Firestone Airbags for Dodge Ram

What Spike calls too soft I call not enough truck. Rear suspension aides do exactly what they advertise and there are many satisfied owners of said aftermarket products. But they also mask overloaded trucks.

I have the Air rite bags inside the coils and I can truthfully say they do what they claim. Trailer is not to big for my 1500 Ram, Reese Camlock is set up properly. With bags aired up, you don't get the up and down wave you can get when going over train tracks or whoops / dipps in road. They smooth the ride out, and do slightly keep the rear more level.

APT wrote:
What exactly does "too soft" suspension mean? .....

If one loads the pickup' rear with fuel & tools, then one connects a landscape trailer that holds 8 x ATV ad the Pickup's rear goes down to the point where other opposing drivers are flashing their headlights, then yes, the vehicle's rear suspension is "factory" too soft. Yes, the pickup is still under its max weight ratings. If they made today's pickups to carry full cargo weight (and being under legal loads), it would ride like a solid axle tank while empty.

If wondering, my previous and current tow vehicles have factory mush suspension. Great for people comfort and no other internal cargo. But its "too soft" under heavy loads (and still being under its max weight limits). I installed Timbrens SES and even loaded down (with NO trailer connected), it rides much better, its stance is near level and its steering feels much tighter as well. When loaded down without "beefing up" its rear, it felt front end too light. And, I would get headlight flashes at night.

Based on my own eyes, both vehicles have factory mush suspensions. Made for people comfort and less for heavy cargo loading (without trailer connected). And yes, Weight Distribution is made for Trailer Tongue weight. It isn't made to correct factory weak rear suspension design + trailer tongue weight support.

What exactly does "too soft" suspension mean? When a WDH is used such that the front axle weight is restored, the rear of every half ton settles at 1-2" lower than unhitched. That puts them near level given the unloaded height is rear high. If someone think the suspension is too soft and needs rear suspension aids, my experience says it is likely overloaded. If a half ton (of smaller) rear body height is 4" lower with a trailer attached, the WDH is not properly adjusted and/or the vehicle is overloaded.

Half tons tend to benefit from WD for more than about 400 pounds of TW.

How a WDH works thread

How to adjust a WDH

Forgot to mention….

My one neighbour has a Ram 1500 and he installed Air Bags the 1st week he bought it. He says the factory rear suspension is a little on the "too soft" side and when towing his loaded down large ATV trailer, he pumps up its air bags. Better ride comfort and he doesn't get high beam flashed when towing at dark time as well. Thus, proving air bags re-levels his vehicle - when a non Weight Distribution System trailer is connected.

Hope this helps as well…

"Without" trailer connected, load up the rear of the pickup, stand back and look at its stance. If its rear is down, then install air bag or Timbrens in the pickup's rear. This will "lift" its rear up. Remember that a vehicle must be near level before connecting to any trailer.

If wondering, I'm a fan of Timbren SES units. They are fraction of the cost of air bags, they don't leak air, no need to air up / air down. After initial adjustment (using spacers) is done, they are a simple "install and leave it" product. I used Timbren SES units in my previous Leaf Spring Tow Vehicle. And, I now use Timbren SES units within my new coil spring Tow Vehicle. My future replacement vehicle will use Timbren SES units as well. That's how much I love them.

After "loaded" vehicle stance is near level, then connect "loaded" trailer. If vehicles' rear goes down too much, then install properly sized Weight Distribution system. If a WDS is used, then simply re-adjust it. Note: For proper WDS sizing, load up trailer as if going on a camping trip, then weight the trailer. WDS system bars must be sized on loaded trailer - not an empty trailer.

Remember that "beefing up" vehicle's rear is for vehicle's "too soft" rear suspension. WDS system is for the trailer's tongue weight. A WDS system wasn't designed to fix both areas. And yes, WDS systems and Air Bags/Timbrens/etc can work together. And in many cases, both should be used together - since vehicle factory suspension is often made too soft (for better people comfort). Both my previous and current Tow Vehicle use both.

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Put the Steer Axle back to the solo weight, first. Get the trailer dead level. Tilt the WD head back as much as can be done with the above.

Fire Stone air bags may be the toughest in the industry. They're used on lots of OTR trucks and even commercial equipment.
I've had a set on my Ram since new and had another set on the Ram before that.

john&bet wrote:

ECones wrote:
I used the Firestone bags on my '03 Tundra with good results. Without them the truck sags about 4" when I drop my 24' TT on it. With 75psi in the bags it sits about 1" lower. I'm very happy.

One word of caution:
Put the trailer on the hitch, air up the bags to the required PSI. If you air up the bags first, then put the trailer weight on it, you could blow a bag.

Now, with all that said, my Tundra has leaf springs, so the set up is not exactly like yours. But I'm happy with the product.

You did not state so, but do you have a properly set up wdh?

If "wdh" means "weight distributing hitch" then yes, I have ;)

I have airlift bags within my rear coil springs, I can add 5-35 psi to adjust the ride. I tow a 30' TT with a tongue weight of 675 pounds and it goes smooth as glass, Also use weight dist setup to keep level.
2013 Dodge Ram (Tradesman) 1500 5.7 Hemi
Be sure never to overload.