A towable vehicle including a chassis, at least two wheels and a suspension assembly supporting each wheel. The suspension assembly includes a swing arm pivotally mounted to the chassis, an axle mounted proximate an end of the swing arm, the wheel being mounted on the axle, at least one shock absorber extending from the chassis to the swing arm, an airbag swing arm mounting pivotally coupled to the swing arm, an airbag chassis mounting coupled to the chassis, an airbag coupled to the airbag swing arm and airbag chassis mountings so that inflation of the airbag allows a suspension height to be adjusted over an operating range and a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the chassis and the airbag swing arm mounting to maintain an orientation of the airbag swing arm mounting over the operating range.

Mounting bracket assemblies including a base bracket and a clamp. The base bracket includes a base bracket wall with a base wall portion having a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The base bracket is positioned along an existing jounce bumper mount of a vehicle with the first surface portion engaging a distal edge of the jounce bumper mount. The clamp is the base bracket and extends peripherally along a side wall portion of the jounce bumper mount in abutting engagement with an outer peripheral surface portion thereof and coextensively therewith. Suspension systems, mounting bracket kits and methods of assembling a mounting bracket assembly are also included.

Example illustrations are directed to a suspension system for a vehicle, which includes a controller configured to determine a roughness of a ground surface associated with the vehicle. The controller may be further configured to determine a height adjustment parameter for the suspension system based on the roughness determined, and to facilitate modification of the suspension system based on the determined height adjustment parameter. Example methods are provided, which may include determining, using a controller, a roughness of a ground surface associated with a vehicle, the roughness determined based on ride height. The method may also include determining, using the controller, a height adjustment parameter for a suspension system of the vehicle based on the roughness determined.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to perform a tank turn. An example vehicle includes a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel located on an end of a first axle, the second wheel located on an end of a second axle, the end of the first axle opposite to the end of the second axle, a first suspension coupled to the first wheel, a second suspension coupled to the second wheel, and a controller to drive the first axle in a first direction, drive the second axle in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction, and decrease a first suspension load of the first suspension and a second suspension load of the second suspension.

A leaf spring suspension is provided with an air spring to absorb a percentage of the load.

Gas spring end members include an end member wall with a longitudinal axis. End member wall includes an end wall portion and an outer wall portion. Outer wall portion extends peripherally about axis and is dimensioned to receivingly engage a flexible spring member. Rib wall portions are spaced around axis with each of rib wall portions projecting axially from end wall portion toward a rib end surface portion. Rib wall portions also include a rib edge surface portion spaced inward from an inner side surface portion of outer peripheral wall portion such that a gap is formed therebetween. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members, and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.

An end member assembly is dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible spring member. End member assembly includes first, second and third end member sections. First end member section includes a first outer peripheral wall portion. Second end member section includes a second outer peripheral wall portion. Second end member section is positioned in abutting engagement with the first end member section such that a groove extends peripherally around first and second end member sections between first and second outer peripheral wall portions. Third end member section is injection molded in situ with first and second end member sections such that third end member section extends peripherally around first and second end member sections within groove. Gas spring assemblies and vehicle suspension systems are also included.

A combination gas spring and shock absorber apparatus includes a vented gas spring housing and a vented shock absorber housing slidably mounted within the gas spring housing. A shock absorber piston is concentrically mounted within a gas spring piston. A base housing is slidably mounted in the gas spring housing. A shaft extends through the base housing and into the shock absorber housing. The shock absorber piston is mounted in the shock absorber housing on the free end of the shaft. The gas spring piston is mounted in the gas spring housing on the distal end of the base housing. The shock absorber piston is fluidically sealed and slides within the shock absorber housing. The gas spring piston is fluidically sealed and slides along the gas spring housing and the shock absorber housing. The base housing telescopically translates relative to the gas spring housing.

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

A shock absorber includes a gas spring cylinder containing a piston moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder. A mechanical actuator is arranged whereby a bleed port is automatically closed when the gas spring is compressed to a predetermined position corresponding to a desired sag setting. In one embodiment, the position corresponds to a predetermined sag setting whereby the gas spring is partially compressed. In another embodiment, a proper sag setting is determined through the use of a processor and sensor that in one instance measure a position of shock absorber components to dictate a proper sag setting and in another instance calculate a pressure corresponding to a preferred sag setting.