air bags setups or other choices for towing heavy

[78f100]

I had a guy bring me a truck to do studs and some other work on and he wants airbags or something to keep the rear from sagging when towing. His wife uses the truck 06 f350 4x4 to haul a 35ft gneck horse trailer with living quarters. I dont have any experience with airbags, and would like some input from guys with them. Whats the best system/brand and so on. Thanks guys!

 

[WHY NOT]

I have firestone bags on my truck along with an Airlift WirelessONE controller/ compressor. They work well for me. Our farm truck just has the bags under it and we have to fill them with an air compressor so adjusting the pressure in them is more of a pain

 

[78f100]

Did yours come as a kit or did you just piece it together yourself? I have a friend who has the Firestone bags on his but no name on the compressor or controller that I can see. This guy will want the best and safest setup for his wife, and I want the highest quality lines and compressor and such so it stays trouble free for them.

 

[Raul@stealth-automotive]

the firestone kit is one of the best... the kit consists of the bags and brackets... then you need to buy the rest of the components... they also make kits for that but if you want the best of the best i would opt for a valair compressor and tank kit....

 

[HOOV3R]

I had a Firestone kit on my truck with a valair compressor and tank. Mine was wired up to my upfitter switches. Only complaint was that from having them on for such a long time, the clamps crushed my leaves together.

 

[WHY NOT]

Yeah the airlift wirelessOne controller doesnt have a tank or anything special. It gets the job done for me though. It's not going to be the nicest kit out there for a compressor but since im not airing tires or anything with it it does fine. If you want the best firestone bags with the valair stuff and you can have onboard air on the truck

 

[Zmann]

make sure you order the bags that fit your needs like if it has overloads or a 5 er hitch

I like the units that fit on the leaf springs the best because they help with sway but they do sell some that mount inboard of the leaf springs also

I have had both Airlift and Firestone ,, both good kits and they extend the warranty on the Airlift bags if you buy the compressor at the same time .. I would opt for the wireless way easier to install and will maintain the bag psi you select ,, the compressor can be wired to the trailer plug wiring and mounted up inside the spare tire area so it's a very clean install ..

I don't even run the shrader valves
I like the wireless 7200 vs the wireless one myself

 

[Twinturbostroker]

I have a Firestone kit on my truck with a Viair 450C heavy duty compressor with a gauge mounted under my dash down by the fold out cup holders.....

Here is the only pic of the bags I have, looks funny because the suspension is flexed out....

 

[78f100]

the firestone kit is one of the best... the kit consists of the bags and brackets... then you need to buy the rest of the components... they also make kits for that but if you want the best of the best i would opt for a valair compressor and tank kit....

I did a quick search on your site and saw the compressor kits, not sure if you sell the bags if so and you get time could you pm me a price on a whole setup? I don't think they would use the air for anything other than the bags but it would be nice to have on board air if the price diff isn't too bad, thanks.

And thanks for everyones input on this. I would assume the kits with a tank would require more valving to separate the tank air from the air going to the bags right? Or are the bags at whatever psi the tank is at?

 

[Zmann]

you want each bag to be feed individually and you would need two valves for the airtank
you would want the tank to hold a higher psi than you would likely ever set the bags at otherwise it wouldn't be usefull for airing up tires or for tools

I would try to keep this simple for the end user and not do the on board auxiliary air

or just do the AUX air as it's own system and the bags with there own compressor IMHO

 

[78f100]

That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure, my buddy keeps his at 60psi so that's why I was wondering. His has a place for another port but you would only be able to put out th same psi as the bag is holding, not very useful as on board air.

 

[Zmann]

Agreed plus with the dedicated 7200 compressor for the bags it will keep the bag at the psi you set and maintain it via compressor or bleed off

even when you don't need them aired it maintains 5psi to keep the bags from damage

kinda cool when I hit remote start , I hear the injectors clicking and the airbags airing up or down during the wait to start

 

[Betarocker]

If I did my air bag setup again, I'd use an Air Zenith compressor and mount the fill valves in with the fuel fuel filler. I'd use Firestone bags and brackets.

Right now I use twin Viair 480C compressors with the fill valves in the bumper.

 

[old man dave]

The separate air valves help with sway control.

 

[me2]

If I did my air bag setup again, I'd use an Air Zenith compressor and mount the fill valves in with the fuel fuel filler. I'd use Firestone bags and brackets.

Right now I use twin Viair 480C compressors with the fill valves in the bumper.

Which Zenith compressor ? I have a 450IC.

 

[tbsimmons]

Gauge and control in the dash to the left of the cluster.
Hellwig bags in the rear.
Compressor and 5 gal tank on the frame.
Works great.
I had Airlift on my 04 and had to re-build the bottom brackets from them bending.