Questions: adding air to ride rite airbags

[cstrunk5040]

I have a 2018 forester 2861 DFS, and am having a problem adding air to the air bags. The ends of the valves are located in a storage bay on each side of the coach, but there is so little of the valve extended that I can’t get the air hose in enough to apply pressure to the valve. Has anyone else run into this issue? Any ideas would be appreciated. Currently, there is only about 15 pounds of pressure in the bags.

[Tombsy]

Mine was a real PITA as well, I had to remove the nut to fill or check them and hold the stem so it didn’t push thru. There must be an extender that will fit to make it easier.
But one of the best things I’ve done on my rig was to install an Airlift Wireless One on board compressor for the airbags. It has a wireless remote that you set the pressure with and then forget it. It comes on once in awhile and keeps the pressure where you have it set. It’s a really small enclosed compressor that I put at the end of a storage compartment.
I installed it myself but the wiring was a little tricky, I wired it to the coach batteries and I added a second relay and a switch to turn it off when parked.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Tombsy, is that the entire compressor? Looks small. I see the Airlift Wireless one listed for $300, is that right?

[Duckogram]

I had the same problem but took the el cheapo route. I took the nut off the front and pulled the valve out. Then I removed the rear nut that was restricting the available length of the stem. Slopped a bit of silicone around the base and stuck it back in. Replaced the thin washer and nut and it worked just fine. But I did not like the schrader tool valve cap on there so I replaced them with Alligator caps. YMMV

[cstrunk5040]

Thanks for the suggestions! The wireless ac looks like a nice option for the future. I found some short brass extenders at autozone. I’m going to try that first. Getting at the back of the valve is somewhat problematic in my installation. It is in a tiny space between the wet bay and the back storage bay.

[lakewood90]

X2 on the valve extenders. A cheap and easy fix that worked for me on the Sunseeker. I normally ran my 3010 at 70 psi, which worked for me with our normal load. We did not have a problem with leaks and always checked them before a trip in the morning when it was cool, just as you would with checking tire pressures.

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Tombsy, is that the entire compressor? Looks small. I see the Airlift Wireless one listed for $300, is that right?

Yes that's the one the Air Lift 25870 WirelessONE Compressor System. The compressor is pretty small, it's in the black metal box, the airbags are pretty small as well so it doesn't take much air. I mounted the compressor, manifold, and relay on the black board in the picture.

[JimOneil43]

Originally Posted by Tombsy

Yes that's the one the Air Lift 25870 WirelessONE Compressor System. The compressor is pretty small, it's in the black metal box, the airbags are pretty small as well so it doesn't take much air. I mounted the compressor, manifold, and relay on the black board in the picture.

Has anyone installed the AIR LIFT 72000 Wireless Compressor System? That is the one I have been considering, but it seems to be about $100 more than this one. It looks like the difference is in the compressor. The 72000 looks like a more traditional heavier compressor. Has anyone compared the two?

[Wolverine 1945]

If you are not able to reach the nut on the outside,,, extensions maybe a good try ???
Make sure they do not leak !!!

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by JimOneil43

Has anyone installed the AIR LIFT 72000 Wireless Compressor System? That is the one I have been considering, but it seems to be about $100 more than this one. It looks like the difference is in the compressor. The 72000 looks like a more traditional heavier compressor. Has anyone compared the two?

One difference is you can set separate pressures for each side, on mine they are connected together.

One note, I left my original fill valves in place so I needed 2 extra tees for the airlines.

[cstrunk5040]

Update: I was able to fix this issue by eliminating the washer.

[Sagecoachdriver]

So just to make sure the Air Lift 25870 WirelessONE Compressor System will work with the Firestone Air-Ride air bags on our Foresters with no issues or modifications, correct?
It would be nice to be able to raise the rear end when I have to pull out of a driveway and thus prevent having to use the rollers I added on the hitch frame.

[s1njin]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

I had the same problem but took the el cheapo route. I took the nut off the front and pulled the valve out. Then I removed the rear nut that was restricting the available length of the stem. Slopped a bit of silicone around the base and stuck it back in. Replaced the thin washer and nut and it worked just fine. But I did not like the schrader tool valve cap on there so I replaced them with Alligator caps. YMMV

I did the same thing, sans the silicone.

[Tombsy]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

So just to make sure the Air Lift 25870 WirelessONE Compressor System will work with the Firestone Air-Ride air bags on our Foresters with no issues or modifications, correct?
It would be nice to be able to raise the rear end when I have to pull out of a driveway and thus prevent having to use the rollers I added on the hitch frame.

If you leave the existing fill valves in place you will need two additional airline “tees” to tap into each side. I found it a lot easier than trying to access the top of the airbags. The kit comes with a relay to tap into an ignition source, I opted to tie into the chassis batteries so I added another relay to a switch. The existing airlines are in cable loom so I used it for the new ones as well.

[Dino61]

I have a very low tech no expense solution. I take the quick fill valve off the front tire, screw it onto the airbag valve and presto an extension! Works no problem every time.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Got $250 in Amazon gift cards from family for Father's Day. They're burning a hole in my pocket. Really thinking about buying the Air Lift 25870 WirelessONE Compressor System. Just not sure I want to do all the work installing it.

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Dino61

I have a very low tech no expense solution. I take the quick fill valve off the front tire, screw it onto the airbag valve and presto an extension! Works no problem every time.

If that quick fill valve looks like this, it’s the alligator cap I mentioned in post #4.
I have TPMS transmitters so no caps on any of my tire valve stems. The oem’s were repurposed.

[Kirk S]

Originally Posted by cstrunk5040

Update: I was able to fix this issue by eliminating the washer.

X2

[Tombsy]

I have the Vair RV compressor, I have trouble with the quick fill caps, not sure why but the only chuck that seems to work for me is the screw-on one and its kind of a pain. Anyone else have the Vair and found a good chuck for it?

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Tombsy

I have the Vair RV compressor, I have trouble with the quick fill caps, not sure why but the only chuck that seems to work for me is the screw-on one and its kind of a pain. Anyone else have the Vair and found a good chuck for it?

Much easier without Hub Capos !!!