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I have a 84 Dolphin and would like to install rear air bags on it. (Has no bags on it now) Anyone know where I can buy a kit to fit, every air bag kit I see starts with year 1986.

Will a 86 kit fit a 84?

Thanks.

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I have a 84 Dolphin and would like to install rear air bags on it. (Has no bags on it now) Anyone know where I can buy a kit to fit, every air bag kit I see starts with year 1986.

Will a 86 kit fit a 84?

Thanks.

I got Air Lift 5000s for my 1988 RV but they do not show it in their catalog for an 84. Firestone does.

Just watch out when you call them "air bags." Some Toyota RV people get REAL upset over that term even though even Firestone uses the term. Especially touchy with Mr. Turtle and the gang over at Yahoo.

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Thank You Jdemaris, I'll check in to them. I was looking all over and just could not see any for a 84.

I know what you mean by calling them air bags, some say air springs.

I worked on semi trucks for 32 years and we called them air bags but some part houses called them springs.

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Umm, even Firestone calls them 'Air Springs'. It's even kind of hard finding any of their literature referring to them as 'Air Bags'.

http://www.firestoneip.com/

http://riderite.com/kit-search?kit=1130

http://riderite.com/-/media/www/riderite/files/Install%20Manuals/W217601130_RRInstallManual_EN.pdf

What Resellers call them is another problem.

Air Bags belong in steering wheels, not acting as supplemental (or primary) SPRINGS. :)

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Much of this is utter nonsense. In workshops and parts-counters - one term, of several. to refer to what some of you are calling "air springs", was and is "air bag." Also "air bellows", "air-coil", "pneumatic spring", etc. Some of you people sound similar to those that comdemn those that call Indians "Indians." Then try to force the name "Native American" on them instead. That in itself is silly since "Native American" used to be a reference to an organization trying to drive Irish immigrants out of the USA. We even had a president who was a member of the "Native American Society."

Good Lord! Air suspension has been around at least since 1904. Very common in heavy trucks in the 50s and I worked on many. Also worked in many shops where the entire setup was commonly called "air suspension" and the replacement units as "air bags."

When the heck did the modern day "air bags" become common that protect some of us in accidents?? A little over 40 years ago? Since then we have two automotive items that both carried similar connotations and DENOTATIONS. So yes, it makes things easier to use different titles IF context is lacking.

First "air bags" - over 110 years old. Second "air bags - 40+ years? Yet somehow -according to few self-appointed word-want-to-be experts - "air spring" is now the ONLY correct term? Good God! Are we in France with word-meaning police? I suggest that before anyone condemn someone else for using the term "air spring" - try doing a little etymological research.

The purpose to using language, as I understand it - is to convey meaning, or receive meaning. That means a person (who is not insane), judges the local environment and chooses the words he/shes hopes that will work most effectively. This usually changes depending who we are communicating with and where. Talking to some stiff-shirt college professor often requires different language use then talking to a drunken buddy in the bar-room. Head-shrinkers and sociologists call this normal behavior "style shifting."

So - tell me how it's okay when someone, in context. uses the term "air-bag." Then another person on the forum, jumps in, tells the first person he/she is wrong and the correct term is "air spring" and only "air-spring."

Some of you people need to get your head out of the sand.

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Kind of silly. We all know what people are talking about when they say air bags. Certainly no air bags in my or any Toyota motorhome owners dash. When I hear air suspension I think my bosses Lincoln.

Linda S

Actually, at this moment - I do NOT know what you mean when using "air bags" in your post. Many words have many meanings and require context. Since the context on these "air bag" posts is about the correctness of the term- I'm a bit lost.

If we were talking about suspension parts and I heard or read "air bags" , I'd know what the term meant in that conversation.

If we were talking about in-cab protective devices that worked during crashes - and I heard "air bag" , I'd also be privy to the meaning thanks to that context.

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Actually, at this moment - I do NOT know what you mean when using "air bags" in your post. Many words have many meanings and require context. Since the context on these "air bag" posts is about the correctness of the term- I'm a bit lost.

If we were talking about suspension parts and I heard or read "air bags" , I'd know what the term meant in that conversation.

If we were talking about in-cab protective devices that worked during crashes - and I heard "air bag" , I'd also be privy to the meaning thanks to that context.

This is a Toyota motorhome site. Any reference to air bags, air suspension, air lift would never refer to cab crash bags. None of us have them.

Linda S

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This is a Toyota motorhome site. Any reference to air bags, air suspension, air lift would never refer to cab crash bags. None of us have them.

Linda S

They certainly would if someone stuck an RV body onto a later truck as many have already done. Or - discussing Toyota RVs made overseas that are still being made new on Toyota mini-trucks. There are plenty of Toyota RVs with air-bag safety systems inside the cabs. Regardless, we do not have official word-police in the USA yet. Words can have many connotations and denotations. Thus the reliance of context to assume what someone means with most any word-use. Same reason why most legal documents, to be valid, need glossarys to define word-meanings in the context of the document. We have a system in the USA that, if a word gets used "wrong" long enough, it becomes "correct" - and they compounds the issue. Goes from "idiom" to "dictionary definition."

