Which air bag system for 2015 Ram DRW

[billyray50]

Been thinking of installing airbag system on my 2015 Ram 3500 CTD DRW to level out truck with TC loaded. Had air lift 5000 system on my previous 2006 Ram CTD 2500 and although I liked them and held up over 5 years they created more sway when leveling up since truck had no top overload springs. I know some 1 ton Ram owners out there have factory air suspension so should I go with Airlift or Firestone?

[OneTrack]

This is very interesting. I also have 2015 RAM DRW truck, and have been looking at airbags too. Same reason; just to raise the rear to normal 'loaded' level when 'max loaded'. Then the truck is level front to rear, and the headlights aren't pointing skyward, the camper is level, etc.

Curious why some think stableloads are a better way to achieve this over air bags.

[billyray50]

fpoole wrote:
and just an additional note, I had the Firestone Airbags and the Compressor for airing up stuff on previous truck, but the compressor noise was really loud, like a generator.

Well it was hooked up to start when the engines was started and at an early startup in a campsite, got some really, deservable, bad looks... and I wouldn't blame them... It was noisy to me.

So, I had a 'Kill Switch' put next to the pressure gauge below the dash to turn it 'OFF' as needed...

Just a thought there..
Hope that helps..

Thanks. It does. Had Airlift 5000 last time .Compressor was not noisey.

[fpoole]

and just an additional note, I had the Firestone Airbags and the Compressor for airing up stuff on previous truck, but the compressor noise was really loud, like a generator.

Well it was hooked up to start when the engines was started and at an early startup in a campsite, got some really, deservable, bad looks... and I wouldn't blame them... It was noisy to me.

So, I had a 'Kill Switch' put next to the pressure gauge below the dash to turn it 'OFF' as needed...

Just a thought there..
Hope that helps..

[billyray50]

Thanks to all for the input.

[HMS_Beagle]

Look at the mounting scheme. The further outboard the airbags mount, the more they will contribute to roll/sway resistance. Some mount over the spring which should not change roll stiffness. Some mount inboard under the frame or even inboard of that, which will lessen roll stiffness.

[Grit_dog]

Functionally you won't tell the diffenrence between any of them, especially if you're looking to reduce the air bag sway/bounce. It ain't the bag doing it, it's the air.
Bags for more load capacity, sway bar to calm it all back down.
And make sure both overloads are engaged first. Then if it's too much, add bags. If you just pump the truck back up to ride height without using all your spring capacity it's like a trampoline.

[Bedlam]

My Firestone bags held up and were easy to mount, but their mounting hardware was a poor grade so I upgraded my bolts to Grade 5. I never ran the automatic air compressor and regulator on my my bags, so it became an additional maintenance item I had to check.

[jimh406]

I don't think it matters much, but I have always had Firestones. I haven't found a reason to change brands.

[SidecarFlip]

My Firestone bags that I installed over 10 years ago (with an onboard compressor) maintain 5 psi in the bags all the time. Never had issue one with them either.

[Bedlam]

If you go with airbags, I would suggest one with an internal jounce bumper so you don't have to maintain pressure in the bags when unloaded. However, I would go StableLoads over bags unless you have uneven weight distribution left to right you are trying to compensate.