Helper Springs or Air Bags??????

[GRINCH]

I just bought a 9.5' slide in camper for my 97 2500 GMC 4x4. It has the HD towing package already. The camper is an S&S Avalance. Loaded with lots of options. I think they told me it weighs close to 3000#

What would be better, Air Bags or Helper Springs?

I will be traveling mostly on forest roads with it.

 

[454k30]

I put airbags on my fathers 04 2500HD and had good results. It rides even with tons of hay on it and the weight of a trailer on the hitch.

I had helper springs on my K30 before it became an offroad rig. They rode okay with weight on them, but like total crap empty.

If you can afford it go with the big firestone bags.

 

[jwglover]

Air bags are the way to go, much better ride and you can keep the ride height the same whether you loaded or empty.

 

[GRINCH]

I guess my main concern is having an air source when I need to haul a load. The other concern would be leaks. Air bags are running about the same cost as springs so cost isn't a factor.

 

[greg mgm]

I have experience with both types. My truck is a 78 k2500 with a 9' cabover. First I used Airlift bags with an in cab compressor. Having on the fly adjustability was great and the ride was pretty good. It did have an occasional leak which always turned out to be the line end at the bag...easily fixed. The bags held up fine and were never a problem, but the thing that concerned me was how tweaked and distorted they got when driving on rutted and off camber dirt terrain. So much so, that I switched to Helwig progressive helper springs, for fear of the air bags blowing. In my case my regular leaf springs are soft, and if a bag blew on the road, it would be a bad thing! In comparison, the Helwigs ride good with the camper on, but stiff as hell unloaded, and obviously it takes more time to adjust them....A socket wrench does the trick. But at least they are reliable as a brick. So, if the forest roads aren't too rutted up, and your truck isn't off roaded the bags are a good choice. If you want complete reliability, and if your camper is on your truck most of the time, the helper springs may be the way to go.