Firestone vs Pacbrake airbags?

[DFrank]

I need to add some beef to the rear. It's sagging under the load of a camper that weighs just under 1. 5k loaded. Also some light (2-3K) towing on an extended hitch.



The firestones are $30 bucks cheaper, but mostly the install looks easier. Is that true? No plans for a compressor at this point. The Firestones claim no drilling; is that true, and how much drilling is really involved in the PB?



Thanks. I want to get these on and leveled prior to doing an alignment.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'v only used the Firestone's because of great experience I've had with their airbags at work. They are indeed no-drill and without going into a long diatribe about how we used them, let me just say they're tough as nails even when abused.

 

[RideSlow2004]

I got the Firestone set, was in a hurry, getting ready for an RV trip. Install went fine. I did drill thru the back panel below the tailgate, and above the bumper for the valve stems. My only concern with how I did it, is that the instructions caution against getting the plastic airlines tight against anything they could rub on, and wear thru. I would look for something to buffer contact. And maybe a tee, so you could use just one fill point. (My predicted loads are fairly balanced, I just didn't have time to add it)

 

[jelag]

As a guy who used to sell PacBrake and used one of the other brands before PacBrake started to offer them let me share a story... I was at PacBrake in Surrey and Bill Lang looked at one of my trucks with the other brand... He noticed that I'd overloaded that truck with a large 5th wheel trailer and looked at the lower bracket on the air bag support. . we both noticed how that bracket was bent from the strain... he than offered me a set of brackets for their new product which I dragged home and installed... we drove that truck another 150K miles before we sold it and at the last time I was under the truck the brackets hadn't bent from the strain...

Please look closely at the brackets and decide for yourself... but for me and the 3500's that I ran they worked better. . I've since retired or I'd offer you a great deal... So my bet is still on the PacBrake... .

Hope my 2 cents help... just my personal thoughts. .

Jim

 

[Bill Stockard]

As a guy who used to sell PacBrake and used one of the other brands before PacBrake started to offer them let me share a story... I was at PacBrake in Surrey and Bill Lang looked at one of my trucks with the other brand... He noticed that I'd overloaded that truck with a large 5th wheel trailer and looked at the lower bracket on the air bag support. . we both noticed how that bracket was bent from the strain... he than offered me a set of brackets for their new product which I dragged home and installed... we drove that truck another 150K miles before we sold it and at the last time I was under the truck the brackets hadn't bent from the strain...



Please look closely at the brackets and decide for yourself... but for me and the 3500's that I ran they worked better. . I've since retired or I'd offer you a great deal... So my bet is still on the PacBrake... .



Hope my 2 cents help... just my personal thoughts. .



Jim

I had a set of Air Lift 5000 air bags on my truck for about 25K miles hauling a very heavy slide in truck camper, and like Jim's Firestone air bags, the driver side support bracket eventually bent under the load combined with traveling over rough highways. With the bracket bent, the air bag is out of alignment which will eventually damage the air bag. I now use Timbrens, but am considering going back to air bags and will install PacBrake air bags for their stronger support brackets. BTW, the Air Lift bags I installed were also no-drill and I presume the PacBrake air bags are the same on third generation trucks.



Bill

 

[AClayton]

I can't say I have that many miles on my Pac-Brake bags, but mine have been installed for 6yrs now with constant use. Nothing has ever bent and I had to drill to complete the install, but you get what you pay for. Don't judge a product based on the 'no-drill' clause. We all have drills and bits... so what, just drill the holes and install.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I can't say I have that many miles on my Pac-Brake bags, but mine have been installed for 6yrs now with constant use. Nothing has ever bent and I had to drill to complete the install, but you get what you pay for. Don't judge a product based on the 'no-drill' clause. We all have drills and bits... so what, just drill the holes and install.

Yep, installing air bags on a second gen truck requires drilling. I installed them on my two second gen trucks and a couple of friends second gen trucks. A center punch, pilot hole, and sharp drill bits make the job easy, but be careful, the brake lines are on the inside of the driver side frame rail. (Don't ask why I know) On third gen trucks, the air bags are bolt on-no drill.

Bill

 

[Motorhead]

I installed a set of Pacbrake air bags on my dentists '07 4x4. I also at the same time installed a Pac PRXB so we had on board air. I put the gauge and air switches in his dash. The install was very easy and he is very happy with the product.

 

[AH64ID]

I have the firestones, and have on my last two rigs. I have never had an issue, but have never had to put them at more than 50 psi. On my truck anything above 50 psi to stay level means I am well over the tire weight rating.

Between my dad's and my rigs we currently have 4 sets of the firestones. There has never been a leak or any issue with them, and the oldest set is 13 years old with about 175-200K miles on them.

 

[SBeretz]

Ran the Firestones for 191,000 on my 06. Never had a single issue. Leveled the truck out real nice with the toy hauler.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've had Firestones and now Carli's. If I were going to go with standard airbags on another truck it would be PacBrake based on the sturdier support brackets.

 

[RustyJC]

I'm running the Firestone air bags with no problems.

Rusty

 

[TJJEEPER]

I've installed both Firestone and Air Lift. Hands down the Firestone are the better bags. As stated earlier the Air Lift brackets are offset where the firestone aren't. Installs were on an 06 and 12, virtually the same trucks (and same part numbers from the mfg).

 

[Bob V]

Do you realize that the original post is almost 3 years old? There seems to be a lot of old post being brought for some reason.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have a complete PacBrake set I just removed from my 11 RAM Dually i just treaded in on a 15 with air ride. The bags bolt right up with no drilling! 2.5 gallon tank and compressor I just recently replaced, in cab controls, custom brackets for everything and air horns. They are all looking for a new home. I think the PacBrake products are very high in quality.