Gauges or no?

[au03z71]

How many of you use gauges for your bags? How do you have them configured? Are they really needed?
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[Shane]

Yes, they are needed. How would you determine the correct PSI setting in which to set the alignment otherwise?

[cajundragger]

I only use my gauges to know where my fenders are at in relation to my tires.

so when I normally drive I just bump the up switch twice and roll like that.

mine are configured as one gauge needle per bag. if you have a four way system you need four gauge needles, one for each bag. If you have a 2 way system your fine with two gauge needles.

I say gauge needles since gauges do come in dual needles per gauge.

They are needed to insure you dont smoke a fender, other than that I dont really use them.

just a FYI but your going to want to use 1/8 line to run them to help with pressure fluctuations.

good luck


shane you can use height sensors like ART and accuair now use. PSI really does mean nothing in the long run since it isnt proportional to height in anyway. Im sure you knew this with you vast knowledge, just wanted to refresh.

and do you even have a bagged vehicle? just wondering

[tds]

I use 2 dual needles and a single. All four corners and the tank. Monitor the tank to make sure the pressure guage shuts off the compressors. The front guage is there to make sure I don't chunk the fenders and the rear is mainly there for show. For the price of 3 guages and some eigth line, I see no reason not to have guages.

[Shane]

The original poster did not ask about height sensors, he asked about gauges, thus my reply.

So you're saying that bag pressure has nothing to do with bag height?

[cajundragger]

Originally Posted by Shane

The original poster did not ask about height sensors, he asked about gauges, thus my reply.

So you're saying that bag pressure has nothing to do with bag height?

yep, the truck is lower with people in the passenger seat than when its just me at the same psi. or with a load in the bed or etc sometimes I need almost 15-20 psi more to get where I want to get with a load in the truck.

the only time I know exactly where my truck is at is at 0psi(laid) or 200psi(locked).

so there is no correlation to bag height and psi besides knowing Im off the ground and approximately this far from terrorizing a fender. which is why the height sensors are really cool.

so you have a bagged ride or what?

[Shane]

So if you don't use your gauges, then how do you know you it requires 15-20 more PSI to achieve the same ride height?

[au03z71]

This argument is exactly why I posed the question...

[cajundragger]

Originally Posted by Shane

So if you don't use your gauges, then how do you know you it requires 15-20 more PSI to achieve the same ride height?

I get out and look

so bagged ride? yes or no?

[see ten]

My wifes 54 has got gauges...I just got off the phone with Dustin at Accuair and I've got the parts to get us hooked up with a management system on the way. So we'll be ditching the gauges!

[Shane]

Originally Posted by cajundragger

I get out and look

so bagged ride? yes or no?

So you can simply look at a bag, tell it doesn't have enough pressure, go hit the fill switch and then look at it a second time and tell it has 15-20 PSI more than it had before?

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by cajundragger

so bagged ride? yes or no?

Just drop it...that is not relevant either way.

I don't currently own a straight axle 4x4......doesn't mean I don't know them inside out.

Arguing for the sake of having the last word is against the rules....plain and simple.

[texastrendz]

it is simple with no guages, you just air it up, start driving, dump it til it drags and tap the fill once, simple.........

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by texastrendz

it is simple with no guages, you just air it up, start driving, dump it til it drags and tap the fill once, simple.........

Amen, brother.

[pissonNOS]

Originally Posted by Shane

So you can simply look at a bag, tell it doesn't have enough pressure, go hit the fill switch and then look at it a second time and tell it has 15-20 PSI more than it had before?

im with shane on this one with what u guys are saying u can basically tell how much air a tire has as well? just hold the air chuck on there till it looks good and giver? never mind if its over/underinflated?

[N2TRUX]

Guys lets keep this civil, or it gets locked.

Back to the OP's question, I would say that the "majority" of the trucks that are bagged run some sort of gauge.

I know that the basic single/dual needle gauges are not that accurate, but they do give you something to go on.

As Shane points out they are a basic point of reference for setting a safe ride height, max and min height as well.

Can you do a basic system without gauges? Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Irishpilot]

From my experience, I would say gauges are a good idea. After I installed my bags, I just set up a manual fill for both front and rear (while waiting for parts) and drove it around to get used to ride height and it was a PITA because I was getting out to keep checking heights.

I agree that the gauges aren't the most accurate, and they vary with what/who is in the truck, they vary with temperatures and can flucuate while driving, but they at least give you the "baseline" information.

I'm going with three gauges: 2 dual needle and one single.

[cajundragger]

Originally Posted by Shane

So you can simply look at a bag, tell it doesn't have enough pressure, go hit the fill switch and then look at it a second time and tell it has 15-20 PSI more than it had before?

nope i look at the corner of the truck. if its low I bump it up. I have guages so after I can tell its 15-20psi more.

Originally Posted by pissonNOS

im with shane on this one with what u guys are saying u can basically tell how much air a tire has as well? just hold the air chuck on there till it looks good and giver? never mind if its over/underinflated?

you seriously think thats a good comparison? a 6 or 7 inch dia. bag 4-6 inches tall has much more expansion room than a tire and less volume of air.

[Shane]

so you're saying you do use your gauges then ... gotcha.

[cajundragger]

Originally Posted by Shane

so you're saying you do use your gauges then ... gotcha.

nope

[XXL]

Originally Posted by cajundragger

nope

If you're going to argue just for the hell of it, at least try and be consistent. Someone, please lock this thread. The OP got his question answered and many of us got a good idea which board users need to go into the ignore list.