Air bags

Submitted: Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 12:32
ThreadID: 139036 Views:5432 Replies:9 FollowUps:13
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Have 2 air bags on rear of Tojo HJ61 ( what is the optimum or best pressure when cvan is hooked on ) and have heard that you shouldnt put more air in them if van is on .opinions please ?
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Reply By: Glenn C5 - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 13:10

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 13:10
Hi Brian I have 1 air bag in the passenger seat when the van is hooked on and she puts me under all sorts of pressure. !!
AnswerID: 627591

Reply By: RMD - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 13:59

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 13:59
Brian.
I owned a HJ61 for 25 years and had airbags on rear axle to assist with ride height and load ability. If the springs already hold near where you want and have the van weight, which will lower the rear slightly , only a small amount of pressure should be required. I towed a Tvan and with good shocks, desired ride height springs and the airbags I had around 130mm upward travel of the suspension. That enabled most usage to prevent bottoming and reasonable articulation and droop of suspension. Most times I used 15psi in the bags, Airbag man, double bellows. Never been over 18psi.
AnswerID: 627592

Reply By: Member - mark D18 - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 14:13

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 14:13
Brian

I have a small off rd van , I run my airbags at about 20 pounds , gets my van and car nice and level .
Individual setups will be different .

Just don’t put in to much pressure .
AnswerID: 627593

Reply By: Shaker - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 14:43

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 14:43
From memory, the instructions with mine said to measure the ride height, pump up to max pressure, then hook up the camper & then deflate until you achieve the same ride height.
AnswerID: 627594

Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 15:34

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 15:34
Mine too. They were Airbag Man Coil Rite (Firestone) and Polyair, on different vehicles, both inside coil springs. Same instructions for both.
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Follow Up By: RMD - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 15:56

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 15:56
A HJ61 won't use Coil Rite or Poly Air bags though. That pressure would only be to seat the bags.
With a bellows bag, 30psi or 50psi or more pressure will be deflated to the same pressure as if you simply initially inflate to re establish the original ride height. Over inflating would achieve nothing.
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Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 16:34

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 16:34
Agreed, RMD. I overlooked the "pump to max pressure". I didn't do that every time.

I just used to inflate until ride height was a over normal, hitch up the trailer, then deflate to normal ride height.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 18:52

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 18:52
I think the reason they say max pressure (35psi) is because they also say not to use them to lift the vehicle, so if you misjudge how much you put in you aren’t tempted to add more air to lift it to the ride height.
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FollowupID: 901699

Follow Up By: RMD - Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 19:19

Friday, Sep 06, 2019 at 19:19
Shaker
Even if you lose some pressure people have to add airpressure to raise the vehicle. So raising is normal as I see it. Not sure what you mean by misjudging how much you put in. If, when adding the air, if you inflate to same ride height as people do, the pressure will be the same or very close to what it was. If you don't have enough pressure it won't be that high. Physics rules apply, pressure x area = force, ie lift force. Not enough pressure not enough lift.
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FollowupID: 901700

Reply By: Mikee5 - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 08:46

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 08:46
If they are red, they are probably Polyair. No more than 30psi. You are supposed to blow them to max while unloaded then reduce pressure until desired ride height is reached. Obviously you would only do this the first time set-up then use this same pressure in future. Fine tune if the height is too low or the ride is too harsh.
AnswerID: 627602

Follow Up By: RMD - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:30

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:30
Unless someone has modified the vehicle and fitted some coil springs somewhere along the rear axle, it has the original leaf springs and therefore, Bellows airbags fitted as I had on mine. There is nowhere you can fit plastic airbags on a HJ61 Landcruiser. Any talk relating to poly airbags is erroneous and not applicable in this case.
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FollowupID: 901704

Follow Up By: Mikee5 - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:59

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:59
Polyair part number 72998 Landcruiser 60 series. I Googled it.
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:28

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:28
The Polyair bags for the HJ60, come with coil springs, as part of the deal.

Polyair bags - HJ60

Cheers, Ron.
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FollowupID: 901710

Reply By: Brian - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:49

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:49
Thanks to everyone for your postings , thoughts and special thanks to Glen C3 for the humour
AnswerID: 627605

Follow Up By: Ron N - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:23

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:23
Glen C3?? Has he lost pressure, now? He was Glenn C5 in his original post! [;-)

Cheers, Ron.
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FollowupID: 901709

Reply By: Brian - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:51

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 11:51
Thanks for the humour and help , opinions
AnswerID: 627606

Reply By: RMD - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 13:15

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 13:15
Brian
Perhaps you best initially tell us what airbags type you have fitted to your vehicle. That way there is no confusion as to methods and pressures and precautions recommended by responders. Many people asking quite valid questions too often don't supply ALL the info at the beginning, then responses are general and not accurate or specific enough.
AnswerID: 627607

Follow Up By: Mikee5 - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 21:42

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 21:42
They could well be Polyair, they have a catalogue number for the 60s plus Ron above included a link to the actual item.
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FollowupID: 901716

Follow Up By: RMD - Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 13:46

Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 13:46
They could well be bellows type airbags as were promoted by the AirBag Man when 60 series were more popular. Poster didn't say when he bought the vehicle and what is fitted.
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FollowupID: 901758

Reply By: mountainman - Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:23

Saturday, Sep 07, 2019 at 19:23
First thing would be to check out what your van weights fully loaded up before thinking about airbags
And even cjecking the ball weight...
Within towing capacity of car...
Then you would check the vehicles suspension
Air bags are a last resort

Have a good one
AnswerID: 627611

Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 11:48

Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 11:48
I agree with mountainmanand I've been using air bags myself for around 10yrs. The suspension should be set up to support the vehicles weight loaded and with some good shocks to help give a more comfy ride. The tow ball weight of the van as a guide would be around 10% of the vans weight loaded or a bit less if it rides safely. It is very important to have the vehicle and van sitting level when towing.The springs should be able to support the vans weight within reason but if they do sag to much air bags will help level it out mine use to drop 30 - 40mm max after the van was attached to the loaded vehicle but only took approx 28 or 29psi to level it the bags were rated to 30psi max something you should check. If mine needed more air pressure than that the springs would need to be heavier because if one or both bags fail the springs should be able to support it safely.
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FollowupID: 901753

Follow Up By: mountainman - Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 18:03

Monday, Sep 09, 2019 at 18:03
And its all the rage to built a steel or ally box for the genny...
Or gas bottles or dual batteries
Let alone a spare wheel
On the front of the a frame.

Doesnt matter if you use air bags
You seriously need to check the ball weight fully loaded before even thinking air bags

Weights adds up real quick on the ball coupling
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FollowupID: 901764

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