Air bag recommendations

[james quinn]

Looking to put airbags on my 2013 f150 and know next to nothing about them. Any product recommendations or stay aways would be appreciated. Ideally the install would involve setting the parts on the ground next to the truck and waving a magic beer ..er, wand...and it would be done

 

[Glazier]

I had Firestone on my last truck, and now have Air Lift on my current truck. Pick your poison, they all work. The installation is pretty basic on both sets I mentioned. I do have an onboard compressor with the bags on my truck now, wireless remote.


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[Cate&Rob]

Hi Jim,

I also went with the Airlift bags and onboard compressor (which I installed myself)
The Airlift bags go directly under the frame (replacing the jounce bumpers) so this looked (to me) to be stronger than the Firestone system that bolts to the side of the frame . . . although the Firestone system is probably easier to install.
For F150, the airbag kit with internal jounce bumpers is PN 88200. The Wireless One compressor kit is PN 25870.

The installation was a full day of crawling around under the truck . . . so not quite as simple as what you are looking for .
I had to trim the left side Airlift attachment bracket to the axle because it would not quite fit as intended.
The wiring harness for the compressor was poor quality with the main relay not functional from new. So, I had to rebuild that before installation.
Two of the air line fittings had small leaks . . . but these parts are easily available.
The installation instructions are great, with actual pictures of the exact vehicle being worked on.

System has been working flawlessly for about a year now.

Rob

 

[james quinn]

Hi Jim,

I also went with the Airlift bags and onboard compressor (which I installed myself)
The Airlift bags go directly under the frame (replacing the jounce bumpers) so this looked (to me) to be stronger than the Firestone system that bolts to the side of the frame . . . although the Firestone system is probably easier to install.
For F150, the airbag kit with internal jounce bumpers is PN 88200. The Wireless One compressor kit is PN 25870.

The installation was a full day of crawling around under the truck . . . so not quite as simple as what you are looking for .
I had to trim the left side Airlift attachment bracket to the axle because it would not quite fit as intended.
The wiring harness for the compressor was poor quality with the main relay not functional from new. So, I had to rebuild that before installation.
Two of the air line fittings had small leaks . . . but these parts are easily available.
The installation instructions are great, with actual pictures of the exact vehicle being worked on.

System has been working flawlessly for about a year now.

Rob

Rob,

With all the fixes u had to do with your "new" system it should be called the Roblift !

 

[steve gravelle]

We have used an Air Lift system, the heavier bags with internal bump stops, and hard-wired onboard compressor with gauge unit in the left corner of the dash which also has buttons to increase or decrease pressure, run about 50 psi towing, 10 psi unloaded. No leaks, no issues, bags made by Goodyear. Highly recommend!

 

[JCR GD]

I have Air-lift w/ on board compressor and gauge in cab w/ remote. Installed myself (pretty much a full day as mentioned above.) No issues, works great.

FYI - Last truck I started with the manual inflation w/ air hose. Soon realized there are times when I wanted to increase or decrease pressure on the fly. (especially finding initial setup sweet spot for ride quality)

 

[HODRLODR]

I have Firestone Bags, had them on Two trucks no problems. I agree with JCR GD on board compressor is a must

 

[DKRITTER]

Firestone or Airlift are the 2 leading companies. I have had them on my last 3 trucks and love them. I would strongly recommend the compressor as it allows you to adjust at the flick of a button.

I installed mine by myself and it's not real technical but it does require several hours of grunting and growning underneath the truck.

Last truck I just paid a guy to do it, oh so much simpler and I'm supporting the economy.

 

[TxSkull]

I use Hellwig.

 

[IDwanderers]

As Glazier stated, they all work. I have Hellwig bags and I am very pleased. I almost bought the complete Hellwig system that includes the compressor and tank. I discovered that I could purchase the components separately much cheaper. I got a VIAIR compressor and tank and plumbed it independently. This allows me the ability to air up other things as well as the airbags. I admit it is not as easy as "a touch of a button" for the air bags but having an airhose with 100 psi pressure for filling other things is fantastic.

As stated above, installation is a lot of work. Nothing really difficult, just takes time.

 

[james quinn]

Thanx for all the replies. Now to do a little checking for myself. Since Rob is an expert with my specific vehicle it only seems fair that I show up at his place and drink a beer while he installs for me. Kinda meets my previous installation requirements

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hey Jim,

We would be well past the "beer" budget and definitely into the "single malt scotch" negotiation, for this to happen .

The on-board compressor and controller is worth the complication.
Looking for the ride "sweet spot" while travelling, is the first obvious benefit.
Also, the system pressurizes/exhausts to the set point as temperature changes. This happens a lot.
If the system develops even a small leak, this becomes obvious with compressor cycling.
All-in-all, the compressor system was more complex to install than the air bags . . . but well worth it.

Rob

 

[TNFLineage]

Air Lift here, would think twice about it. Twice into shop for leaks.

 

[Cate&Rob]

Air Lift here, would think twice about it. Twice into shop for leaks.

Hey Tom & Nancy,

I can relate to that. For whatever reason, Airlift uses really cheap air line connectors. Since I did my own install, I did my own leak checking. Rather than go back to Airlift for warranty part replacement, I sourced replacement fittings locally to solve the problem. I think the required fittings were $1.50 each.

Rob

 

[C Davis]

I have airlift system on my Silverado and like very well. But I'm go with the full air bag rear suspension. The company that makes the i'm going with is Auto Flex Air Ride Suspension. just google them. Just my 2Cents.

 

[scottcoffinconst]

I have air bags on myF250 and a friend of mine has roller springs on his and his 250 rides better because the roller springs don't engage till you load the truck so there for your empty ride is still factory. I do like my air bags but I lost my smooth ride when I put them on


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[scott42blue]

Question for guys with air bag system.
I would like to move 355 TH around yard and into shop with my 2500 extend cab. I have strict height requirements of 12 foot 9 inches and a sloped driveway leading into it. Each time it comes in requires wife on man lift and less than 1/4 inch of clearance from roof. Bought a extra slider Reese hitch for 2500 and modified it for extra height, but weight of RV drops 2500 about 5 inches down from from ride height of 3500.
To make it simple do you think air bags could level 2500 with RV attached and add one to two inches above level.
Scott

 

[james quinn]

I have air bags on myF250 and a friend of mine has roller springs on his and his 250 rides better because the roller springs don't engage till you load the truck so there for your empty ride is still factory. I do like my air bags but I lost my smooth ride when I put them on


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possible option. just did the Google and looks like they just bolt on ... about an hour ... so pretty straight forward. Logic seems good !

 

[scott42blue]

Am I missing something here. If air bags are deflated to 0 PSI it seems ride would go back to factory. Is there a issue with bags getting pinched with no air pressure ?
Scott

 

[Cate&Rob]

I have air bags on myF250 and a friend of mine has roller springs on his and his 250 rides better because the roller springs don't engage till you load the truck so there for your empty ride is still factory. I do like my air bags but I lost my smooth ride when I put them on


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If you drop airbag pressure to near zero when not towing, ride goes back to original.

Rob