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Here's a video of my experience installing Firestone Ride Rites and an Air Lift wireless on-board compressor.
Airbags Installation VIDEO
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:thumbsup: Excellent video...where you at? I'm bringing my truck to you for this under 10 minute install...:icon_wink:
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lol - maybe you could do it in 10 minutes if you had a 20 guy pit crew.
Salt Lake City, come on up!
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Were you a little nervous about drilling the frame?
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Fun install isn't it?
I also installed the Ride Rite Wireless Air Command 2489 dual system a few months ago.
I have included T-valve on both sides to allow for manual fill and checking with the manual valve stems at the rear bumper. I am finding that handheld air pressure gauges do not match the pressure readings from the remote control unit readout. Both sides seem to be off by roughly the same amount. I have tried several hand held gauges to be sure. When the wireless meter shows 10Lbs the actual pressure is slightly more than double at 25Lbs. Any troubleshooting suggestions would be appreciated! I have contacted Firestone a couple of times through their website tech support with no response...
I also installed the Ride Rite Wireless Air Command 2489 dual system a few months ago.
I have included T-valve on both sides to allow for manual fill and checking with the manual valve stems at the rear bumper. I am finding that handheld air pressure gauges do not match the pressure readings from the remote control unit readout. Both sides seem to be off by roughly the same amount. I have tried several hand held gauges to be sure. When the wireless meter shows 10Lbs the actual pressure is slightly more than double at 25Lbs. Any troubleshooting suggestions would be appreciated! I have contacted Firestone a couple of times through their website tech support with no response...
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I don't have any experience with Airbags so really don't know much about it. I purchased a new toy hauler last week that will have wuite a bit more hitch weight than my last 5er. I am guessing hitch weight to be around 2500, up 1000 from my cougar. I get that they make the truck squat less, but what are the other benefits? My Road Warrior has the EZ suspension on it which is supposed to ride a lot better. Any advice would be great.
Thanks
Thanks
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The air bags will eliminate the squat. They will also allow you to drive on oblivious to the fact that you have a blown rear spring shackle that is now trying to come up through the box...happened to me one day, kept hearing a thump, could'nt make out anything on inspection on the highway, drove fine, got home and there's a small hole in the bed that looks like it's trying to get bigger.
So it's worth the 10 minute install by EpicCowlick...I hear he uses a 20 man crew...:thumbsup:
So it's worth the 10 minute install by EpicCowlick...I hear he uses a 20 man crew...:thumbsup:
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No, drilling the frame may sound scary, but it's no big deal. Talk to an engineer about the ability to put holes in the center of the vertical portion of a horizontally loaded structural member. It would have to be about 2 inches in diameter before it mattered.
I didn't put the T in so I have no way to verify the actual pressure in the bags. But I don't think it matters anyway. At the end of the day, I really don't care what the pressure actually is, just that it levels the load and helps stabilize the ride. So any discrepancy in hand-checked vs. digital readings is a non-issue for me. I'm using the Air Lift compressor and not the Firestone so we can't compare that way.
I mentioned my thoughts on another forum so forgive me if I am duplicating. There were two things that I expected from the airbag system: level the load, and increase the load capacity of the rear end. I clearly accomplished both of those objectives. What I didn't expect was the added benefit of smoothing out the ride A LOT. My trailer was pushing (bucking/jerking) the truck quite a bit before the bags and that has all but disappeared with the air bags. I was actually looking at some type of shock absorbing system on the hitch but it's no longer necessary. The air bags have really smoothed out the bucking. My Next Level toy hauler has a similar advanced suspension on the three axles as well. It has four shock absorbers on two of the axles.
Be aware that I only have about 80 miles on the airbag setup so my opinion is only from a newbie's perspective. Take that for what it's worth.
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I would agree that knowing the pressure isn’t critical especially for raising or stabilizing the load. It’s when empty that I’d like to be able to set it 5 Lbs. and forget it. Unfortunately when I set the remote to 5 (lowest remote will allow) the bags really have 15 on one side and slightly more on the other. Thus I have to manually air them down to the prescribed min so I don’t get too much bouncy. Other than that minor inconvenience, I like them!I didn't put the T in so I have no way to verify the actual pressure in the bags. But I don't think it matters anyway. At the end of the day, I really don't care what the pressure actually is, just that it levels the load and helps stabilize the ride. So any discrepancy in hand-checked vs. digital readings is a non-issue for me. I'm using the Air Lift compressor and not the Firestone so we can't compare that way.
