helper bags - Diesel Forum

scotzilla · 11-02-2009, 01:50 PM

just bought a 38ft sand piper 5th wheel and my trucks almost on the bump stops. I looked at the helper bag kits on summits web site and had a few questions. THe air lift kit says if i have aa reese hitch i need another $125 bracket kit? I dont see why and they cant answer me why. Anyone know? Also what set-up do you have and how do you like it? Right ow im kinda of leaning towards the firestone kit. Also how is a 4 inch lift going to effect the kit?

fordsforever73 · 11-02-2009, 02:53 PM

How about a set of HD overloads? That's what I installed on my'95 with a "too heavy" camper. The guys at the spring shop built and installed them for $400 CAN. They even told me, they don't install airbags in their shop as airbags aren't for most people. I did have airbags in the truck, but they didn't allow enough suspension travel and ended up causing a cracked frame from the pounding. Here is a link of what the spring shop did, replacing the original single overload with a "4 pack" overload: TheDieselStop.Com Photo Hosting - Heavy duty overloads

Matt0987 · 11-02-2009, 04:04 PM

I found this web page helpful in making my decision.

http://www.jackit.com/springs/images..._firestone.pdf

Matt0987 · 11-02-2009, 04:23 PM

I got mine for my Ex. and as such I would not be pulling a 5th wheel.

They install under the bumper stops which are located over the axle. I am not sure where they install in a pickup. Probably similarly.

You can go to Air Lift's website and download the install instructions. That is what I did so I was familiar with the install before the bags arrived.

Since the 5th wheel installs over the axle would the likelihood if a broken frame be pretty minute? If the 5th wheel was installed behind, or in front of, the axle I could see pressures on the frame increasing as the the 5th wheel is moved away from the load bearing location of over the axle.

I would think that you would need to install some sort of extention or "drop" to make up the difference for the lift.

The helper springs may be the way to go, or a complete set of springs, if you used the truck only for pulling the 5th wheel. But there is an advantage of being able to air down the bags when using the truck for everyday driving.

I got mine from;

Airlift Loadlifter 5000 Series

A couple of other sites you might want to consider;

2004 Ford F-350 Air Lift Leveling Kits
Vehicle Search

scotzilla · 11-02-2009, 10:28 PM

yea i plan on boxing my frame to strengthen it- My 5th wheel is mounted directly above the axle- I think that has a big deal to do with the frame cracking issues

Matt0987 · 11-02-2009, 11:10 PM

I would contact the 5th wheel manufacturer to see if that is really a necessity. Not the trailer company. The company that made the 5th wheel. It would seem to me that properly installed there should not be a problem. Not having a 5th wheel trailer I am in the dark. But surely all these pickups with 5th wheel trailers have not had to go through all this extra effort.

speeddemon31176 · 11-03-2009, 03:44 AM

I had a set of airlift bags on my old truck with a fifth wheel and had no trouble at all with it. I also had a 4" lift on the truck. The only problem I had was that the bags had to be aired up in order to get the studs on top of the bags through the holes in the mounting bracket due to the lift. Once they were bolted down all was good and that was for three years till i got rid of the truck. You can air the bags back down once installed too.