air bags pump

My valves are in the wheel wells, could be in a better place but have not been a problem. I just fill them at home, have to add near double the psi on the heavy side of camper to get close to level.Hardly ever need to add/remove psi till I take the TC off. I have a pump and gauge set up for the truck cab but never seen the need to install.

If I do add air I have both a bike pump and 12V pump to work with but the stay packed away most of the time.

hedgehopper wrote:
. Eventually I bought a tiny Firestone compressor that mounts under the truck with controls and gages on the instrument panel. What a difference! Then I wondered why I had not done that sooner. In addition to the convenience, being able to instantly change the air-bag pressures when the road conditions change is a revelation.

This is my intention if the air bags stay. I was undecided between air bags and Supersprings. If I end up liking the air bags my goal would be to upgrade to the full onboard set-up.

Mine are in the rear, attached to the factory trailer hitch. I do have to crawl under a bit with the TC on but I can reach them.

I do not have any photos of my install. I made a bracket for the valves out of 1" angle. I uses two sheet metal screws to fasten the bracket under the dash. Actually, it is pretty straight forward.

Wayne

Reddog1 wrote:
The length of the individual lines makes no difference. Do understand, you can buy additional line and related fittings from your local automotive parts house. Simply stated, with your existing tubing, run which ever line you want. I suggest the longest first. Then run the second, and if necessary purchase additional line. Do keep in mind, the more connections you have, the more likely you will have leaks. This is not earth shattering, but should be considered. I will also add, that you can buy several feet of tubing for the cost of one fitting.

What a great tip and thanks for the further info.

My airbag valves are mounted on the rear license plate and I figured I'd need to move them in anticipation of getting a TC. Now I know they're going to be relocated to the cab.

Any pics of your install location?

At first the valves were mounted next to the license plate and I used the same compressor as for the tires. Eventually I bought a tiny Firestone compressor that mounts under the truck with controls and gages on the instrument panel. What a difference! Then I wondered why I had not done that sooner. In addition to the convenience, being able to instantly change the air-bag pressures when the road conditions change is a revelation.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
I have mine on the passenger side of the bed up near the front about a foot behind the cab on the bottom where I can safely access them on the side of the road and not have to get under the back of the TC. Make sure you route the air lines in a manner that they are protected from debris thrown from the tire and from tire chunks should you blow a tire as with the combination of a flat and loss of airbag support at the same time it gets a bit tricky to keep the rubber side of the truck down( I speak from experience). I ran the air lines inside the frame channel after that on the rebuild

I use a bike pump with a gauge to fill them.

This is how I mounted mine today. Finished a short while ago and I am happy with the way everything went together. I picked up a small bike pump and a digital gauge to fill them up. I haven't done a loaded test yet but that will be coming soon. Thanks for everyone's input

Carrier wrote:
I put the shrader valves in the rear license plate for the Firestone bags and tried all kinds of methods to fill them and all were a pain. Finally got a Airlift 5000 and so far it has worked very well.

Pretty much same story. Although when I first got my air bags I towe'd a 5 th wheel so the license plate area worked fine. My bags always leaked a little bit. Never could find a source. Even had an RV repair shop look and they said they weren't leaking.

Love the Airlift wireless remote. Always amazed at how much difference a couple psi makes in how the truck feels. I only use the bags as a minor assist, 25-28 psi gets the headlights back in position.

I put the shrader valves in the rear license plate for the Firestone bags and tried all kinds of methods to fill them and all were a pain. Finally got a Airlift 5000 and so far it has worked very well.

I had an angle bracket clamped to the cross bar of my hitch, required crawling under rear of my last truck. I found that once theyou were set a bicycle pump worked fine for minor adjustments. Don't think I will need bags on this truck at this time.