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I am a structural engineer and I approve of this message. :lol:
On a serious note, the vertical portion is what we call the web of the member. The web resist the shear forces in the member which are highest near the supports of the member.
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Nice to hear from someone with actual credibility on the matter! lol
EpicCowlick,
Just watched your video on installation of Firestone 2535 air bag kit. ( Great Job, Big Help)
Did you have an issue with the brake line on the passenger side? looked at my truck and it looks to me like the brake line would be in the way for the axle strap of the lower bracket.
Thank You Sir
Just watched your video on installation of Firestone 2535 air bag kit. ( Great Job, Big Help)
Did you have an issue with the brake line on the passenger side? looked at my truck and it looks to me like the brake line would be in the way for the axle strap of the lower bracket.
Thank You Sir
Adjust your low pressure switch. Should explain how to do that in the manual. I had to do this on my last truck with air bags. Then you never have to worry about it again and it will be at 5lbs.
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Hey Cessna,
No, I didn't have any conflicts with the brake lines. You do have to work around them but everything fit in just fine. If there is a problem, I bet you could loosen the brake lines a bit and move them around as necessary.
Epic
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lol - what was that old American Express commerical? The one with the guy swinging in a hammock in the back yard with a glass of lemonade and a satisfied look on his face as he surveys his beautifully landscaped back yard...
The announcer says, "There's only one thing more satisfying than enjoying the results of a long hard day of weed pulling and lawn trimming, and that's knowing that you paid Manuel to do it..."
love that :lol:Well, I just ATTEMPTED to install the Airlift Loadlifter 5000 onto my 2011 F350 6.7. What a disaster. The kit (57396) is a POS in my opinion. The quality of the bags themselves are awesome, but the way they mount/install is ridiculous, and in my opinion, impossible.
I went with the Airlift kit because the bags look to be a lot better quality than the Riderite bags. And I figured since I was going to use the Airlift 72000 Wireless kit, I might as well keep it all in the family so to speak, one throat to choke, etc, etc. But man, extremely poor design of the mounting mechanisims with the Airlift bag kit.
So fair warning if anyone is considering going with an all Airlift system. I'd very strongly recommend going with the combo of Airlift Wireless 72000 and the Riderite bag kit, like Epic did.
Now patiently waiting on my Riderite bag kit....
- On the drivers side, the top bracket is darn near impossible to install due to the wiring harnesses, the mount for the DEF tank and some other lines.
- On the passenger side, there's no way to tighten one of the bolts that attaches the top of the airbag to the top side bracket.
- Per the instructions, you have to literally bang off a large piece of the bottom mounts with a hammer. The instructions say you may have to use a grinder to cut it off (which I had to do on both lower mounts).
- The instructions just plain suck, bigtime.
I went with the Airlift kit because the bags look to be a lot better quality than the Riderite bags. And I figured since I was going to use the Airlift 72000 Wireless kit, I might as well keep it all in the family so to speak, one throat to choke, etc, etc. But man, extremely poor design of the mounting mechanisims with the Airlift bag kit.
So fair warning if anyone is considering going with an all Airlift system. I'd very strongly recommend going with the combo of Airlift Wireless 72000 and the Riderite bag kit, like Epic did.
Now patiently waiting on my Riderite bag kit....
Epic,
In your video, where you're installing the airbags themselves, you really only show the passenger side being installed. Question for you, how difficult was the drivers side with all the wiring harnesses, mount for the DEF tank and those other lines that run the inside of the frame?
Thanks, DS
In your video, where you're installing the airbags themselves, you really only show the passenger side being installed. Question for you, how difficult was the drivers side with all the wiring harnesses, mount for the DEF tank and those other lines that run the inside of the frame?
Thanks, DS
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The only problem I had was due to the fact that I had the B&W hitch already installed. I had to loosen but not remove the driver's side plate to allow the airbag bracket bolt through the frame. There were no conflicts with hoses and other stuff on the truck. The most confusing part was in setting the Firestone bracket height. I had to set them on the highest hole which the instructions specifically said NOT to do. There was no other way to do it without cutting or burning off the bump stop tongue that is in the way. Bottom line is after a summer of pulling a very heavy fifth wheel, the brackets are pristine and working great.
I'm on the second hole from the top on that bracket for my Firestone airbags and I have the same truck. No cutting or grinding here at all. The only irritant about the installation was that bolt by the def tank but my wifes small arms and hands solved that. The rest of the installation was a breeze.
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