Date:         Sat, 14 Oct 2000 20:49:15 -0500
Reply-To:     CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Terry Kay <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Subject:      Air Lift Results
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII

Well sport fans, here is the results of the "Air Lift" installation.
It took me from the time I took the appropriate tools out of my box, to
the time  put them away, 1 hour 20 minutes, and that included sweeping
the floor.
The bags lay inside the springs sideways !
I thought this arrangement was unusual, so I phoned Air Lift, and was
told that this is the way they are suppose to work for two reasons.
Reason one is that the springs are tapered, and if they were straight up
and down, they would rub the spring and burst.
Reason two is that the springs travel in an arch, and that would also
cause a premature failure, due to rubbing the inside of the springs.
I installed them so the right hand bag is tee'd off the left hand one,
and there is some nicely predrilled holes along the L/H side frame rail
going to the bumper,from the spring, which I wire tied the air hose to.
I drilled a hole n the lower filler panel, below the bumper, just to the
left of the hitch bolt ( eye hook), for the air fill valve.
When I put air to the bags, I watched the back end raise approximately
3".
Now, I also want to tell you that the recommended pressure is no more
than 25 PSI, and I guesstimated a little too much air, and I wound up
with 40 PSI, which I lowered to 30. ( Hey, What's 5 pounds?)
According to Air Lift, with the air bags installed, the towing capacity
is increased by 1000 LBS.
I don't know if I'd want to put that much more on the skimpy draw bar,
but I can If I want.
The ride doesn't seem to be any harsher than before, and I can see
things out of my inside rear view mirror, without doing some neck yoga
excersize to find out what's behind me.
And my headlamps aren't in some poor driver's rear view mirrors at stop
lights.
So, I am happy with the results, and very pleased with the ease of
installation.
And very, very, happy with the $79.00       (plus tax) price tag.

Chow, Chow, For Now

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Terry 85 GL