Air Bags - Air Lift or Firestone?

[Archive]

Which ones ride better unloaded? I know the minimum for Air Lift is 5lbs, don't know about the Firestones? Thanks!

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Archive]

Dane, I would have to have owned both to answer your question, but I do have the Air-Lift Super duty unit. 5 psi is negligible as far as having any effect on the ride.

RonL

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98 3500 QC 4X4 Int Blue, Unbombed 6BTA5. 9 12V,
Auto 3. 54 LSD, PIAA Pro90's, Tonneau, Running Boards, 5K Air Bags, Hadley Air Horns, EGT/Boost/transmission Temp Gauges, Cobra / K40, Valley class V, Bugflector II, Bedliner, Tow Hooks, Cup Smoothie, Meg's turn-down tip, SS Fender Flares... .....

99 Lance 1110 Slide-On Truck Camper

 

[Archive]

Ron, I've got a Lance 900 on my 89 D350 single cab. Rides level without overload springs. I'd love to take a leaf or two out of the stock springs for a better ride and add airbags for carrying the Lance. Ever seen that done?

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http://coffeewithJesus. homestead.com/web1.html 89 1-ton, K&N, cleaned up exhaust, Dynomax straight-thru, rebuilt pump, intercooler, louvered fenders, 93 aftermarket smoothe grille; 78 35'Avion. Jesus saves!

 

[Archive]

I have Firestone bags on my work truck that has a utility/service body on it and think it helps the ride tremendously. I have the air set at 25psi to accomodate the load I have on the truck and it rides smooth as silk. Do be aware that the more air put in the bags,the higher it lifts the rear of the truck and puts more pressure on the front end, and this will cause poor tire wear unless the air is kept at the 5psi min. or the front is realligned for the change in rear end height. Good luck.

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94 4x4 SLT Geno's guages,mystery switch,TST 230/605,straight pipe from turbo,110,000+ miles,much more to come

 

[Archive]

Dane, I just had the airlift 5,000# bags installed and I love em! I bought them to control rear end height when towing and to add towing capacity but as an added benefit that I didn't expect, my truck rides much better empty with 30# in the bags and no longer is affected by freeway expansion joints! #ad
Sam

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1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie SLT Quad cab named "QUADZILLA". 24 valve Cummins ISB Turbo Diesel. Modified Automatic transmission. Dana 70 anti-spin 3. 54 rear end. All Factory options except leather interior. Towing and camper package. AIR LIFT SuperDuty 5000# rear air bags, Custom exhaust system. K&N air filter. Resonator removed. Silencer ring removed. Boost and pyro gauges. Dodge molded mud flaps. Diamond brite chrome tool box. Full UHF-VHF-HF mobile transceiver with matching antennas. KF6GUW EXTRA CLASS LIC.
Diesel Dynamics Stage III injectors, Boost module and wastegate fitting !!!
Dunrite custom built 618L low-stall converter and heavy duty performance built complete transmission. Redline synthetic ATF.
Dynometer readings are 303. 0 Horsepower and 596. 1 ft lbs of torque to the rear wheels!(4-14-2000) DYNO
PS- My anti-spin rear end doesn't live up to it's name!!!!!!!!!!!! SIGH!!

"I love the smell of diesel in the morning"

[This message has been edited by porky (edited 04-17-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

Can you guys with the bags tell me if the upper mount on the frame looks like it can be lowered on the frame about 3" or if the top mount can be modified down 3". I have a 3" add-a-leaf and Firestone says theirs wont work which is B. S. ! Where there is a will, there is a way. Also, can I keep my factory overloads, or do they need to be removed? Thanks for any help!

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99 2500 4x4,quad cab,lwb,black sport,4. 10lsd,5-speed,everything but leather,5" Tuff Country suspension lift chromed,3"body lift,38"Ground Hawg radials,16. 5x12 American Eagle wheels,K&N.
2000 24' Weekend Warrior
97 Yamaha Banshee

 

[Archive]

Snyder,

I have the Air Lift SD bags. This is the second truck I have used them, and would say they are of excellent quality.

