Air Lift Air Bags 1 Year Update | 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2019
- Last summer I installed Air Lift Air Bags in our Dodge Grand Caravan. I wanted to see if they could help improve towing stability. Compared to other solutions they were cheap - and they actually worked! But are they any good? Will they last? One year later, after a long harsh VT winter, this is what I learned.
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I blew out one bag, the seam split open. Airlift sent me a new one with just a picture of the old one. Been good for 3 years now. I always keep min 10psi in them. 30 psi when loaded down.
That’s good to hear 👍
Getting ready to install a set on my 07 grand Cherokee. Really appreciated this video.
I put them on my 2006 Grand Cherokee. The key thing to do is always keep 5 psi in them so that they keep the shape.
I know it’s an older video, but if you want air bags that will last, get something that doesn’t go inside a steel spring, you can adapt bags to go in some tight spaces, I used air springs that put pressure on a dump truck drop axle once it’s lowered. Those air springs are almost identical to the air springs in the loadlifter 5000 kit. This is just an example of what’s possible. You wouldn’t need that kind of springs, but they come in many designs.
If you just like the bags inside the springs, you can get some tough fabric too go around the bag so it’s between the bag and the spring, there are bags sold by an Australian company that actually come with them, I’m sure it would be easy to put that same type of fabric on any bags though.
Thanks for the follow up! I'm enjoying your videos.
Thank you!
I have these in my 2016 Grand Caravan last 3 years., and I had the hoses break as well after 2 years, but my bags survived. I fixed the hoses with the original and it is working well again. If/When the hoses let go again, I will use the pneumatic hose, thanks for the idea!
The hoses worked well for me! And the bags are truly awesome when they are working. Best to you!
As a cheap disposable solution for short term usage this is great. Long term, I don't know man. I couldn't picture it holding up over ten years. Maybe a season, or maybe replace them every year. I'm looking for a ride manipulator for off roading on middling tracks and these ... well, these aren't the solution. Thank you for sparing me a lot of heartache and money.
You’re dumb.
Thanks brotha
I installed a set of these on my Sequoia and after 1 trip, they went flat. Took them out and went back to stock. PITA
Agreed. They aren't very heavy duty. Better to buy stronger springs if available. or, like I did, started using a weight dist hitch.
Thank you, ditching the air bag idea. I will go with Timberiens
lathering rubber grease over the airbag may have prevented cold from making it brittle
Mine leak constantly also. I drilled out a 1” hole where it stated a 1/2” and added heat shrink to the tube coming out the top. Seems to help, a bit. Still doesn’t hold air for all that long
That's to bad. I liked the ride even when my van was empty. But I'm now using Monroe Load Adjusting Shocks and a load leveling hitch. It's much better and now I can rely on it - more expensive though! :)
Excuse me for saying it, but you have to take some responsibility for the problem. You said that when you put the snow tires on you noticed that the bags were deflated. You should have been periodically checking the air pressure in the bags all along. Who knows how long they were deflated. Because they didn't have any air, the hose crimped and eventually broke. The hose probably would not have broken if the bags were inflated. You are of the opinion that the hose first broke and then the bag deflated even though you have absolutely no evidence or proof to support that theory. The damage to the pneumatic hose was completely your fault because you let the hose rub against the tire. I saw your other video where you installed Monroe load leveling shocks and in that video you say that you have the Air Lift bags inflated to 65 psi. The instructions clearly say that the max pressure is 35 psi. The point that I am trying to make is that it might be possible that the failure of the air bags might not be completely due to the product and might be due to your mistakes.
Robert Johnson thanks for the thoughts. I disagree. Originally I had not inflated the airbags above the recommended pressure. I was towing a much lesser load. The original lines broke and would have broke no matter inflated or not. The design causes the hose to be compressed and crimp. As it crimps and uncrimps the hose splits. Losing air. The bag itself decayed in the harsh winter, losing its elasticity. Breakage is inevitable, which is true with all things, but I thought these would last longer than they did. I’m not alone in this assessment. I’m just one who documented it. Ultimately, the proper way to tow this new heavier popup camper requires a load leveling trailer hitch/bars. These bags work great but they did not last very long for me in my situation. PS, I just put my winter tires on today. The bags are still working but when I inspected them they were as hard as a rock. The pliability is gone. My new hoses are working great though! Thanks again for your thoughts and for watching the video.
