Air lift recommendations

Air Lift had them on my previous truck and I installed the 5000 ultimate on my current veh. With the ultimate you don't have to worry about having air in them. They have their own built in Joyce. I didn't put them in for the sag but that will help with that issue. I have them for the ride on rough roads. They do help to eliminate bounce on some of our fantastic roads. On board compressor or not is a personal choice. Good luck.

Just a mention of the installation and what happened to me with the schrader valve setup. I started with just that setup and no compressor. I still have them plumbed into the system. I was airing up using an air hose and didn't notice the actuator in the air hose had a slight bend in it. When I finished airing up it tore the needle valve out leaving me with zero pressure and a search for an auto parts store to replace the needle valve. When I got home I ordered the compressor.

We have the Firestone bags and love them. put the pump
behind the rear seat and the gage & switches onthe dash :B

Timbrens

Air Lift

d-mac1 wrote:
Firestones on my Dodge with independent schrader valves and lines for each. Simple.

I honestly can't imagine adjusting air pressure while driving. Its either the proper amount to level you or its not. I can see letting out air after a trip and airing up before towing, but other than that, is all the extra expense that necessary? The Fords I've seen have virtually no room under the hood in the first place so do you need to put more stuff under there?

I know the air pressure I need, so I air em up first via bike pump, hook up and don't mess with it till after the trip. Not a big deal to me to drive around during trip without trailer a little stiff in the rear. If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill. All you need is a bike pump and a low pressure gauge. Takes 2 minutes.

the airlift kit is maybe 8x10x3, I have it mounted under the bed.
can't tell u the number of times I have adjusted it (and the shocks) based on the road conditions, both towing and not.

I had the dual schraeder valves before. Easy as u said. "If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill".. without airing down my non-towing dually, the ride is harsh.

Firestones on my Dodge with independent schrader valves and lines for each. Simple.

I honestly can't imagine adjusting air pressure while driving. Its either the proper amount to level you or its not. I can see letting out air after a trip and airing up before towing, but other than that, is all the extra expense that necessary? The Fords I've seen have virtually no room under the hood in the first place so do you need to put more stuff under there?

I know the air pressure I need, so I air em up first via bike pump, hook up and don't mess with it till after the trip. Not a big deal to me to drive around during trip without trailer a little stiff in the rear. If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill. All you need is a bike pump and a low pressure gauge. Takes 2 minutes.

I have a set of the AirLift air bags on my truck. They appear to be the same as the 5000, but were made before the model designation. I installed them in 2001 without the on board compressor. A few years later I added the compressor and am really happy I did. I wish I had done that originally.

There is more to the issue than just ride height. It is also the ride. With the air springs I can adjust the ride based on changes in road surface, curves, load, or whatever makes me happy.

On my last truck I added Hellwig (metal) overload springs and was only mildly satisfied with them. I had to use a wrench to adjust the ride with them, and the same to loosen them when unloaded (to keep my teeth intact.) Although they worked, they were too much work. A friend of mine used both AirLift and Firestone on different trucks and was satisfied with both. When I bought my air bags one of them had a pin hole in it. With a phone call to AirLift they overnighted a replacement to me. They were excellent to deal with. I have had not problems with them since.

I heartily recommend the AirLift air bags. Next truck I get will probably have another set on it too.

PS- My gage/control works both sides independently, but has two needles, one for each side.

Single gauges have both air bags combined on one circuit. Twin gauges are for control of each side individually.

We all know that air bags don't extend the weight amount that goes on the rear axle. It's really for leveling the vehicle, making it stop and handle better. And you won't get the flashing lights when you spotlight oncoming drivers any longer.

When you're unloaded, you should drop pressure down to 5-10 lbs. Measure at your step bumper prior to loading your trailer. After loaded, inflate the air suspension to the same level and see how it's sitting.

I have a set of Air Ride suspension to install. I can honestly say I've never seen so many nuts and bolts--and bad installation instructions.

My truck sits nose down when unloaded and when hooked up to the trailer it sits level and it's also on the overloads. ALL of my weights are within spec so it's just the way the truck was made. No bags needed.