Thread: Defender Airbags v coils. Final verdict

I vaguely remember running it past you at the time Ben:
-Essentially new bags (well as long as it takes to drive from Victoria to this neck of the big bad woods)
-Diameter was 10 ish inches they had been fitted by a real proper en-gin-eeeer and everything!
-piston was lightly tapered as per most fender fit outs I have seen.

All in all it looked like any air fit out I have seen on AULRO
He carried a spare bag which essentially got him an extra 50km

I can only imagine the issue was the stupidly heavy load he carried
Tray was fully enclosed with draws and cupboards and crap and crap and crap and crap
4.2m tinnie on the roof and 25 horses of yammies finest in the canopy

I shudder to think what it all weighed. I would guess his canopy weighted more than my entire defender. And then with the Ultimate 150kg of draw bat weight I can only imagine them bags were working hard!



We have had a front coil break on a mates GU up on the coast north of the Mitchell Plateau.
It collapsed down on itself, a few hose clamps were attached to make it look like we had performed a repair and we drove it out to Kunnas. Ill take a busted coil over a busted air spring any day!

Originally Posted by roverrescue

I vaguely remember running it past you at the time Ben:
-Essentially new bags (well as long as it takes to drive from Victoria to this neck of the big bad woods)
-Diameter was 10 ish inches they had been fitted by a real proper en-gin-eeeer and everything!
-piston was lightly tapered as per most fender fit outs I have seen.

All in all it looked like any air fit out I have seen on AULRO
He carried a spare bag which essentially got him an extra 50km

I can only imagine the issue was the stupidly heavy load he carried
Tray was fully enclosed with draws and cupboards and crap and crap and crap and crap
4.2m tinnie on the roof and 25 horses of yammies finest in the canopy

I shudder to think what it all weighed. I would guess his canopy weighted more than my entire defender. And then with the Ultimate 150kg of draw bat weight I can only imagine them bags were working hard!



We have had a front coil break on a mates GU up on the coast north of the Mitchell Plateau.
It collapsed down on itself, a few hose clamps were attached to make it look like we had performed a repair and we drove it out to Kunnas. Ill take a busted coil over a busted air spring any day!

Weight doesn't seem to make sense. I saw a full size dump truck in kunners running the same air springs as me! (admittedly 2 pairs per axle).

The broken coils I mentioned were in 3+ pieces per spring. Well beyond hose clamps.

After going through the Simpson I intalled bags, (I will try to post part numbers later)
I am taking them up the Canning next week so I hope they go ok. I am now packed up ready to go but she still rides like a pogo stick, running 70 PSI. I can only put it down to shocks.
I bought the air bag man kit with in cab controls and 2 1/2g tank. A bit surprised the tank doesnt have a drain port or pressure relife valve. If I did it again I would go with a Air On Board tank. They also do control valves but Im not sure about duel needle gauge.
I had trouble with my older ARB pump, it was melting the solder in the glass fuses and the plastic on the blade fuses without blowing them. It ended up shorting out when the plug melted. Not up for 2.5 gallons at 100psi.
So at short notice I got a TJM pump, was great untill I tried to mount it. The inlet and pressure ports are BSP, but the outlet is a nitto fitting with a thread no fluid power shop could identify! and because of the direction it came out it wouldnt mount under the drivers seat where I wanted it. It has turned into a nephews birthday present
Coming really soon is a Air On Board pump has 100% duty at 100psi. Will have to leave a day later so I can fit it. Nothing like leaving it to the last minute

Hi Fraz. I have replaced the rear coils on my TD5 130 extra cab with the Firestone air bags following TimNZ's excellent tutorial. This occurred in September 2012, so I have not done a lot of kms with them yet. They are marvellous as they allow me to run empty with a decent ride and then load up with a Trayon camper and all the gear and still get the same ride/ clearance. I do notice the shockers top out now and then on the larger bumps at road speeds, so I will need to replace the shockers with longer travel ones soon. My system is very basic , with a Schrader valve for each airbag located nearby . It means I have to adjust the pressures individually but it doesn't take long. Being able to lower the suspension and drive out from under the camper is worth it all by itself. Cheers, 130man.

There are 2 fully bagged defs that I've seen. One is the 130 of cal who also is building a stunning county with a Chevy block and another is owned by a Sydney opposite lock, store owner who has a fully kitted def 110 wagon. Sorry cannot remember which store but it is at the 4wd expo the last few year's.

How do they go for legalities. I thought in qld at least it was engineers certification or no go.

Cheers

I don't think anyone would have stressed them anymore than Tony/Rangierover in his 120.
It's his farm hack, do anything, load anything in any conditions vehicle.

How is it going ?

Originally Posted by ozscott

How do they go for legalities. I thought in qld at least it was engineers certification or no go.

Cheers

I'm guessing an Airbag Man kit is pre-approved, DIY I'd just do it anyway, but that's just me.