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04-10-2015, 02:18 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Air Bag Install
Finished installing air bags on the 2015 Silverado. I bought the Air Lift 5000 series bags, which can be run with no air inside, and the dual control air compressor kit. The prices were considerably cheaper than Firestone, plus both kits had a $50 rebate, so that knocked another $100 off the price. Since I installed Firestone's on the 2006 Silverado, I'm familiar with both products, and the Air Lift is equal in quality to the Firestone product. There are two things I found out to help any one considering doing this project. The first is the air compressor kit comes with two valves hooked together with plastic "Y" fitting. The fitting is brittle and broke on mine. Either replace it with a metal "Y" or buy a splitter valve for a few bucks more. The second thing is buy or borrow the Air Lift tubing cutter. You can get it from Amazon for $15 and it makes cutting the air lines so much easier. Not only does the cutter cut them easy, but more important, it cuts them square to help prevent leaks. On the advice gleaned from another board, I also used silicone grease on the tubes. So far, everything is working as advertised, though I did have leakage problems before acquiring the above mentioned tool. Should anyone decide to do this install, I'll be happy to lend the cutter if they wish.
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04-10-2015, 03:26 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Aguanga
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #13601
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Thanks Tom for the report. I'm waiting for Airlift to come out with a product for my truck (anyday! lol). I've run the Firestones (Ride-Rites?) on my last two trucks but will jump to Airlift on this one simply because the company seemed more interested in me as a customer when I asked both if they had a product out yet for the new F-450.
Did you buy the Ultimate? The model with the little Timbren looking thing in the center?
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04-10-2015, 04:43 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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I am considering the same bags for my F350. Would appreciate a follow-up review after you have run them for a few days. Most interested in how they ride when NOT towing. Previously had Firestones on my Dodge and was happy with performance but not longevity!
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-10-2015, 08:21 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by davidaf
Thanks Tom for the report. I'm waiting for Airlift to come out with a product for my truck (anyday! lol). I've run the Firestones (Ride-Rites?) on my last two trucks but will jump to Airlift on this one simply because the company seemed more interested in me as a customer when I asked both if they had a product out yet for the new F-450.
Did you buy the Ultimate? The model with the little Timbren looking thing in the center?
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Yes, I got the ultimate. Those rubber things serve the same function as the stock bumpers (which are removed when installing the bags), and allow you to run no air in the bags when not in use.
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04-10-2015, 08:24 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime
I am considering the same bags for my F350. Would appreciate a follow-up review after you have run them for a few days. Most interested in how they ride when NOT towing. Previously had Firestones on my Dodge and was happy with performance but not longevity!
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David, as long as you lower the pressure, there's no difference when not towing. However adding as little as 20 pounds does stiffen the ride without any weight to counter act it. As for lasting, they have a lifetime warranty, and the Firestone bags I had in our 06 were still in great shape when I sold it, and they were 8 years old.
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04-10-2015, 11:24 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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My 2 year old Firestones I had on my previous truck (Dodge) developed a leak in one of the bags when it had only 35 lbs while towing. Replaced them with Timbrens. Won't buy Firestones again. Where did you purchase your Air Lifts?
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-10-2015, 01:59 PM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Union
Posts: 129
M.O.C. #13875
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I've just installed the airlift bags on my 2014 Ram 2500 HD, still getting used to them but the first thing I noticed is how mush more of a stiffer ride the truck became.
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04-10-2015, 03:53 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime
My 2 year old Firestones I had on my previous truck (Dodge) developed a leak in one of the bags when it had only 35 lbs while towing. Replaced them with Timbrens. Won't buy Firestones again. Where did you purchase your Air Lifts?
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I ordered them from Amazon. Weren't the Firestone bags still under warranty? I'm pretty sure they are lifetime like Air Lift.
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04-11-2015, 12:47 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Tom S.
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime
My 2 year old Firestones I had on my previous truck (Dodge) developed a leak in one of the bags when it had only 35 lbs while towing. Replaced them with Timbrens. Won't buy Firestones again. Where did you purchase your Air Lifts?
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I ordered them from Amazon. Weren't the Firestone bags still under warranty? I'm pretty sure they are lifetime like Air Lift.
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That happened 5 years ago. I think warranty has been improved since then. Was a long way from home and on the move. Had to do something fast.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-11-2015, 02:41 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Depends on temps
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #13157
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Tom, got to ask, why did you need air bags on your DRW? What are you trying to correct?
