Do I dump air suspension in my flatbed (truck) while load and offload?

If you're taking off/putting on a lot of weight at once I'd deflate the suspension. You won't hurt anything inflating the suspension with it fully loaded.

 

You deflate for loading or unloading; whether product or machine or for a dock.


You do not deflate in motion while driving, with very few exceptions.

 

I don't have any experience with a straight truck, but I think it's universal to all air ride trucks to keep the bags inflated any time it's in motion. It's hard on the drive line to drive with them deflated as it changes the pitch/angle of the driveshaft, which is why proper ride height is a must. I never dump the air in my trailer while loading or unloading and have never had any issues whatsoever, even with a 46k coil. When weight goes on, it adjusts, when weight comes off, it adjusts.

I only drop my tractor air when I need to change the angle of the front of my liquid tank trailer to ensure its level (center unload), and after I unhook from a trailer

 

Generally speaking, never drive with the suspension deflated. Suspension geometry changes when deflated, which causes vibration and eventually driveline damage. It can even cause the bags to seperate over time.

Its perfectly fine to idle along at low speed a short distance while deflated. Example being moving away from a dirt pile when dumping a dump truck.

 

A - yes
B - sometimes
C - yes
D - no
E - never

never ever drive with your bags deflated ... never ... especially loaded.

 

No set your breaks

 

I have air ride straight trucks and one with a tail mounted forklift. We never deflate for anything.. loading the lift, unloading the lift, loading the truck, etc..