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..

34 Replies

languiduck
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
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.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 02, 2014
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.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2014
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
jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 02, 2014
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.

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Removing Firestone Work rites and installing air bags..

34 Replies

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