I am setting up my newly acquired '04 Dodge 3500 DRW 4WD Quad cab. I question that I need Air Bags, but they would be nice to maintain headlight adjustment and level the TC when camping.I am considering one of these:1 Outside frame mount Firestones These are suposed to be no drilling required, but I see four holes in the brackets, and have no holes in my truck frame. Must have a minimum 5 psi.2 Partial under frame inside mount Firestones Must have a minimum 5 psi.3 Direct under frame (between frame & axle) Air Lifts These have an internal jounce bumper, which allow for zero PSI without causing any harm.I have the outside frame mounted style Firestones on my '96. On two occasions, I bent the frame brackets going over speed bumps too fast. I reinforced the frame brackets. The Air Bags must not interfear with the installation of a B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck Hitch or this mount style B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck HitchI am a little partial toward the Air Lift due to its mounting and zero psi (jounce bumper) ability.Positive or negative experiences are appreciated.Wayne

I don't think 5 psi minimum is any factor. On trucks that I had fitted with airbags, I liked to keep 20-40 psi min as that gave me better ride. Even on 3/4 t truck suspension can be pretty harsh when empty. Brand -wise >>> flip a coin.

I installed Firestone because they are no drill but I really considered air lift ultimate because they have a built in jounce bumper so if they do loose air and they will loose air. I keep about 10 - 15 psi in them when not towing and about 20psi keeps the TV level

I'm wondering the same thing. Something to consider is that all of the airbag systems limit suspension travel to some extent. The airbag travel is only 5 or 6", vs. often 10-12" for the original suspension. On the between-axle-and-frame version I tried to install on my '99 F350, it reduced jounce travel to 2", at the same time eliminating the rubber bump stop. Firestone said this wasn't a problem.... There are some long travel kits that are made for the off road types, but expen$ive and limited applicability.The outside the frame mounts seems to be mostly pretty flimsy and need reinforcement. The inside the frame versions will reduce roll stiffness to the extent of any load they carry. I don't think the 5 psi minimum limit is a particular concern, they end up that way over time anyway. Given the reduction in travel, having a jounce bumper like the Airlifts seems like a good idea. Another concern it that most of them have instructions admonishing against jacking the truck without strapping the axle, because the weight of the axle will hang on the bags.For these reasons if I install them on my new truck (the need is yet TBD) I intend to mount them using the Daystar seats. In this scheme you do not bolt down the bottom of the bag, it is allowed to lift off on suspension extension preserving travel. Someone else is making a kit that does this from the beginning, but it mounts well inboard of the springs which I do not like. The seats eliminate the minimum pressure, axle droop, and travel concerns.

Hey Wanye, I'm a big fan of StableLoads - no bags to pop, no connections to leak, and no air'ing up/down if I decide to unload when camping. I have a VERY heavy camper, they don't touch the leafs when I'm empty, so the is ride the same empty. Fully loaded w/trailer on a 4' SuperTruss I'm dead level.

Boatycall, I have upper Stable Loads. As I posted, I want to return to non-loaded height for headlight adjustment and level the TC when camping. Although the Stable Loads reduce the drop, I do not see how you could possibly raise the truck back up once loaded other than with air bags. I only have a 3-inch drop. I do not want to raise it for looks or because it squats too much.Wayne

Air Bags/Springs - Firestone, Air Lift or? | Good Sam Community

skipbee
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
The Air Lifts have been excellent for maintaining ride height and more useful for side to side leveling. We at first over-inflated but now use an average of from 40 to 55 psi on our very heavy rig. We never have the same pressure in both, depending on how we're carrying the load in the TC.

We have fore and aft and side to side stick-on bubble levels, from Walmart, to check on level both ways, and check air bag pressure when we check tire pressure, which is often. Before we loaded the TC for the first time we measured from the top of the tire to the bottom of the outside of the wheel well to get the right ride height unloaded.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2016
I would add air bags. Keep in mind, without the TC, added springs will make for a stiffer ride, and the air bags will not.
bbaker2001
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
have a 2015 Ram 3500 SRW. when I hitch up 5th I drop almost 2". my lights ride higher.
my truck only has 4 springs, and the 3/4 Chevy parked next campsite has 5.
do I add another spring or airbags
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Feb 09, 2016
Reddog1 wrote:
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Wayne based on your reply to my post, if you do get Air Bags get the ultimates. You can run with empty bags that don't affect the ride when you want to, but give you the option to quickly air up and change your ride and angulation.
I did order the Ultimates, primarly for the reasons you posted.

$242.42 - Air Lift 88295 LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Spring Kit with Internal Jounce Bumper
Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2016
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Wayne based on your reply to my post, if you do get Air Bags get the ultimates. You can run with empty bags that don't affect the ride when you want to, but give you the option to quickly air up and change your ride and angulation.
I did order the Ultimates, primarly for the reasons you posted.

$242.42 - Air Lift 88295 LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Spring Kit with Internal Jounce Bumper
Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2016
Richandtd wrote:
I'm looking into getting two extra springs installed on my ram 3500 drw cause my truck sits 4" lower with the TC's on.
I did add one spring on my '96. It was great with the TC, but a disaster with an empty truck. It rode like a covered wagon empty.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Feb 09, 2016
Wayne based on your reply to my post, if you do get Air Bags get the ultimates. You can run with empty bags that don't affect the ride when you want to, but give you the option to quickly air up and change your ride and angulation.
Richandtd
Explorer
Feb 09, 2016
I'm looking into getting two extra springs installed on my ram 3500 drw cause my truck sits 4" lower with the TC's on.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2016
Tom_Anderson, I agree. Each TC and truck is a little different. I think with the truck unloaded, the upper overload stop should be close but not touching. If it touches, it will give a pretty harsh ride. The biggest single advantage making your own, is you can control when the upper overload makes contact.

Obviously, you can carry this to extremes. If you reduce the empty clearance, you will only reduce the squat by that amount.
Tom_Anderson
Explorer
Feb 08, 2016
Reddog1 wrote:
I do not know it to be true, but it looks to me the lower Stable Loads takes away the progressive action on the lower overload spring. Without the lower Stable Load, the lower overload makes more more contact with the spring pack as the load on the truck is increased.

I have no problem with the upper Stable Load, It simply allows less drop before the upper overload engages.

That's the way I see it, too. I've been thinking about installing a spacer block between my main spring pack and the overload leaf, which would do basically the same thing as the upper stableloads.

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