Jim
__________________
2012 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 3.73 Tow Max Pkg B&W Companion 60 gal RDS aux fuel tank. 2014 Montana 3150RL, 2 A/C's, Leather, 6 Point Jacks, Splendede WD2100XC, Mor/ryde X-Factor, Duravis 250 tires with TST 507RV monitors. 2 x Honda EU2000's
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04-11-2015, 02:45 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jlb27537
Tom, got to ask, why did you need air bags on your DRW? What are you trying to correct?
Jim
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Ride height when the trailer is connected. Even though it's a dually, it still sagged when the trailer is added.
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04-11-2015, 03:17 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Depends on temps
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #13157
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Tom, were you down on both overload pads?
My Ram has staggered overload pads and I am down on the rear one, but not the front. I got a bit of sag also and feel the rear is too soft when towing. Was thinking of using a product called stable load. since I am not down hard on the overloads the rear is still giving a soft ride/some bounce when loaded.
So add stable load (to the spring pads only) and a set of Blisteins on the rear. You ever been down this road?
http://www.torklift.com/index.php/pr...ion/stableload
Jim
__________________
2012 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 3.73 Tow Max Pkg B&W Companion 60 gal RDS aux fuel tank. 2014 Montana 3150RL, 2 A/C's, Leather, 6 Point Jacks, Splendede WD2100XC, Mor/ryde X-Factor, Duravis 250 tires with TST 507RV monitors. 2 x Honda EU2000's
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04-11-2015, 04:42 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jlb27537
Tom, were you down on both overload pads?
My Ram has staggered overload pads and I am down on the rear one, but not the front. I got a bit of sag also and feel the rear is too soft when towing. Was thinking of using a product called stable load. since I am not down hard on the overloads the rear is still giving a soft ride/some bounce when loaded.
So add stable load (to the spring pads only) and a set of Blisteins on the rear. You ever been down this road?
http://www.torklift.com/index.php/pr...ion/stableload
Jim
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No, it dropped the bed around an inch and a half, IIRC. I'm familiar with the Stableload (the are a supporting vendor on Dieselplace.com), but have not used them, nor spoke to anyone who has.
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04-17-2015, 02:39 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Depends on temps
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #13157
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I think I am going to try the stable load. The stable load's are 2 1/2" tall. Empty I am 2 3/4" off the rear pad and 4" off the front pad.
So for my overloads to totally pick up the load it has to sag over 4" in the back.
Maybe put a block on the front pad only and go from there. I have 2 issues, sag and bounce. May have to also go with Blistien's on the rear.
__________________
2012 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 3.73 Tow Max Pkg B&W Companion 60 gal RDS aux fuel tank. 2014 Montana 3150RL, 2 A/C's, Leather, 6 Point Jacks, Splendede WD2100XC, Mor/ryde X-Factor, Duravis 250 tires with TST 507RV monitors. 2 x Honda EU2000's
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04-17-2015, 03:20 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Aguanga
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #13601
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I've used upper Stableloads on both my 05 Ram and the 15 Ford. I liked them on the Ram but not so much on the Ford for two reasons. First when empty the ride was more harsh with the stable loads, a bit too tight. There was a fraction of an inch of space (if any) between the SL pad and the leaf. Second when loaded if I hit a big bump it seemed the FW pin would bounce a lot higher than w/o. Flat smooth towing seemed better but bad roads, not so much. After towing two times with the SLs installed I opened the monty to find things had shifted a lot more than previous trips. The SLs are now stored under my seat so I can test them when I load the Truck Camper for the first time on this new truck. I expect some benefit in that application (and my primary reason for the purchase) since the TC is 4.5k LBS where Monty pin weight is 3k. I didn't have any issues with the Ram. I suspect the spring pack is simply heavier on the new Ford than the older Ram.
FWIW Torklift, the company that makes StableLoads, is an excellent company with very good customer service. You may want to call them and see what they have to say.
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04-17-2015, 05:05 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Depends on temps
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #13157
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David, were the overload pads staggered on your '05 like my '12 is?
By putting the block on only the front pad location, I will have 1 1/2" space there and the original 2 3/4" on the rear.
I think you are right, the new Fords have a stiffer rear spring pack. I just don't want to have to mess with air up/down.
Thanks Jim
__________________
2012 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 3.73 Tow Max Pkg B&W Companion 60 gal RDS aux fuel tank. 2014 Montana 3150RL, 2 A/C's, Leather, 6 Point Jacks, Splendede WD2100XC, Mor/ryde X-Factor, Duravis 250 tires with TST 507RV monitors. 2 x Honda EU2000's
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