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Old 10-05-2015, 06:59 AM   #1
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Options for besides Firestone Air Bags

I have looked at trying to stiffen the suspension on my truck. I like the Firestone ride rite air bags and the load lifter 5000. What are other GOOD options are there for maybe less cost?
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Old 10-05-2015, 07:13 AM   #2
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I put a set of Airlift 1000 in my truck this summer and they seem to work good so far, I think I paid $80 for them. fairly easy to install, they have a video on youtube showing how. You can add a air compressor to your vehicle or just put air in with a regular air compressor, I chose a portable compressor I already had for mine. Not sure if this will help but hope it gave another option.
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Old 10-05-2015, 07:19 AM   #3
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Not an alternative but a positive... I got the Load Lifter 5000 off amazon about 18 months ago. Excellent choice for me. At the time they were running a $50 rebate special and I think I recall paying a little over $200. I got a local mechanic to install them and he reported they fit like a glove. Took him an hour to install using his lift. I run 25# in them and only ran the air lines to the rear by the bumper. I have to air them up about once every 4-5 months as they lose a little pressure in that time.

The long rear overhang on my van required me to get something to keep the tail from loading down and these fit the bill perfectly.
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Old 10-05-2015, 08:16 AM   #4
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Maybe something like this?
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Old 10-05-2015, 11:33 AM   #5
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take a look at the Roadmaster Active Suspension.
it all depends what you have now and what you are towing, but I put this on for my previous TT.
Roadmaster Active Suspension Kits | Helper Springs | Overload Springs
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Old 10-05-2015, 11:35 AM   #6
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I had the Aerolift bags on my last van, and while they worked fine, it was a bother to adjust the air in them - should have gone with the onboard system.

Just recently installedRoadmaster Active Suspension Kits | Helper Springs | Overload Springson my present van. Great results so far.
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Old 10-05-2015, 11:40 AM   #7
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What kind of truck? Do you want the ride to be adjustable? Do you have a consistent load in the rear? They are many options available.


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Old 10-05-2015, 12:10 PM   #8
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Stiffer ride

Timbren springs stiffer when loaded easy to install less than a hour for the total job anybody can install them without a jack cost is low
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Old 10-05-2015, 12:52 PM   #9
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I had a RAM 1500 and put Airlift 1000 in the coils. I purchased them on-line for about $80 with free shipping. I had the air valves installed on either side of my license plates. Easy to inflate and deflate. What a difference in towing the 5th wheel. Hardly knew it was behind me. Looking to do the same with my F150.
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Old 10-05-2015, 02:03 PM   #10
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not a sales person for RV upgrades but they have several options in the things you are looking for.
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Old 10-05-2015, 04:31 PM   #11
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Timbren springs stiffer when loaded easy to install less than a hour for the total job anybody can install them without a jack cost is low
We have a 2015 Ford F250 we added Timbrens on to add a little support. We are putting a large load on this truck and not only were they SUPER easy(even for a female) to put on but they work great.
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Old 10-05-2015, 04:54 PM   #12
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Over the years, I’ve tried helper springs, an extra leaf in the overload springs and air bags. The air bags worked the best. I installed LoadLifter 5000 air bags from Air Lift in my current F350 to haul around my slide-in pickup camper. It worked great. I’ve replaced that Lance camper with a Wildcat 5th wheel trailer and found I still use the air bags to level the truck. My headlight beams are where they belong and the ride is comfortable when towing the 5th wheel. I have about 20-25 pounds of air pressure in them when loaded and go down to around #5 pounds when driving without the trailer for any amount of time. I use a small 12V air compressor to make the adjustments with the Schrader valves mounted on a sheet metal lip in the wheel wells.

The air bag installation was easiest in my last truck as there was no drilling. The air bags made it a little more work to install the frame-mounted 5th wheel hitch rails but again, no drilling in the frame, so it worked out well.

The biggest advantage to air bags is the ability to get your TV back to level when hauling the load, which means the headlights point where they belong for night driving. The other methods I used to supplement the truck’s suspension couldn’t do that. To me, that was a pig plus and why I recommend air bags over other methods.
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Old 10-05-2015, 08:02 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cathcartww View Post
I had the Aerolift bags on my last van, and while they worked fine, it was a bother to adjust the air in them - should have gone with the onboard system.

Just recently installedRoadmaster Active Suspension Kits | Helper Springs | Overload Springson my present van. Great results so far.
Connected both together add air one spot haven't had a problem yet.
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Old 10-06-2015, 09:28 AM   #14
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Air bags

You might want to consider the "Torklift Quick Disconnect StableLoad" I added this to my 1/2 ton truck when I got my TT and helped even more to take some of the relieve off of my AirLift Air Bag system I already had. This site
Torklift Quick Disconnect StableLoad will show how it works and helps with the air bags. Super easy to install, hope this helps.
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Old 10-06-2015, 04:19 PM   #15
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Thanks. I went ahead and ordered the load lifter 5000.
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Old 10-06-2015, 04:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVBikers View Post
take a look at the Roadmaster Active Suspension.
it all depends what you have now and what you are towing, but I put this on for my previous TT.
Roadmaster Active Suspension Kits | Helper Springs | Overload Springs
X2
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Old 10-07-2015, 08:55 AM   #17
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I had the Firestone Ride Rite airbags put on my F250. Wish I would have added the onboard compressor, but for now I just air them up at the rear bumper. Love being able to adjust the ride height of the 5th wheel, more comfortable ride. Since my truck has a factory off road package, the ride was already stiff, but with the bags on it, the ride is a little stiffer without a load on it, because yo have to maintain at least 5 psi all the time.
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Old 10-07-2015, 02:21 PM   #18
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I installed the Air Lift 5000 bags in my F250 SRW CC three years ago and have been very pleased with their performance. My truck and camper are always level to ensure brake performance in addition to numerous other concerns. I chose to run the air lines through the back bumper next to the license plate with a separate valve for each line. When I am hitched to the camper I keep 55# of air in each bag to support a 2200# load. The bags are designed to support 40# of load for each pound of air in the bag. Having separate air lines also allows me to vary the air pressure on each side if needed to support the weight in my 37' Columbus 5th wheel. If you install a washer/dryer this changes the load requirement for each side.
I always check the air in my camper tires and truck when I hook up so it is no hassle with adding air. The 5000 design includes a jounce bumper inside the air bag which protects the bag if a leak should occur in a line or the bags are deflated. When researching the various air bags prior to making a decision to buy I talked to a Firestone "regional rep" and was told the primary cause for air bag failure is the bag tearing when they are deflated. The Air Lift 5000 bags are guaranteed for life. When you install the bags be sure the heat shield is located properly to prevent damage to the bag next to the exhaust particularly if you have a diesel because the exhaust pipe can get very hot. I am sure you will be pleased with the Air Lift 5000 bags.
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Old 10-07-2015, 10:56 PM   #19
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Thanks. I went ahead and ordered the load lifter 5000.
You did good and install was not hard. Hardest part was dealing with the existing bumper stop on the frame. I've had em since 2009 and appreciate the benefit every time I use them. Once you let air out, when unloaded, you get your original ride back.
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Old 10-08-2015, 07:27 AM   #20
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