1999-2007 Upgrades and Aftermarket - GeneralUpgrading or adding OEM or aftermarket equipment to your 1999-2007 Super Duty. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are not engine-specific.
Those of you with B&W hitches and want outside frame airbags......
I strongly suggest you try the Airlift 5000 series model 57291. This kit is specifically made to work with the B&W gooseneck hitch plates.
Get a more stable outside the frame stance which I needed anyways because of my exhaust. Installation was very straight forward but I did have to drill the two forward 3/8s inch holes. Had the install done in 3hrs by myself.
Now for my birthday I may ask for a dual control air pump system for it.
Thanks for posting this! I was looking at these on-line yesterday and was considering starting a 'Ride Rite' or 'AirLift' thread. Looks like the Airlifts are less expensive and come with a lifetime warranty. How's the quality? Fit & Finish good? Relatively easy install?
Thanks for posting this! I was looking at these on-line yesterday and was considering starting a 'Ride Rite' or 'AirLift' thread. Looks like the Airlifts are less expensive and come with a lifetime warranty. How's the quality? Fit & Finish good? Relatively easy install?
Well, I have installed both brands of kits over the years. In my opinion the fit and finish is fine on both. Both seam to have virtually the same design and build techniques. Both always seem to take a little fiddiling to get them perfect. It seems as though most people think firestones are better because of the name and they cost a little more but I am not so sure. I am not an advocate to either.
That being said I was just excited to find something that work with my hitch so I didn't have to drill 8+ holes through two hitch plates and the frame rails. That sucks and the drill bits get expensive.
Are you saying that the Firestones require 8+ holes to be drilled?
I thought they have a model that works with the B&W hitch similar to the Airlift.
I am also considering both brands for a purchase in the near future.
Thanks.
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'01 F350 Dually 2wd 6sp/PTO option and AIC.
LUK clutch, AFE intake, 4" exhaust, DI 4pos custom chip with high flow injectors.
As mentioned in the begining of this fine thread, the Firestone no drills are inside the frame rails and won't work with my exhaust. I also hear they don't really fit with any aftermarket large diameter exhaust.
They are also IMO not quite as stable as outside the rail bags.
As I also mentioned you can use the outside the rails Ride Rites if that is the brand you insist on using. Just be prepared to drill a **** load of holes.
As I also mentioned you can use the outside the rails Ride Rites if that is the brand you insist on using. Just be prepared to drill a **** load of holes.
It's only 8 holes for the Firestones that mount outside the frame rails. They're what I have, and the mounting looks stouter to me than the pics above with only 2 bolts per side. But that's just my opinion.
Drilling the holes was a bit of a workout, however. Be sure and use a good sharp bit.
As mentioned in the begining of this fine thread, the Firestone no drills are inside the frame rails and won't work with my exhaust. I also hear they don't really fit with any aftermarket large diameter exhaust.
They are also IMO not quite as stable as outside the rail bags.
As I also mentioned you can use the outside the rails Ride Rites if that is the brand you insist on using. Just be prepared to drill a **** load of holes.
TIFWIW.
Why won't it fit my brother has 5" exhaust and he didn't have a problem?
His exits in the stock location even with the spare tire under the truck there weren't any fitment problems.
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Pat 2000 F250 Carpenter's Union local 2214
5" exhaust with 6"tip,foil delete,zoodad and 285/75/16 GT Adventuro
Last edited by silverf00250; 08-23-2009 at 08:22 PM.
It's only 8 holes for the Firestones that mount outside the frame rails. They're what I have, and the mounting looks stouter to me than the pics above with only 2 bolts per side. But that's just my opinion.
Drilling the holes was a bit of a workout, however. Be sure and use a good sharp bit.
At first I would have agreed. But after looking at it and the way these brackets are made to mary up to the B&W hitch plates the hitch acts as a gusset right over the airbag. It has two 3/4 inch bolts and one 1/2 inch bolt per side. I am not seeing anything flexing with this setup although if you wanted to take it to an engineering standpoint I would probably agree the 8 hole setup is better.
Also, like I said before, it's not just 8 holes through the frame rails but also through to thick ass hitch plates and the hitch plate doublers on the back side of the frame rails.
Don't get me wrong I am not trying to say the ride rites suck as I have owned them before. Just pointing out another option to people.
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