Air lift recommendations

[Phydeauxman]

I am looking to add air bags to my 2014 F250 CC 4x4 diesel tow vehicle and am looking for feedback on what others have used. We are towing a 2015 Grand Design Reflections which is definitely within the weight limit of the truck but am looking to take the rear sag out. There seems to be many options out there...are some better than others? My truck has the upfitter switches...has anyone used these for powering/controlling these types of systems? I see some with single gauge and some with dual gauges...what is the difference?

[retispcsi]

Air Lift had them on my previous truck and I installed the 5000 ultimate on my current veh. With the ultimate you don't have to worry about having air in them. They have their own built in Joyce. I didn't put them in for the sag but that will help with that issue. I have them for the ride on rough roads. They do help to eliminate bounce on some of our fantastic roads. On board compressor or not is a personal choice. Good luck.

[Willcamp4]

Just a mention of the installation and what happened to me with the schrader valve setup. I started with just that setup and no compressor. I still have them plumbed into the system. I was airing up using an air hose and didn't notice the actuator in the air hose had a slight bend in it. When I finished airing up it tore the needle valve out leaving me with zero pressure and a search for an auto parts store to replace the needle valve. When I got home I ordered the compressor.

[CANAMKID]

We have the Firestone bags and love them. put the pump
behind the rear seat and the gage & switches onthe dash :B

[goducks10]

Timbrens

[abc40kids]

Air Lift

[sdetweil]

d-mac1 wrote:
Firestones on my Dodge with independent schrader valves and lines for each. Simple.

I honestly can't imagine adjusting air pressure while driving. Its either the proper amount to level you or its not. I can see letting out air after a trip and airing up before towing, but other than that, is all the extra expense that necessary? The Fords I've seen have virtually no room under the hood in the first place so do you need to put more stuff under there?

I know the air pressure I need, so I air em up first via bike pump, hook up and don't mess with it till after the trip. Not a big deal to me to drive around during trip without trailer a little stiff in the rear. If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill. All you need is a bike pump and a low pressure gauge. Takes 2 minutes.

the airlift kit is maybe 8x10x3, I have it mounted under the bed.
can't tell u the number of times I have adjusted it (and the shocks) based on the road conditions, both towing and not.

I had the dual schraeder valves before. Easy as u said. "If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill".. without airing down my non-towing dually, the ride is harsh.

[d-mac1]

Firestones on my Dodge with independent schrader valves and lines for each. Simple.

I honestly can't imagine adjusting air pressure while driving. Its either the proper amount to level you or its not. I can see letting out air after a trip and airing up before towing, but other than that, is all the extra expense that necessary? The Fords I've seen have virtually no room under the hood in the first place so do you need to put more stuff under there?

I know the air pressure I need, so I air em up first via bike pump, hook up and don't mess with it till after the trip. Not a big deal to me to drive around during trip without trailer a little stiff in the rear. If I wanted to, I could always air down and then refill. All you need is a bike pump and a low pressure gauge. Takes 2 minutes.

[Willcamp4]

I have a set of the AirLift air bags on my truck. They appear to be the same as the 5000, but were made before the model designation. I installed them in 2001 without the on board compressor. A few years later I added the compressor and am really happy I did. I wish I had done that originally.

There is more to the issue than just ride height. It is also the ride. With the air springs I can adjust the ride based on changes in road surface, curves, load, or whatever makes me happy.

On my last truck I added Hellwig (metal) overload springs and was only mildly satisfied with them. I had to use a wrench to adjust the ride with them, and the same to loosen them when unloaded (to keep my teeth intact.) Although they worked, they were too much work. A friend of mine used both AirLift and Firestone on different trucks and was satisfied with both. When I bought my air bags one of them had a pin hole in it. With a phone call to AirLift they overnighted a replacement to me. They were excellent to deal with. I have had not problems with them since.

I heartily recommend the AirLift air bags. Next truck I get will probably have another set on it too.

PS- My gage/control works both sides independently, but has two needles, one for each side.

[Bamaman11]

Single gauges have both air bags combined on one circuit. Twin gauges are for control of each side individually.

We all know that air bags don't extend the weight amount that goes on the rear axle. It's really for leveling the vehicle, making it stop and handle better. And you won't get the flashing lights when you spotlight oncoming drivers any longer.

When you're unloaded, you should drop pressure down to 5-10 lbs. Measure at your step bumper prior to loading your trailer. After loaded, inflate the air suspension to the same level and see how it's sitting.

I have a set of Air Ride suspension to install. I can honestly say I've never seen so many nuts and bolts--and bad installation instructions.

[avvidclif1]

My truck sits nose down when unloaded and when hooked up to the trailer it sits level and it's also on the overloads. ALL of my weights are within spec so it's just the way the truck was made. No bags needed.

[Bionic_Man]

I put Firestones on my last truck and had good luck with them.

Adding even a relatively small amount of weight will change how your truck its. Might not be a problem if you are only towing during the daylight hours. If you are towing at night, the level of your headlights changes with the tongue/pin weight, and your headlights are now pointed up, not optimized for the road, and shining into oncomming drivers eyes. That is one of the advantages of airbags.

[txdutt]

Another option would be a set of Timbrens---considered airbags but ultimately decided I wanted something I didn't have to hassle with after installation--so far they've worked great with my Infinity hooked up

[Leonandlisa]

I have the 2013 version of your truck and use the firestone air bags with on board pump and remote control to fill and empty bags. I like not having to get a pump out to fill the bags up each time. You will notice on most Fords that you have a vibration when truck is squatted and taking off from a complete stop, with the air bags you can bring it back to level and eliminate that issue. As for one gauge or two I would suggest two, you want the bags to be independent, you don't want to sway or tile and push air into the other bag, they need to be separate.

As for the up-fitter switches I did use one on my 2008 Ford but on the current truck I just went to the battery with in-line fuse, I used the up-fitter switches for other accessories. (front rigid lights, rear rigid lights, in bed LEDs, and high idle mod)

Leon

[msjdbman]

Had a set of AirLift 5000 on my previous truck. Loved em. When I got my current truck, I went with Hellwig and love these. My trucks have not been overloaded, but restoring the truck when loaded to original height has made a BIG difference in ride quality.