Bagged Truck in Rugged Weather

New to the forum here.  I thought this would be my best source of information.  

I sold my 5/7 dropped Chevy full size a few years back.     I miss it, so I am looking at buying another dropped fullsize.  My question has to do with air bagged suspension and rugged weather, specifically snow and salt.  I love the look of a truck laying frame on 20's or 22's.    There seem to be a lot of them out there.  I live in the Indianapolis area though and the purchase will be a daily driver, so snow and salt are considerations during the winter.    

1.  Will good components (valves, bags, etc.) withstand the snow and salt or am I better off with a 5/7 or 6/8 drop using more traditional components?  I don't want to be stranded with leaking valves, etc.

2.  If the bagged componets will live in the snow and salt, does anyone make replacement (front) inner fender wells for slammed trucks to keep the grime off the engine and electrical components under the hood.  Most trucks I have seen have them removed completely.

Thanks to all for any advice.  

Well if you want a bagged fullsize to drive thru the winter month and be reliable. You'll want to have quality parts first.. and also make sure you have a good watertrap. cause your compressors will compress the moist air into your tank. and of course into your valves. that will cause your seals and such to get moisture frozen on them and they WILL leak. Trust me found out the hard way. there is a product called airbrake anti freeze.. you should be able to get it at your auto parts store. napa, car quest etc.. if not go to a truck stop they're for sure to have it. that will keep your air lines and seals from freezing and breaking. and as far as the electrical goes. just make sure the wires for your valves are tucked up and are protected with wire loom and connections are heat shrinked that will help will corrosion. and as far as the inner fenders .. you could have something custom made for your application. but if you want to lay out on 22's then you'll have to remove the stock fenderwells.  

I think people often make their own inner fenders (using trailer fenders, for example) or modifying the stock ones. As for foul weather conditions and bagged trucks, man, I'm in So. Cal, I don't know what weather is! Does anyone mount their valves in the cab that lives where it snows? Would that help?  

Well I think I bought a dropped F-150 Supercrew that lays frame on a set of 22's.  I go to pick it up on Friday the 4th.  Vi-air 480's, 12 gallon tank, 1/2 inch lines, etc.  Parallel 4 link with a panhard.  It supposedly has modified fender wells under the hood.  We shall see.

I read on another forum that so long as the valves are above the tank, the moisture will stay in the tank.  Any thoughts on this?  I need a reliable system.

Thanks.  

you THINK you bought? hahaha awesome. Be SURE to show us!!
Hmmm I haven't heard that before. My personal thoughts - water in a system is water in a system. Water traps will mean LESS water in the system. As for moisture staying in the tank, my dump valves will spit water and oil (from the edc) out. You can see it, feel it, and smell it. But my valves are below the tank (and I have no water trap). But why would that make a difference? hmmmmm
those viairs will be working hard with a 12 gallon tank. How many compressors?  
can't wait to see it!  

Two Viair 480's with a 12 gallon tank.  

Someone educate me.  I assume a water trap will do exactly that....trap the water, keeping it from getting into the lines and valves.  How do they work and where are they installed in the system?

Regarding the airbrake antifreeze, how do you apply it?  

Here is a picture......wow.....sorry for the size.  It is either this or a thumb nail.  

 

hmmm that picture isn't working. I see it's from a forum, so maybe the link to that thread?
Yup water traps trap water, ideally haha. Install them on the line from compressor to tank, but not right off the compressor. Leave as much line as possible so that air (out of your viairs) can cool and condense. Right on the tank would work. Here's draining my tank...and you can see the water trap right off the tank (black). Water might have been in the tank from before the trap, but I would not rely 100% on a water trap.  
 

Well I am not seeing your picture.    Mine is small now.  I will try again when I get home tonight.

On the airtraps, wouldn't those be necessary equipment even in warm climate?  Say Florida for example where it is really humid, I would think water traps would be standard issue.

How often do you drain the tank?  

hmmm.
Yes in warm climate too - anywhere really. I'm on the coast so I prob pump water like none other.
That was the last time I drained the tank, in 06. It's due again for sure, esp with no water traps being run for years now. Not good. Would be interesting to see how much water I'm getting out of the dumps. Not the end of the world, just preventable.