Air Bags - Pac or Firestone

[Shadrach]

I am thinking about air bags for my 03 3500. I already have on board air and a tank. I will make up my own controls. For those of you who have runs these please give me you opinion about both brands. TIA David

 

[jelag]

I'd suggest you look at the lower plate that supports the air bag... . when I was selling pacbrake, we have the opportunity to look at the Firestone and Air Lift... . we found at the time that the pacbrake had heavier bracketing for the air bad... . we found this because we had a truck running Air Lift which we purchased before pacbrake had introduced their unit... . later... as the brackets on the Air Lift units started to bed, they shipped me new brackets to replace the ones we had... . we ran 3500 duallys and often used the air bags to level the truck when we towed very heavy trailers... 15K to 20K lbs... . much more than they were rated at... .

I think that you'll find the pacbrake assembly built to handle heavier loads... . but you need to do the research...

BTW I used a pacbrake air bag and built a 5th wheel hitch for the RV that used that air bag and shock to soften the ride... . works well... . today I'm down to 2 trucks... . 04. 5 and 05... both run exhaust brakes and air bags... both tow, one a 12k lb 5er and the other a 15K lb 5er... both have over 150K miles and our only problems so far have been one air tank rusting from the chemicals on the road... and a leaking air solenoid... .

 

[AH64ID]

I have firestone's and they have worked great for the 5 years they have been on the truck. My dad also has them on his 06 and has had to replace one valve stem. We have also had them on several other trucks, and there is a set on dad's 97 suburban with 250K miles and 15 years of use without any issue.

I have never ran the Pac, but they look like a good unit. They are a little more cash, but nothing crazy.

Both bags use 100 psi max, the Pac wants 10psi min where the Firestone can go down to 5. I know the difference on ride between 5 and 10 psi on my firestones is noticeable on an empty truck.

 

[MLee]

Chck out the specs on both, as to how they are made and the reinforcements. The pac has more wire bands around the middle than the firestone. My decision was the pac.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I'd suggest you look at the lower plate that supports the air bag... . when I was selling pacbrake, we have the opportunity to look at the Firestone and Air Lift... . we found at the time that the pacbrake had heavier bracketing for the air bad... . we found this because we had a truck running Air Lift which we purchased before pacbrake had introduced their unit... . later... as the brackets on the Air Lift units started to bed, they shipped me new brackets to replace the ones we had... . we ran 3500 duallys and often used the air bags to level the truck when we towed very heavy trailers... 15K to 20K lbs... . much more than they were rated at... .



... .

I had a similar problem with Air Lift air bags on my '03 dually hauling a heavy slide-in camper. After about 30k miles of heavy loading and pounding on rough highways, the driver side mounting bracket on the axle bent slightly to the inside throwing the air bag off vertical which would have eventually ruined the air bag. I replaced the bags with Timbrens . If I go back to air bags it will be PacBrake air bags because of their more robust mounting plates on the axle.



Bill

 

[Shadrach]

OK so what about in cab controls? Who has done what? DAvid

 

[AH64ID]

I don't have in-cab controls. I put the valves in my license plate light holders and use the pump in my toolbox to fill them when needed.

I have thought about adding in-cab control and I would use the wireless setup from air-lift.

 

[Shadrach]

After doing some research today it appears most "in cab controls" use a switch to turn on the 12v comp and fill the bags that way. Since I have a belt driven ( Kilby ) compressor and a tank that won't work for me. I think I will just use an adjustable regulator ( like those found on a home/shop compressor ) and tee it into a gauge. It will mean running a line into my cab and another one back out. Then when I want to add air to the bags ( as long as there is air in my tank - which is most of the time unless the truck has been sitting for a long time ) I just turn the knob on the reg and change the air pressure in the bags. I'll probably mount it just inside the driver door beside the seat, as I don't really need to adjust while driving. David

 

[AH64ID]

I have a hard mounted compressor so I don't need an air source either. My plan is to purchase the wireless kit minus the pump, the solenoids and tubing will all work with my current compressor and would work with your kilby setup as well.

 

[SBashaw]

sounds like you have the two bags plumbed together? (one regulator) you will need one air line in and two regulators and two lines out. I always thought that that was not a good idea as the air can go back and forth between the two bags and when going around a corner, the air will go to the inside bag that will have less pressure on it and make you lean more? am I all wet on this?

 

[jelag]

I have set of several of these... . in each case we've used a basic regulator to adjust the air pressure... In our case we'd just add air to level the vehicle... I do suggest a 1/2 lb back check valve so that the air line to the air bags are protected from a line failure and the release of the air out of the tank... When we had a truck that changed loads often we'd put the regulator under the dash... . when it was seldom we had a nice spot under the hood where it was placed... . since we were balancing the load of a trailer we had both bags tied together... I've not had the need to use 2 regulators and balance a load from left to right... .

 

[SBashaw]

well, I can't argue with experience, may be more of an issue with a cab over camper. more of a top heavy load situation

 

[BIGNASTY]

Complete Firstone kit, Bags and compressor and controls not a problem going on 10years

 

[BILLUA]

I'm using the Airlift wireless in cab control and remote compressor. This unit is expensive but, the convenience of being able to air the bags up and down, individually or at the same time on the fly is cool.



Plus, I did not have to run any wiring into the cab.



This system can be used for the Firestones and Airlifts. Never tried the Pacbrakes yet but it should work with those too.

 

[EDankievitch]

I've been using Firestone ride rite on my last 3 trucks, same kit just moved from truck to truck. RV Adventure seems to have the best price on the kits

 

[TJJEEPER]

Firestone.

I installed Firestone's on my '06 and the AirLift on my '12. The Firestone's are a much better product.

Opps... I see you were asking about the Pacs, not AirLift... oh well, another data point.

 

[AH64ID]

Over the years nearly all of the complaints about airbags are on trucks where they are plumbed together, it can actually increase body roll in/after a corner.

I would plumb them independently and call it good.

 

[BIGNASTY]

When I installed mine I didn't like the airline connection, cut to length and press in and a " click " didn't have time right then to get a different set up, so I left it. its been good since install.

 

[Shadrach]

TJ I didn't ask about Airlift because I am not familiar with them. The other 2 I can get locally and get them for a decent price. I'm going to go with Pac ( I already have their brake ) just got to work out the controls. Since the only time I am loaded ( the truck that is :-laf ) is when I have a trailer, or camper, I will plumb them as one. David

 

[Motorhead]

I installed a set of Pac airbags on my Dentists truck the same time I put a PRXB on. He loves them and have had no issues. Nice brackets. The only thing that I would add to the air bags is ping tanks.