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Deano56's avatar
Deano56
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015

P53 Air Bags

Since our (my) plans of upgrading to a 40'diesel coach has been diminished due to job insecurity I am just going to continue fixing up what we have for now, and see what happens in a few years. I had thought some health issues were going to cause more problems than they did, but turned out not all that serious. I have been considering full timing now when I retire in 8 years if all goes as planned, I said "if". Now, since I need air bags all the way around and am NOT going to go new springs, has anyone piped all for corners to a compressor and made some kind of bleed off solenoid and air up system? I'm thinking of giving this a try.
  • Dale.Traveling wrote:
    C-Leigh Racing wrote:
    You thinking the Kilderman System Dale ?.
    Sure would be nice, if Ford would just go ahead & install that system while the chassis was going down the line.
    Neil
    That's the people. Iowa not Michigan. Ford will never do it. Cost too much and the demand really isn't there other than a few of us in search for a budget gasser with a DP ride.

    Kelderman

    I did read something that Tiffin is offer Sumosprings for thier rigs built on an F53. I never noodled the set up so don't know what the springs bring to an F53.


    If Ford did though, probably would be more gassers sold. Theres some buyers out there, had an F53 before & probably wouldnt mind going the extra to have that system in place on a new coach.
    Mounting the coach body on heavy rubber bushings would be the next step, slow some of the road shock getting into the body.
    Neil
  • Thanks guys for the replies, I wont be spending 2K for this set up or even 1K on this old rig, I think I can make something up with a compressor and a manual valve to dump the air if I want. I need other things on this old coach, so this set up will have to be less exotic.
  • C-Leigh Racing wrote:
    You thinking the Kilderman System Dale ?.
    Sure would be nice, if Ford would just go ahead & install that system while the chassis was going down the line.
    Neil
    That's the people. Iowa not Michigan. Ford will never do it. Cost too much and the demand really isn't there other than a few of us in search for a budget gasser with a DP ride.

    Kelderman

    I did read something that Tiffin is offer Sumosprings for thier rigs built on an F53. I never noodled the set up so don't know what the springs bring to an F53.
  • You thinking the Kilderman System Dale ?.
    Sure would be nice, if Ford would just go ahead & install that system while the chassis was going down the line.
    Neil
  • I have AirLift bags on all four corners. I have an air connection to each and rarely change the pressure. I don't thing having control from the driver's seat is worth the cost and effort. I was originally going to put in the AirLift compressor system.
  • Did it last year. Firestone bags on each corner and an air compressor bolted to the frame. I tied the fronts together on the same air circuit and the rears together also. Use paddle valves in the cab to adjust on the fly if I want. Not the best set up. On a turn with body roll the air will move left and/or right and actually increase the amount of roll although I really didn't notice much change in roll. The ride improved some but not to the geewiz limo ride comfort. One can only do so much with an F53 chassis without ripping out what's there and starting over, which is available from a company in Michigan just can't recall their name. Complete suspension change with airbags.

    So for this year I'm currently working on a solenoid circuits, the various switches, gauges and such for independent operation. Probably excessive over kill but I'm having fun.

    PM me with an email address if you want the details.
  • We had the Firestone Ride-Rite air bags installed on all 4 corners of our coach. Had separate fill lines installed and inflate rear to 70psi and front to 18 to 20 psi. Seems to work pretty well on our coach.
  • http://www.accuair.com/airmanagementproducts/e-level-air-management-package-w-touchpad-2

    http://bagriders.com/modlab/categories/MANAGEMENT/VALVES-AND-MANIFOLDS/


    http://www.ridetech.com/store/4-way-big-red-airvalve.html


    check out a few . Not hard to build your own. I use the accuair one and have not had any issues. Everything is control from the drivers seat. I use Viair 12v compressor. I parted it out. Shop around.