Please let me know how’s the Air Lift today!!!! It’s 2023 I went through all your videos and all I saw was you change shocks then 100k mile trans fluid swap
They didnt survive. I ended up buying a weight distribution hitch and it was all I needed. I dumped the cheap air lift bags and all of the hoses. The wdh was the right solution 👍
In your personal opinion, do you think the lines that come with the kit would hold up better in a area where the winters are not as bad?
If I lived in Pensacola, FL and I bought this kit, I would start with the lines that came with it and see how well they do. I suspect heavy dirt and grime and salt and huge temp swings helped lock the lines down and aged the plastic so they couldn’t move up and down freely and cracked easier. I would also reach under the fender-well and tug gently on the lines to make sure they weren’t compressed. And perhaps inspect them throughout the year. 👍
And what kind of hose is it
Hey thanks for the content did the Monroe help make the air lift last longer or has it been a yearly item?
I tossed the air bags. Using a wdh now and it’s perfect 👍
@@sstressfl what is wdh?
@@NoBs48 weight distribution hitch! Here’s the video: Minivan Weight Distribution Hitch Install & Review | 2015 Grand Caravan & Rockwood Pop Up Camper
ua-cam.com/video/0tzg0ldhtY0/v-deo.html
The install I saw, the air line came out of the bottom, not the top.. if the air line comes out of the top, the first large bump will crush the air bag inlet/hose fitting.
I have heard of those alternative instructions. I followed the instructions they gave me. BTW, the hose broke from repeated flexing. The bags failed from hardening and cracking after 1 VT winter. I have moved on and am now using a weight distribution hitch and it works perfectly :)
@@sstressfl I too am skeptic about bag failure and cold weather.. now considering spacers
2020 now, how are the replacement ones a year on?
And thank you so much for this review!
My upgraded hoses worked great, but I've abandoned the bags and am now using Monroe Booster Shocks and a load distribution hitch. I now have the proper setup for this van/camper combo.
@@sstressfl I recently bought a 2018 that was a previous rental to use as a service vehicle for HVAC. I added the Monroe® - Sensa-Trac™ Load Adjusting Rear Shocks but did not like the ride, too loose, so I added these and it did help to stiffen the ride. We will see how long they last. Thanks
@@mikestickley4708 I really like the ride quality of the air bags when they were new :) Hopefully you have a much better experience with longevity!
Airbag man will probably last the longest of the inside spring bags I’ve looked at, they have a fabric tube around the bag so it doesn’t directly contact the steel spring, rubber air bag single ply isn’t ever going to survive long against anything steel or metal, the fabric bag protects it. Deflating and washing the bags off to remove any abrasive grit trapped between spring and bag occasionally also help lengthen life of bag. If you want a bag to last, get something that doesn’t need to be in a spring, there are many designs.
The airline should be at the bottom fitting inside the red plastic bushing.
Joseph Wade I fixed the hose problem with a hose upgrade. The bags however deteriorate and get stiff and crack/break after 1 winter in Vermont. I’ve switched to Monroe booster shocks and purchased a load distribution hitch for towing 👍 Bags are done and being removed.
I really should have checked my bag i put in the driver side an boom didn't hold air the one i still haven't installed i checked it holds air. So hopefully i can get them to send out a replacement
They are really great about their warranty. Hope they can help out.
Since you did your updated hose has it been good? Did it last? Would you buy air bags again?
The bags themselves rot n the Vermont winter :/ I took them off and I bought a weight distribution hitch. It worked perfectly. Would never buy those specific bags again.
How have them held up through the winter?
David Walker I’ll know more in about a month when I put my summer wheels on 👍
Why not Nivomats?
They work well on my DGC with the trailer package
Mark Lade I went air because I liked being able to restore ride level and adjust the firmness. It removed all of the sway and wandering with these. Glad to hear the nivomats are working for you 👍 If these fail perhaps I’ll go nivomats with a load leveler setup. I’ve been trying to avoid the expense but it might be inevitable. I’ll know more next year :)
@@sstressfl
They came with the factory trailer package.
I've got 3 teenagers, and saw these vans sagging when loaded on the highway...
The Nivomats will ratchet up the back, returning it to normal ride height in about 500 yards, it's kinda fun to witness...
Mark Lade I didn’t even know it was offered! At first I thought you meant helper shocks. You have the good stuff!
@@sstressfl
$225 each at rock Auto...
Just swap out the existing shock absorbers...
