Air Bags or Helper Springs

[old timer]

Which is best guys. Also I could upgrade my original springs but they are about $600 each. Thanks Ford! I just hooked up my 5er and I have about a inch from the bump stop. I have to get it to the scale soon I know.

[Javi]

I used Firestone airbags on my F-250, they worked great. Just keep about 10 pounds in them when you ain't loaded to keep from ruining them.

[grampscamper]

I already had helper springs and decided to add air bags. My truck would sit on the helpers when the 5th wheel was hooked up. Suspension would sag about 2-3". Now I can add enough air that my suspension doesn't sag at all when loaded. I had to lower my hitch. The truck and trailer now sit level. The ride and handling is much better now.
Very pleased with the improvement.

[rbev2308]

Firestone Ride Rite airbags for me...$350 from Amazon and took to local Dexter axle dealer who does nothing but trailer work and they installed for half of what RV dealer wanted. My 14,500 lb Alpine sags about 1 1/2 inches or just about on the helper spring and pump it to 50 psi and levels it right off. I would say this..In my opinion, forget the onboard air compressor. One, it makes the cost almost double as well as adds over an hour of labor so the $600 job turns into a cool $1000. I simply take my compressor and put air in. I am not watching or adding air on the fly so to me its a novelty unless I was doing the job myself cause then it would be the cost of basic install and I would probably consider it then.

[carwheel_09]

I've had Firestone and Airlift. Got to say that the Airlift with the internal jounce bumpers give a better ride on my dually than the Firestone. You can totally deflate them without fear of ruining the air bags.

[old timer]

Thanks for the responses guys. I will get some bags. I can install them myself to save some money.

[ChuckS]

This is the system I've got on my 2007GMC Duramax. Been on since new. Also have onboard air compressor and control head. Allows me to adjust on the fly. Tow an Alpine 3010RE. Levels up nicely. Allows me to compensate for road conditions while driving.
http://www.amazon.com/Firestone-2535.../dp/B004BS0M50



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[Desert185]

It seems most use air bags, but I've had good results with Timbren SES.

www.timbren.com

[Barbell]

Put airbags on my truck when new ('01) when I put it under a big Lance camper. Never a problem. Blew one of them out with our Montana in South Carolina last year and had new ones installed at the CW in North Charleston for around $400. Loaded I keep 50-55 lbs in them and 20 or so empty. With the Lance, I ran 80+ lbs as it is quite a bit heavier than the pin weight of the Montana. The truck came as a camper special so it already had the overloads but the airbags made a big difference. Would not tow without them.

[TomHaycraft]

Originally Posted by Desert185

It seems most use air bags, but I've had good results with Timbren SES.

www.timbren.com

x2

Cost less than bags, 15 minutes to install, no maintenance, was always just right for me on my last truck. I'll add to my 3500HD when I step up to a bigger trailer and have the need.

[1jeep]

bagged since 2011, firestones and I have a small battery powered compressor to adjust if need be. empty I run 10/15 lbs loaded im at 70lbs.

Ive never had to do anything to these bags, not sure if I have been missing anything that I should.

[trueweb]

I put the Airlift 5000 Ultimate kit on my truck. I upgraded to the Ultimate because they have an internal bump stop that replaces the factory one, but inside the air spring. This way if you get a leak in the system or ever get below 5 psi for any other reason you are not going to destroy the air bags. It's a little peace of mind.

Recently I added the Wireless One compressor system which has a wireless remote you can set manually or has two memory settings (one with trailer, one without). It was quite easy to install once I picked a location and it allows the truck to compensate for temp changes by letting out or filling air into the air springs.

[cathcartww]

We had the Airlift bags on our old Chevy G20 van, and they seemed to do the trick. We just had Roadmaster Springs http://www.activesuspension.com/ installed on our current Ford E350 for less than $500, and while we don't have a lot of experience with them yet, so far they are great....

[old timer]

Timbren is interesting. Takes place of the bump stop.

[billstuart]

On our F250 I went with Roadmaster Active Suspension - http://www.activesuspension.com & SumoSprings - http://www.supersprings.com. I was very pleased with the results. I had tried Timbrens initially and had 2 of them fail, so can't recommend them.

Haven't decided what, if anything to do on the new Ram.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by billstuart

On our F250 I went with Roadmaster Active Suspension - http://www.activesuspension.com & SumoSprings - http://www.supersprings.com. I was very pleased with the results. I had tried Timbrens initially and had 2 of them fail, so can't recommend them.

Haven't decided what, if anything to do on the new Ram.

Just curious what failed and how on the Timbrens?

[gtsum2]

Timbrens work well for me

[billstuart]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Just curious what failed and how on the Timbrens?

In both cases, the Timbrens disappeared/fell off of one side of the truck, leaving me lopsided.

[Bigiron]

My Impact has an advertised pin weight of #2750. I installed Firestones and like others run 10# air when empty. It seems the truck rides best when they are at around 40#. If I keep them at around 10 or 12#, with the trailer hooked up it just touches the helper springs, however, the ride is too bouncy, so I run the bags up to 40#. Keep in mind that as the springs are loaded, the air compresses, so when the springs have around #18 empty, that will increase to around 40# loaded. One thing that would be nice, that I do not have, is the wireless compressor. If you have the extra$$, I would recommend that. I think my bags were around $350 or so. I like the Firestones better since they straddle and clamp around the axle where the Air Lift mounts to the jounce stop on the spring pad. I have the inboard style as my hitch is a B&W and the outboard bags don't work with the turnover hitch.

[gtsum2]

I put timbrens in and they work fine. I didn't want to mess with bags and the unloaded ride is not affected at all. Works well for me (3300-3500 pin depending on toys in the back)