My main point is - nobody on these forums has ultimate authority to tell someone else they are absolutely "incorrect" when calling an air-suspension component an "air bag' or "air spring." That being said, it still gets done by certain people. I've had people attempt to "correct" me many times, and in my opinion those people are idiots. The point of using words in public, as I see it, is to convey meaning. If the person hearing or reading those words understands that meaning, then those words have done their job.

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I love when people that get upset at "airbags" by Firestone are often they same folks who refer to a magazine as a "clip".

Hi Totem, I always thought a magazine was something you read; a clip was a short from a movie. I'm not psychic like you seem to be but a reoccurring theme from you is your right wing politics & guns as per previous comments & your picture display. I enjoy a lot of your comments but do you think you can get over your gun love for a bit and stay on topic?

Feliz Navidad

Rad

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Hi Totem, I always thought a magazine was something you read; a clip was a short from a movie. I'm not psychic like you seem to be but a reoccurring theme from you is your right wing politics & guns as per previous comments & your picture display. I enjoy a lot of your comments but do you think you can get over your gun love for a bit and stay on topic?

Feliz Navidad

Rad

I consider "magazine” and “clip” a close-enough analogy as compared to “air bag” and “air spring.” The difference though is this. “Air bag” and “air spring” are synonyms. “Magazine” and “clip” are not. In gun-speak, a “clip is a type of “magazine.” A “magazine” however, it not always a type of “clip.” Historically a “magazine” is a storage area for explosives. Seems later is also became a storage area for words and pictures. Again, like most language, context is needed. If I’m standing next to a hunting buddy and tell him his “clip fell out”, he likely won’t be thinking about a “segment of a movie.”

There was a lot of discussion over the meanings of “clip” and “magazine” lately, in the context of guns in New York. That because the inane governor made some silly new gun laws with NO public input that used the words “magazine” without him even knowing the meaning. The result was a new law that had to be quickly changed. It’s likely Andrew Cuomo, extreme “left winger”, never even shot a pea shooter in his life and never held or used a gun.

I left New York solely due to the extreme liberalism, socialism, etc. I am in Michigan now, same as Totem. Perhaps not the most conservative place in the USA but certainly beats liberal places like NY and CA for people like me. I am never seen a "stoopid" law or reg repealed in NY once created. In Michigan, I've seen many. Motor vehicle inspections gone. Motorcycle helmet laws - gone. BB guns considered firearms - gone. Right -to-work law instituted - yes.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am honored to be thought of as a psychic... It seems i accurately predicted the future very well even if my avatar has been changed. My avatar being changed is rediculous by the way, really? The map of the usa is now offensive to people in here??? This is our country, we LIVE here and that map, like it or not is the truth. Its also my travel map; full intentions on visiting every red state before i die; my bucket rv travel list. Look Rad, do us a favor, if you cant handle the freedom of truth, consider a different flag to pledge allegiance to.

So funny.. I recal obama avatars in here immediately following the election. I guess this site just cannot handle the USA map. And my topic by the way is where i drive my rv... And my country is that map and that map believe it or not came from CNN, after the election. Get a grip people.

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Wow all the pent up whimpering since this site has been offline...

'I love when people that get upset at "airbags" by Firestone are often they same folks who refer to a magazine as a "clip".'

If your attention span can follow what I quoted BACK from your comment it would be interesting but unlikely.

'The map of the usa is now offensive to people in here???'

Again you misrepresent..I said only that it displayed your right wing politics....am I wrong?

'I guess this site just cannot handle the USA map'

what are you babbling about??it's only an electoral map

and by far my favorite quote from totem

'Its also my travel map; full intentions on visiting every red state before i die.'

I've never used an electoral map in my life to decide my travel plans....how childish.

also I I seem to have misspelt psychic......left out the 'ot'

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I cancelled PayTV years ago. No more reality TV. No more Storage Wars and its colorful characters.

Now I tune in to Here.

Derek, pass the popcorn.

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Freedom is being able to make the choice about what you want to hear and read. I can make the choice of what church I want to go to. I can make the choice of my political beliefs. Unfortunately here, Derek and I must read everything that gets posted. I find those that feel the need to preach their crap on a mechanical based website offensive and out of place. Please excuse me while I go throw up my guacamole and chips

Linda S

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I've never used an electoral map in my life to decide my travel plans....how childish.

I agree that a thread meant to discuss the mechanical aspects of an RV has little to do with politics. But - "childish" is a relative term. I don't see anything childish about planning travel so as to avoid areas that have concentrations of people you don't want to be around. Linda mentioned "freedom." OK. Freedom then to intentionally travel somewhere based on hopes of being around like-minded people. I certainly travel that way. I seek "like minded people" or better yet - almost "no people" when I hit the road with my RV. In a way, isn't that what many do when they come to this forum? Some sort of "info map" leads people here and I assume with some, the digital trip here is to converse with other Toyota RV enthusiasts (i.e. like-minded people). I'm looking to buy some southern rural land right now. I DID use several on-line info sources including electoral maps - to act as a guide where I could to best avoid US socialism, over-regulation and over-taxation. Makes perfect sense to me. To NOT do so, and just expect to fit in anywhere would seem "childish" to me.