The airline on top is killing ya. Mines on the bottom and been good 3 years now
How are your bags holding up? After a winter in VT mine become very brittle. I'm going to a load leveler hitch this summer for towing and dumping the bags. Its a shame because I really really like the way the air bags work when they're healthy... and I dont even mean for towing. I like how I can adjust the ride quality. I prefer slightly more firm than stock. Makes the van feel so much more stable.
@@sstressfl going on 2 years here in Hawaii. i haul fence equipment and a trailer and quad with my oddessey and its bad ass
@@NATIN2KRAZY I mentioned in the video that I suspect if I still lived in FL the bags would last a lot longer. They become so brittle after 1 winter here. But I agree, they work marvelously when they are holding air! I sooo like the ride and the ability to level the van with a few quick shots of air. I will miss them.
Hey, any chance I could get a picture of you did this?
How many inches of lift do you get inflated without towing
That's the same thing I want to know.
See you in a year same things going to happen should put the airline to the bottom side not as much movement if possible
Dave Lindsley I bought Monroe booster shocks and a load leveler hitch 👍 tossing the air bags 😁
Did the replacement bags hold up for more than a year? I read that the AirLift HD black bags are nicer.
They did not so I tossed them. I’m using a weight distribution hitch now. Works great :)
@@sstressfl Thanks for that. I haul dirt bikes on a hitch hauler from a Sedona in Quebec so I was hoping for better results. I wonder if the black bags hold up to cold. I would only use the bags in warm months and could possibly vacuum them out for winter so they do not flex and break.
@@edwardg9695 when I replaced the coil springs on my van I discovered that rockauto carries stiffer beefier could springs. IMO that would be the best way to go. Check out rockauto.com
@@sstressfl Did not know that. I was able to find beefier springs for my older Sedona from a UHaul dealer years ago. Thanks for the tip
@@edwardg9695 my dad added the ones that are 70% stronger than stock to his 2016 GC. He is a happy man with the ride and support. 👍
I wonder if some sort of a bag over it. Would that make a difference.
Perhaps, but thinking the bag would rip. It’s a harsh environment. I think it’s just too flimsy to last. At least in this environment. Some people in warmer climates tell me they last much longer! 👍
@@sstressfl Perhaps. I know the brand from Australia comes with a bag and people in cold climates say they last awhile.
I'll find out soon enough. Once I get mine I'm going to put something over it.
If the air line runs through the bottom it can be secured. I think they’re installed wrong.
It was exactly as the instructions stated. However, I have been told that the instructions have changed. Regardless the bellows themselves dry rotted cracked and failed after one winter in Vermont. Spend a little more for better ones 👍
A better alternative might be Monroe Air shocks
A friend of mine used them and he said it ripped the shock mounts off the van 😬 I guess the standard shock mounts are not designed to handle a heavy load. Btw I discovered rockauto now stocks different coil springs! Strong ones! That would be the way to go. But ultimately I ended up using a wdh. It works perfectly. But… now I own a truck. The truck upgrade works even better 😀👍😎💪
They could improve the quality of bags themselves, it's too bad because it's a great idea.
I really like them when they're working! Great idea!
My struts are gone in my van .will these make them feel right ?
No not at all. In the rear you have shocks not struts. Easy replacement. The front has struts. More work but necessary replacement if they’re blown. Plus these don’t tend to last very long.
Question: Did you lift the front as well?
No lift in the front. I just boosted the back as needed. But this year I'm ditching the air bags and I have purchased a load leveling trailer hitch. It'll be more stable and ultimately safer way to tow our fully loaded popup camper.
@@sstressfl so the air lifts are no good?
@@Sip28 for me in Vermont, they dried and cracked and the hoses creased and broke as well. I dumped the airlift bags and bought Monroe Load Adjusting shocks. I'm also now using a weight distribution hitch!
I thought there are spacers on top of the bags, Do you have a 4 year report
I cant speak to what parts might be provided now, but this is what they were then. I can give you a 2 year report! :) They didn't last. In this VT weather the bags fail. They get hard, brittle and crack. So I bought a weight distribution hitch and it worked perfectly. Tossed the bags. IMO, these are a great price point but not worth the time and money.
