Air bag?

[tribeal]

Getting ready to install my firestone airbags this weekend. My question is how to do you go about filling them? I have a way to fill them at home but I would imagine once a get to where I am pulling, I will want to bring them down for driving around while unloaded. What should a get for airing them back up? I know there are expensive on board air pumps, but are there any less expensive portable options? Or should i not worry about it and just leave them filled?

[sourdough]

I'm not familiar with Firestone bags and don't know which ones you have. I had Air Lift 1000 air bags on my previous truck. At home I used my big compressor; on the road I aired them down at the destination and aired them back up before towing. I used a heavy duty 12V compressor I bought for the purpose - don't remember the brand. The little compressor worked great on the air bags; filled them in maybe 4-5 minutes. Not any good trying to re-air truck tires to 80psi (pancake for that). On board air isn't necessary unless you just want it and they can get pretty expensive.

[cblong]

walmart sells a cheap tire pump that plugs into a cigarette lighter. its cheap and easy. don't trust the gauge on it but it pumps air and is small and light weight.

[carwheel_09]

I bought several of cheap air pumps. They all gave out after a year or two. Finally ordered a Viair 450 P-A continuos duty 145psi air pump. It will get the job done, bring up that 80psi tire off the rim without overheating. Buy one good one or a bunch of cheap ones. We spend 60+k on a rig and then go cheap. Banghead, doesn't make sense.

[chuckster57]

On board air. Allows you to adjust for road conditions as you drive, worth every penny

[Ken / Claudia]

What ever you do remember air temps changing so does the psi in the bags, elevation changing so does the psi in the bags. You want to be able to add air at any time during your travels. I started out the morning air temps 40s around 6,000 ft. 4 hours later 95 outside at a few hundred ft sea level. The air bags where bouncing the truck badly and upon checking were way to high. Sometimes over night they go down some. The small 12v air compressors will work great for the bags not, so much for the truck tires.

[Javi]

I carry a pancake compressor with me in the basement storage and air the bags up when I check the tires on the trailer and the truck. I also use it to blow the water lines out before heading home if freezing weather is predicted. That way I don't have to fool with it when we get back home.

[tribeal]

Originally Posted by Javi

I carry a pancake compressor with me in the basement storage and air the bags up when I check the tires on the trailer and the truck. I also use it to blow the water lines out before heading home if freezing weather is predicted. That way I don't have to fool with it when we get back home.

great idea. I think this is the route i will take. I can get a porter-cable 3.5gal 135psi for $100 at home depot.

[tribeal]

not to worried about changing elevation and air temps. Most of our trips will take place in the south during summer months.

[concours]

I use a cheap Walmart air compressor, the fill valves are at the rear licence plate I replaced the plate fasteners with the fill valves and I have a neat 7 pin to cigar lighter adapter that makes a power source easy it takes seconds to fill the bags

[Desert185]

I have a pancake compressor for the tires and thankful that the Timbrens worked well for me. No difference in ride while not towing and level while towing. They seem to compliment my Dodge 2500 suspension very well, loaded or unloaded. Two bolts each side and drive away. Simple and worth a shot for some folks.

[Jim Dow]

Just go ahead and get the movel with the in-cab pressure guage and the onboard compressor and don't worry with the other stuff. Set the pressure to what you need when you need it.

I have a set; and they are great!

[Bman916]

Originally Posted by tribeal

Getting ready to install my firestone airbags this weekend. My question is how to do you go about filling them? I have a way to fill them at home but I would imagine once a get to where I am pulling, I will want to bring them down for driving around while unloaded. What should a get for airing them back up? I know there are expensive on board air pumps, but are there any less expensive portable options? Or should i not worry about it and just leave them filled?

I just put on the Firestone air bags. Have the hose connections at my rear plate coming out the bottom 2 lic plate holes. I went to Lowes and for 115 picked up a portable jump starter with a built in 150psi air compressor. Now I can fill my bags and tires, jump a car, has 12v plugs and so far it has filled my bags 15 times on one charge

[dwyleecoyote]

All of the above will work, but the expense of onboard compressor is not that much. Between 2 and 3 hundred? Your going to spend that much on a couple tanks of gas. I love my onboard compressor, and I just have the switch and guage in the glove box. Awesome when you are picking up heavy items and can air up anywhere. Bought a yard of sand last year, just hit the button and drove home level. The guy who loaded it was shocked.

[Ken / Claudia]

When or where ever you travel, you will still need to add air at some point. Having a way to add air at that place and time with you will be priceless. Compared to finding air somewhere with the trailer hooked up.

[tribeal]

Originally Posted by Bman916

I just put on the Firestone air bags. Have the hose connections at my rear plate coming out the bottom 2 lic plate holes. I went to Lowes and for 115 picked up a portable jump starter with a built in 150psi air compressor. Now I can fill my bags and tires, jump a car, has 12v plugs and so far it has filled my bags 15 times on one charge

Awesome idea for the schrader valves. I'm stealing that one.