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funny, i don't recall any one but Rad preaching to me in here about my beliefs. my comment on peoples not liking "incorrect" words comparing struts to airbags to lifesaving devices being like incorrectly calling a magazine a clip is quite honestly a good comparison. my observation that they tend to be the same people simply states that those that complain about technicalities of nomenclature also themselves tend to make them. No one is perfect, but apparently I am psychic.

Rad you dont like me and insult me as "childish" I get it... but in doing so, you resort to name calling and show that your lack of ability to engage in debate or for that matter stay on topic is replaced by attacks of a personal nature. Its ok, I forgive you and I dont mind you having your own opine on things; its your right to after all in the country known as america anyway. where I choose to visit or not is my business and my right, and agree 100% with jde on why.

I am no longer trying to sway people in here on their politics... just wish they would stop assaulting me for mine. you vote how you want. The colors are what they are the results as well. :)

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I agree that a thread meant to discuss the mechanical aspects of an RV has little to do with politics. But - "childish" is a relative term. I don't see anything childish about planning travel so as to avoid areas that have concentrations of people you don't want to be around. Linda mentioned "freedom." OK. Freedom then to intentionally travel somewhere based on hopes of being around like-minded people. I certainly travel that way. I seek "like minded people" or better yet - almost "no people" when I hit the road with my RV. In a way, isn't that what many do when they come to this forum? Some sort of "info map" leads people here and I assume with some, the digital trip here is to converse with other Toyota RV enthusiasts (i.e. like-minded people). I'm looking to buy some southern rural land right now. I DID use several on-line info sources including electoral maps - to act as a guide where I could to best avoid US socialism, over-regulation and over-taxation. Makes perfect sense to me. To NOT do so, and just expect to fit in anywhere would seem "childish" to me.

don't forget, travel in the "red" states means those of us in RVs may not be arrested as well. In my rv, I am a CWP carrier; but if I went to NJ or NY that would be a felony and I would be locked up. Childish? no, remaining free ? yes.

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Wow all the pent up whimpering since this site has been offline...

'I love when people that get upset at "airbags" by Firestone are often they same folks who refer to a magazine as a "clip".'

If your attention span can follow what I quoted BACK from your comment it would be interesting but unlikely.

Insulting and attacking me directly in prose. violation of site rules.

'The map of the usa is now offensive to people in here???'

Again you misrepresent..I said only that it displayed your right wing politics....am I wrong?

Yep you are wrong, its a picture of results. If you were so fired up as to be not wrong you could view it as a call to arms to go vote and in doing so change your states color.

'I guess this site just cannot handle the USA map'

what are you babbling about??it's only an electoral map...

but yet you removed my avatar; which was a picture of my choosing and did not espouse preaching or views; its a snapshot of our country.

and by far my favorite quote from totem

'Its also my travel map; full intentions on visiting every red state before i die.'

I've never used an electoral map in my life to decide my travel plans....how childish.

Insulting and attacking me directly in prose. violation of site rules. where i choose to visit is my personal choice. no need to attack me over it; i would be a felon if i went to the blue states or would be forced to not travel in my preferred way....

also I I seem to have misspelt psychic......left out the 'ot'

nice... calling me more names. that all you got rad? keep going this is fun for me. I can continue to explain my contexts. can you explain your insults?>

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WOW! All this over me calling them air bags and yet just one member told me where I could buy some.

I can make it easy, I said I would like to put air bags on the rear of my Dolphin so if I was reading that myself I would think suspension.

If one thinks of air bags as for a crash then tell me where to find them.

If one thinks of air bags as in suspension then tell me where to find them. Now it's simple.

I think I'll just play it safe and go with rear helper springs that way every one will know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for the help.

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I almost looked into helper springs ( the adding of metal springs on 1/2 of the leaf springs) and or adding leafs or having new leafs made or having the existing leafs reworked.

In the end it was just way too awesome to inflate new air bags and watch the positive arch reappear.

One noteworthy thing to consider and Derek will correct me if I am wrong, but the air bags (aka inflatable helper springs) I believe add to the ride height, and some in here even claim they increase the GVWR by more lbs then metal helper springs by their specs. I would advise going the inflatable way but this is only because I didnt want to incur the extra expense of new Leaf springs which in the end might be a better low maintenance solution.

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No helper springs (steel, rubber or air) will change the GVWR.

Sure they can. GVWR is a rating based on all parts involved being in good shape. When a vehicle gets worn - that "effective" GVWR" is lowered - regardless of what the sticker says. Adding new springs, air-suspension parts or beefing up any "weak link" can bring the rating safely back up to where it was when the truck was in good shape. Not much different then when a tire has a "max 3000 lb." rating on it. Once it's dry-rotted and worn - it obviously cannot carry 3000 lbs. safely anymore. Change the tire to a new one and once again, it can.

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