@@sstressfl Thank you for the info. I'm Glad I found your video, I was about to buy a set but I agree they probably will not last. I hope you are feeling better. I had the neck thing too. Chiropractor helped me but I still have slight tingling in my fingers on my left hand. Getting old sucks. Take care sir
@@metalmanproductions9267 I am so sorry you're dealing with neck issues. You have my complete understanding. I realized during this that I am always thinking that I need to get back to perfect function like when I was much younger.... the doc set me straight. As we get older we have to learn to live with less than perfect function, pains, discomforts... surgery makes it better, but not perfect (heavy sigh). Praying you find some relief from your symptoms. Thanks for sharing!
@@sstressfl I am past my issues, you are correct not the same but forging on. God bless and I hope you are on the bike soon. I am a VTX cruiser ride
@metalmanproductions9267 nice 🙏 ride safe my friend 😎💪
Is there a follow up on the upgraded tubing used?
Sorry that would have been nice. The airbags simply did not last. But I bought a weight distribution hitch and I no longer needed the air bags. The wdh worked perfectly and proved to be a far better proper solution.
@sstressfl thank you, back to the timberens. I have a Hensley weight distribution hitch. Still have not had it installed and still looking for a travel trailer.
@@chodson65 I have a RAM truck now and towing a 30ft camper. The WDH is all I need, but I am considering adding timberens or something similar to aid in mild porpoising on the highway.
@sstressfl I have a 2020 Jeep Wrangler and I am trying to get it ready for this camping season. Since Covid we have been doing a few things at a time and finally adding the finishing touches. Billstein 5100's shockbti be added in a few months and see how everything sits when it's hooked up to the travel trailer. Timberens will be one item to look at if there are any concerns.
@chodson65 sounds like you got a solid plan 💪👍
3 years later how did they hold up?
The bags cant make it thru one winter in Vermont. I tossed 'em in the spring after my second attempt to make it work and bought a Weight Dist Hitch. The WDH is exactly what I needed!
Hat size is that hose you bought again?
I think it was pneumatic 1/4" tubing. Beefier stuff. But ultimately the bags failed again. They get brittle and crack. It might be due to the extreme weather and road salt here. But I gave up on these and use a weight distribution hitch now. A much better solution :)
@@sstressfl great awesome I'll probably end up doing the same thing here soon 👍 thanks
Put it in hot water, stiffness is gond !
This was more brittle than stiff. Cracked and wouldn’t hold air 🫤
cut some of that stock cup off so it dont hit
It really is the materials. I can't speak to other environments, but these don't last in the harshness of a VT winter. I tossed them and I'm using a proper load leveling hitch.
Cool
The only mistake I see everybody make with these Air Lift bags his nobody shows what it looks like once they put them on. After putting them on nobody shows a video of them towing anything. I'll let you know if these things even work. I watch six of these videos and I'm fixing to put the same kid on my Denali and when I do I will do a video of my Denali hole in 5 tons of gravel. We'll see how tough these suckers really are
Marsh Monster a year ago I did make a tow video 👍 ua-cam.com/video/2F5tcAAWKRY/v-deo.html and an install video ua-cam.com/video/nuQJbhojUk4/v-deo.html
They are 100 bucks! The most expensive thing here is the time replacing!
And even for free not worth. Later I found that rockauto now carries REAL stiffer rate coil springs for the grand caravan. That’s the right way to go :) and a weight distribution hitch of course 👍
Dude, keep away from these things, they're CHEAP.
William Santiago I totally agree. Tossing them in the Spring. Im running Monroe helper shocks now and I’m gonna use a load leveling hitch when I tow our camper 👍
@@sstressfl I considered getting these air lift springs to help my 2016 Town & Country with towing our pop up camper but ultimately went with progressive rear springs from Rock Auto. I ran those all summer this year (maybe 5 or 6 trips with the camper) and they were great. I figured the air bags would just be one more potential failure point. I've also got a lift kit from Journeys Offroad which has been pretty great for getting around Northern Michigan sandy two-tracks. Anyways thanks for these videos they're super helpful.
@@owaysys I saw the spring offerings from RockAuto! Very exciting to see those available. How do they ride? The lift kit is very cool. Slightly larger tires too? I'm a native Michigander! Spent time in Honor/Beulah/Sleeping Bear Dunes area.
Sell them to me if you don't want them
They rotted ripped and got tossed 👍
You put them in upside down, the nipple needs to face down
If you install them today yes. But a few years ago the instructions showed this method. Still that has nothing to do with the failure I had. The plastic dried out and cracked after one winter.