't have the truck anymore though. I traded it for a HD a couple months ago. One of the forum members on here bought my airbag setup. For the 1500 ZR2, I really do think the standard short brackets along with the Trail boss bags and the daystar cradles are the way to go. Unloaded the truck still had the nice plush ride, But when needed toss some air in the bags and it would handle loads great. I didn't switch to an HD because I needed too. The 1500 with this setup towed anything I hooked to it very well.

 

[slicer]

Np, I never had any problems with the setup. Everything worked great. I actually don't have the truck anymore though. I traded it for a HD a couple months ago. One of the forum members on here bought my airbag setup. For the 1500 ZR2, I really do think the standard short brackets along with the Trail boss bags and the daystar cradles are the way to go. Unloaded the truck still had the nice plush ride, But when needed toss some air in the bags and it would handle loads great. I didn't switch to an HD because I needed too. The 1500 with this setup towed anything I hooked to it very well.

So are those the correct things?

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Chevrolet/Silverado+1500/2023/AL88288.html?VehicleID=2023136438

cradles

and when doing the installation, only attach the airbags to the top part. leave the bottom floating to go into the cradle?

 

[8ball_99]

So are those the correct things?

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Chevrolet/Silverado+1500/2023/AL88288.html?VehicleID=2023136438

cradles

and when doing the installation, only attach the airbags to the top part. leave the bottom floating to go into the cradle?

Those are the correct parts except I replaced the standard bags with trailboss bags. I used that kit you linked to. But I replaced just the bags. The trailboss bags are longer and softer. But the trailboss kit comes with long upper brackets that limit travel on a ZR2. You can't buy just the short brackets without the bags though. But you can buy just the trailboss bags with no brackets.

Correct you don't use any of the hardware on the bottom. All you really need is the upper brackets, bags and the cradles. Unfortunately they won't sell you just the upper brackets and bags. You have to buy a kit. I called air lift directly and tried, lol. Maybe that's changed since I did mine. I also called Etrailer and asked them at the time. I even talked to a tech at air ride and told him what setup seemed to work on a ZR2 and maybe they should make a kit lol.

I did mine dirty. I purchased two kits and I mixed and matched parts. I started with a trailboss kit. When they wouldn't sell me the short brackets. I purchased the standard kit. I just put the TB brackets and standard bags I didn't use in one of the boxes and sent it back. But if you start with the standard kit, you can just buy TB bags.

 

[BobbyG]

Those are the correct parts except I replaced the standard bags with trailboss bags. I used that kit you linked to. But I replaced just the bags. The trailboss bags are longer and softer. But the trailboss kit comes with long upper brackets that limit travel on a ZR2. You can't buy just the short brackets without the bags though. But you can buy just the trailboss bags with no brackets.

Correct you don't use any of the hardware on the bottom. All you really need is the upper brackets, bags and the cradles. Unfortunately they won't sell you just the upper brackets and bags. You have to buy a kit. I called air lift directly and tried, lol. Maybe that's changed since I did mine. I also called Etrailer and asked them at the time. I even talked to a tech at air ride and told him what setup seemed to work on a ZR2 and maybe they should make a kit lol.

I did mine dirty. I purchased two kits and I mixed and matched parts. I started with a trailboss kit. When they wouldn't sell me the short brackets. I purchased the standard kit. I just put the TB brackets and standard bags I didn't use in one of the boxes and sent it back. But if you start with the standard kit, you can just buy TB bags.

Hey could you tell me how much longer the trail boss bags are? Do you think those are worth the extra cost? I found a standard 19-24 kit on my local buy sell so the correct shorter top mounts and ordered cradles for the bottom? Can u get away with the bags from the standard kit? Or are the trail boss bags a lot longer/more travel? Thanks

 

[8ball_99]

Hey could you tell me how much longer the trail boss bags are? Do you think those are worth the extra cost? I found a standard 19-24 kit on my local buy sell so the correct shorter top mounts and ordered cradles for the bottom? Can u get away with the bags from the standard kit? Or are the trail boss bags a lot longer/more travel? Thanks

You can try them and see what you think. It's not that the regular bags won't work. With the cradles the bag length isn't really a big deal. Just to me the short brackets with the TB bads worked the best and didn't effect the ride unloaded. With the standard bags even at zero psi. The rear suspension felt stiffer to me on larger bumps.