The Air Lift kit will work either way -- with the factory "camping package" overload spring, or without. I have the factory overload springs. However, if you decide to keep the factory O/L spring, the lower air bag bracket is mounted to it, and in order to maintain the recommended height of the air bag, the upper bracket goes pretty close to the top of the frame rail, if memory serves me correctly. I don't think you would be able to lower the upper bracket 3" and still have the O/L spring. But like you said, if there's a will, there might be a way.

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'99 3500 QC 4x2, AT, 4. 10 LSD, camping/towing pkg. , Mag-Hytec rear cover & trans. pan, Auto Meter gages, K&N air filter, Mopar bed liner & mud flaps, Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit, Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller, Rancho step rails; Air Lift SD air springs

 

[Archive]

I've had the Firestone airbags on a '95 2500HD truck for 4 years now and love them. I use 5 or 10 lbs when empty and carry 80 lbs when hauling the 10 1/2' Bigfoot truck camper. Rides level and smooth. Doesn't seem to effect the empty ride at all.

Jim

 

[Archive]

Hey Drag Racer, in order to keep the factory overloads, you say the top mount bolts pretty close to the top of the frame. If so, if I bolt the bracket close to the bottom of the frame, it should work, I think. If not, it looks like an easy fix with a torch and welder. Thanks for your help!

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99 2500 4x4,quad cab,lwb,black sport,4. 10lsd,5-speed,everything but leather,5" Tuff Country suspension lift chromed,3"body lift,38"Ground Hawg radials,16. 5x12 American Eagle wheels,K&N.
2000 24' Weekend Warrior
97 Yamaha Banshee

 

[Archive]

jsimpson, Sounds like it might be possible to remove a leaf or two, but I have yet to see it done. With my 4K lb. load onboard, my truck sits level. But handling is much better with around 60 psi in the bags. If I were to remove any leafs, I'm sure the truck would go negative in the rear, & if I lost an air bag on the road, it might cause a drivability problem.

RonL

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98 3500 QC 4X4 Int Blue, Unbombed 6BTA5. 9 12V,
Auto 3. 54 LSD, PIAA Pro90's, Tonneau, Running Boards, 5K Air Bags, Hadley Air Horns, EGT/Boost/transmission Temp Gauges, Cobra / K40, Valley class V, Bugflector II, Bedliner, Tow Hooks, Cup Smoothie, Meg's turn-down tip, SS Fender Flares... .....

99 Lance 1110 Slide-On Truck Camper

 

[Archive]

A friend of mine has the Firestone airbags on his 3500 with o/l springs. He welded the top bracket to the frame because it had to be so high. I know it isn't kosher to weld on the frame but he has over 300,000 miles hauling in the oilfield, so I guess it works.
I have a extended cab 3500 with a 10' flatbed which weighs 1000 lbs more than my stock dually bed (8400lbs vs 7400lbs). I have the Firestone airbags without o/l springs and I have carried up to 6500lbs (which effectively is 7500 with the bed). I'll put 100 lbs of air in the bags after I'm loaded, and the truck rides perfect. When I'm empty I'll run 20 lbs and it almost rides like a Cadillac. I hauled 6500 lbs about 1300 miles from Tx to Miss and back and I watched the air gauge bouncing to 150+ lbs going down the rough Interstate so I know Firestone makes a quality product.

 

[Archive]

A friend of mine has the Firestone airbags on his 3500 with o/l springs. He welded the top bracket to the frame because it had to be so high. I know it isn't kosher to weld on the frame but he has over 300,000 miles hauling in the oilfield, so I guess it works.
I have a extended cab 3500 with a 10' flatbed which weighs 1000 lbs more than my stock dually bed (8400lbs vs 7400lbs). I have the Firestone airbags without o/l springs and I have carried up to 6500lbs (which effectively is 7500 with the bed). I'll put 100 lbs of air in the bags after I'm loaded, and the truck rides perfect. When I'm empty I'll run 20 lbs and it almost rides like a Cadillac. I hauled 6500 lbs about 1300 miles from Tx to Miss and back and I watched the air gauge bouncing to 150+ lbs going down the rough Interstate so I know Firestone makes a quality product.