After testing the Firestone Work rites I have decided they aren't for me or my set up.I went with these over the Timbrens because of price and adjustable shims. They do what they were designed for but the ride suffered unloaded. If the camper lived on the truck I would recommend these. Now, I'm a big hatter of air bags because of my old set up. I'm hopping I can get a set that don't bend brackets or leak air. Ive decided on either the new Air Lift Load Lifter Ultimate with jounce bumper or the Hellwig bags. Both are priced at $400 for the pair. I like the fact that the air lift can be run with little to no air. I like that Hellwig use larger bags that require less air to hold the same weight.My truck is my DD. Ride comfort is top priority. My truck is level until my wife packs the camper. No sway.My goal is to have a leveled truck loaded. Any feed back on either bag.

Good luck with the change. I don't know if there is a different mounting option for RAMs, but I know my F450 mounts are different than the F350 ones. It might be possible to do something similar with the RAMs if they aren't that way already.The difference is the F350s were over the springs and the F450s are inside the axle. Maybe RAM 4500 mounts are similar.

I have had air bags on a couple of different trucks. I have only bent the brackets on my current truck. Different trucks and/or different manufactures require different mounting. My 2WD 1996 Dodge requires the bags/brackets be mounted outside the frame. On some trucks, they mount directly under the frame, which is far more solid and less likely to bend.I have bent my brackets two times. Each time they bent, I did not notice a speed bump, and went over too fast. The back of the truck slammed down and bent the top mounting bracket. My point is, I really doubt they would bend if not aired to their maximum and hit a speed bump or hole at high speed.Wayne

Do you have upper and lower StableLoads? With both, I don't need my airbags until I add my hitch weight.Firestone sells two versions of their air bags. One sits on the spring pack and is bolted to the outside of the frame rail. The other is attached under the frame rail and replaces your axle bump stop. The second one is available because some fifth wheel hitch hardware prevents the preferred mounting method over the spring pack.I was also contemplating Work Rites over Ride Rites for my truck, but wanted a compliant ride when unloaded which forced my decision to bags. Although I like the adjustability of bags, there are more failure points. I went with individually plumbed bags that are manually inflated to keep the system as simple as possible.

I like my Air Lift bags because of the ability to run them with 0 pressure. It is the only thing I know of that allows a ride exactly like stock when unloaded. Even 5 psi in bags makes a difference on my unloaded truck.There's always a possibility of something bending or breaking on any load carrying product. I also am using the manual inflation method using a small 12V compressor that I got for about $10 of Amazon. The valve stems are mounted on my lower license plate holes in the rear. I would love an auto on board compressor but I'm not willing to spend the bucks on one that keeps the bags isolated from each other. Make sure you keep them isolated. Also make sure you get the bags that use brackets that mount the bags on top of the springs, and not inboard.

I'm currently running Torklift upper overloads. These alone work great but with TC loaded with all are things it sags a little. I like the over the spring airbags but I haven't found any for my 2012 RAM. I think the inside bags will be OK along with upper stableloads and having a dually.On my old F250 I blew a bag..had lines crack..bent upper brackets. My wife said if I got another set of bags that she was going to leave me or medicate herself before trips.

Removing Firestone Work rites and installing air bags..

Reddog1
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2014
On my 1996 Dodge 2500, they are mounted on the outside of the frame. The springs/hangers are also mounted on the outside. This puts the air bags directly over the axle spring pads.

I don't know that there would be a big difference between the bags being mounted inside or outside the frame. My logic says the outside would be best in sway control, but there may not be that much difference.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
Depending on truck and mount, airbags may reduce your suspension travel by some or even a lot. I tried the Firestone over-the-frame kit on my F350, it reduced the jounce travel severely, bags bottomed before the overload spring hit. Depends on the height of the spring block, etc. My truck is completely stock. Even the over-the-spring mount reduces your travel because the bag itself can only accommodate about 5 or 6" while the stock truck has more like 8 or 9".

Has anyone used these? I can see how they might solve the travel and zero inflation issues, but wonder if there are others that they cause?
AH64ID
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
mooring product wrote:

Im wondering what everyone with the 4th Gens are running for bags and if sway becomes an issue with inside mounted bags.

Your 2012 uses the same frame/suspension that was released in 2003.

The Firestone airbags are of good quality and get great review on all truck from 03-12, and they do reduce sway as well.

PacBrake and Carli also make bags for your truck.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 03, 2014
Spacers on the bags will not increase wheel travel. They will increase the height with the same amount of travel. You will now have to keep your rear jacked that much higher when unloaded to prevent bag abrasion.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2014
When I installed my bags, The instructions said to remove the OEM top overload spring. I did, and have had no problem for about 10 years.
mooring_product
Explorer
Oct 03, 2014
Reddog1 wrote:
When I installed my bags, The instructions said to remove the OEM top overload spring. I did, and have had no problem for about 10 years.

Interesting. I wouldn't remove my overloads for air bags.

I would like outside mount bags but it seems no one makes them. I'm going to go with the inside mount bags. I'm figuring I won't need more then 40lbs to raise it an inch.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 04, 2014
Bedlam wrote:
Spacers on the bags will not increase wheel travel. They will increase the height with the same amount of travel. You will now have to keep your rear jacked that much higher when unloaded to prevent bag abrasion.

If you are referring to the parts I referenced above, those are not spacers. They replace the bottom mount of the bag which is allowed to go float free. On rebound, the bag can lift off the device. By setting the top mount such that the suspension can compress all the way to the original bump, you then have full suspension travel.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 04, 2014
Sorry, I completely misunderstood the purpose of this device. I don't think I would attempt to apply much weight on a bag which is only attached on one side. It would seem like the bag could double over instead of supporting the weight.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Oct 04, 2014
That's why I had asked if anyone had tried them :).

It seems like if the alignment were fairly close that the cup would catch the bottom of the bag. Daystar has a video on their home page showing it working well. I think a bigger concern for me might be rocks getting trapped and puncturing the bag.
AH64ID
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
Do you really think the airbags limit travel on a HD pickup? I don't, the shocks and springs will limit before the bags will, and even then it's just not that much travel.

I had Firestone bags on a 2007 Toyota Tacoma and with stock rear springs/shocks the travel was not effected by the bags. I did a bit of 4wheeling in the truck and measured max travel before and after install, the shocks where the limiting factor.

If you feel like you need more travel and change the springs/shocks to allow for more travel then get the Carli long travel bags, otherwise don't worry about it.

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Removing Firestone Work rites and installing air bags..

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