 

[amateurhour]

I run the standard kit with cradles on my truck and they work fine. The bag contacts the cradles at ride height but with 0psi they have little effect. Trail boss bags would be nice but the cost/benefit ratio makes it a lower priority for me.

 

[Millertime1977]

Sure, NP. I used two different size tanks. On my passenger side I used the 5 gallon tank and on my Drivers side I used a 3 gallon tank. You can use either or both doesn't matter. I did mine that way because my 5 gallon is the main tank that stays at a higher PSI and my 3 gallon tank sits at a lower PSI with a regulator between them. Typically the 3 gallon is at 90 psi. That way tools and stuff don't need a regulator and it's just less pressure going to the airbag stuff. The 5 gallon is at 175psi for my train horns and to just give me more air on tap basically. Having that larger 175psi tank feeding the smaller tank helps that tank maintain it's pressure when using the air.

I drilled and tapped the frame. No reason at all to through bolt the tanks. I mean you could, but the tanks aren't very heavy and I could pull myself off the ground just on one bracket with 2 bolts and I used two brackets per tank. Nutserts, would also probably be a good option. I used one of those and a couple of clips to mount my horns to the underside of the cab.
5 Gallon tank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072JDBRGG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3 Gallon tank

Amazon.com

So did you have one compressor filling one tank that went to the bags and one compressor filling the other tank going to on-board air and horns?

 

[8ball_99]

So did you have one compressor filling one tank that went to the bags and one compressor filling the other tank going to on-board air and horns?

Nah, both compressors feed both tanks. The only reason to have two compressors is for the higher CFM. Not needed for the bags. Helps if you are airing up big tires or running a impact.

 

[Millertime1977]

Nah, both compressors feed both tanks. The only reason to have two compressors is for the higher CFM. Not needed for the bags. Helps if you are airing up big tires or running a impact.

Thanks so what kind of solenoids did you use between the tanks and accessories? Sorry trying to get a picture in my head.

 

[8ball_99]

So I had to look back to see which onboard air thread this was lol. Both compressors feed into one tank. That tank has a line that runs over to the other tank. The main tank with the compressors has a pressure switch for 175psi. So when that tank gets to 175 it cuts off the compressors. My horn is fed directly from the 175psi main tank. The other tank has a pressure regulator on it that the line from the main tank connects to. I usually kept that tank at about 90psi. That tank fed the airbags and the quick connect fittings in the bumper.

The airbags were controlled by a air spring manifold. Basically has two solenoids and a few different ports. The bags and tank connect to this manifold. 3 way momentary switch in the cab controlled the two solenoids. Push the switch down it let air out of the bags, push up on the switch and it added air.

 

[Millertime1977]

So I had to look back to see which onboard air thread this was lol. Both compressors feed into one tank. That tank has a line that runs over to the other tank. The main tank with the compressors has a pressure switch for 175psi. So when that tank gets to 175 it cuts off the compressors. My horn is fed directly from the 175psi main tank. The other tank has a pressure regulator on it that the line from the main tank connects to. I usually kept that tank at about 90psi. That tank fed the airbags and the quick connect fittings in the bumper.

The airbags were controlled by an air spring manifold. Basically has two solenoids and a few different ports. The bags and tank connect to this manifold. 3 way momentary switch in the cab controlled the two solenoids. Push the switch down it let air out of the bags, push up on the switch and it added air.

Thanks so did the on-board air also come from the smaller tank on a different solenoid or just a direct plug? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[8ball_99]

Thanks so did the on-board air also come from the smaller tank on a different solenoid or just a direct plug? Sorry for all the questions.

Np, The onboard air is what I was talking about when I said quick connects in the bumper. They were fed from the smaller tank that was at lower pressure. No reason to have 175 psi to them. That's to much for most tools, even tire inflaters. On my truck now I have a similar setup, But I run both tanks at 175. I just have the pressure regulator on the output that goes to the air couplers in the bumper. It basically works the same way. Just instead of the pressure regulator between the tanks. The tanks are just connected with a 1/2" airline and the regulator is between the tank and the couplers. The main upside to this is you have more air capacity with both tanks at the higher pressure. I actually had to do it this way on my HD because there was no good spot to mount both compressors together and connect them to one tank. So now I have one tank and one compressor on each side and a single line between the tanks.