Firestone Airbags Installed

nbscanuck · June 10, 2008

Just put in some airbags to help with towing the trailer. I had to get a 4" block welded to the bottom bracket to compensate for the 4" lift. Install took about 2 hours to do. I'll see how it handles things this weekend when we are heading out to do some ATVing. I pull a 24' trailer (about 5000 lbs loaded) and will have ATV in the back of the truck (little over 400lbs there).

98silvz71 · June 10, 2008

Just put in some airbags to help with towing the trailer. I had to get a 4" block welded to the bottom bracket to compensate for the 4" lift. Install took about 2 hours to do. I'll see how it handles things this weekend when we are heading out to do some ATVing. I pull a 24' trailer (about 5000 lbs loaded) and will have ATV in the back of the truck (little over 400lbs there).

Pictures man, pictures.

nbscanuck · June 10, 2008

Here's the pics

This is why I put bags in, back end sagging, plus I will be adding the ATV and associated gear. ">

Passenger side bag from the front. The square tubing on the bottom bracket is the modification to compensate for the 4" lift.

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Passenger side bag from the back. Sorry about the shrubbery. Very muddy here and plowed through mud that the rear diff was dragging. This is as clean as $15 would get it.

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Air valve mounted in the plastic of the rear bumper.

silverbullet2005 · June 10, 2008

nice job Griff, so the setup now is manual correct? if all works well you can always add the air pump and guage kit later for something like $150-200.

I have been thinking of going with the air ride technologies kit for when I am towing, I'll have to wait and see what your response is to the handling and ride etc.

nbscanuck · June 10, 2008

Empty, 5lbs in the bags, takes away the hobby horse feel. My brother has had for many years and they are worth it. We towed an old Chevy 4x4 on a car trailer (about 9500lbs total) and if it was for the braking and acceleration difference (and lack of gas mileage) would have never known it was there. Put 60lbs of air in the bags and we were off. I'll report back next week, after the trip to let people know how things went..

gm4yrs · June 10, 2008

Is that rust, on the back of your shocks, or mud?

Griffin86 · June 10, 2008

I had a set on my '99 when the rear leafs started to sag. Should have bought new leafs instead but the bags were free. I put 14 psi in the bags (unloaded) and it rode like a Cadillac. If I put anymore air in the bags, when I hit a bump the front end would keep on bouncing.

nbscanuck · June 10, 2008

Is that rust, on the back of your shocks, or mud?

That would be rust one the FRONT of the passenger shock. Lots of gravel driving and lots of salt on the highways in winter.

350forme · June 10, 2008

Never installed bags before but I have been told that they are pretty alignment sensitive. From the looks in the picture there could be some issues, like I said, no install experience though....

nbscanuck · June 11, 2008

They aren't that sensitive. They are flexible rubber, they give LOTS. Plus there is only 5 lbs of air in them and no load on the truck. When they have air in them, they pull straight.

nbscanuck · June 16, 2008

So after towing the trailer to the mountains with the ATV in the back of the truck, these air bags are great. They have stabilized the ride alot. The hobby horse feeling when you hit some bigger bumps is gone. Plus with the extra weight of the ATV, I can control the ride height, so the headlight shine on the road.

98silvz71 · June 16, 2008

Thats awesome, how much did you spend on the bags?

nbscanuck · June 16, 2008

Got a smokin' deal (friend in the parts business), $250 and about 2 hours of my time to install. Around here over the counter price is about $350.

thunder219 · June 17, 2008

I added a set to my truck and for towing, its probably the best money spent. They make pulling feel more stable and like said before about taking a lot of the bounce out. The first time I used them I forgot to let air out from the 55 psi and was driving down a country road and went over a cross road and thought it was going to catapult me out of the truck. Check your air every once in awhile because I had one of the fittings start leaking after working fine for a few months. Heres where I mounted my air valve.

nbscanuck · June 17, 2008

Yeah, little bit of a harsh ride with air in and no load. I found I only needed 30-35 pounds with est. 5000lb trailer and 400lb ATV in the box. That seemed to keep things level and under control. Compared to a friend, who also has air bags, mine seem fairly flat. His are more stretched out. He has to run more air in his.