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07-22-2015, 03:45 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Livermore Ca.
Posts: 138
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Air Bags or Helper Springs
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.
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07-22-2015, 04:03 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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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.
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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07-22-2015, 04:07 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Toronto
Posts: 178
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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.
__________________
2017 Passport Elite 19RB
2019 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
2017 Ford F350 Lariat 4X4 CC 6.7
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07-22-2015, 05:02 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 172
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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.
__________________
Ross & Bonnie
2014 Keystone Alpine 3535RE
2014 Ford F-350 Diesel DRW 4x4
US Navy Retired Master Chief Petty Officer
Gryphon the 240lb American Mastiff
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07-22-2015, 05:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Baton Rouge, La
Posts: 127
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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.
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07-22-2015, 07:23 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Livermore Ca.
Posts: 138
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Thanks for the responses guys. I will get some bags. I can install them myself to save some money.
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07-22-2015, 08:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,010
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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
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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07-22-2015, 03:33 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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It seems most use air bags, but I've had good results with Timbren SES.
www.timbren.com
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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07-22-2015, 04:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 375
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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.
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07-23-2015, 01:54 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Round Rock
Posts: 218
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
It seems most use air bags, but I've had good results with Timbren SES.
www.timbren.com
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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.
__________________
2013 Silverado 3500HD - Duramax/Allison - CC, long bed, SRW, 2WD
2013 Springdale 247FWRLLS - 1st 5er sold - 1 July 2016
2017 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS
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07-23-2015, 02:51 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ma
Posts: 147
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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.
__________________
2016 F350 Dually Crew diesel
2015 carbon 327
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07-23-2015, 03:31 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Central VA
Posts: 146
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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.
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07-24-2015, 05:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Stone Harbor
Posts: 174
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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....
__________________
Bill & Kate with Zeke (parti-poodle) & Bailey (std poodle)
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
2014 Forest River Wildcat 272RLX Fifth Wheel
2018 F-250 4x4 Crew Cab 6.2L Gasser
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07-24-2015, 08:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Livermore Ca.
Posts: 138
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Timbren is interesting. Takes place of the bump stop.
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07-26-2015, 11:36 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Kingston WA
Posts: 93
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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.
__________________
Bill Stuart
2012 Alpine 3555RL
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Limited Mega Cab Dually 4X4 Cummins, Aisin trans, 4.10 gears
Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection
Previous RV's:
1992 Prowler 35' Bunkhouse
1986 Fireball 30'
1978 Nomad 24'
1963 Kenskill 19.5'
1972 Dyna Cruiser Camper on '72 F-250
A Tent
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07-26-2015, 12:03 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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Quote:
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.
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Just curious what failed and how on the Timbrens?
__________________
Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
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07-26-2015, 08:04 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 384
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Timbrens work well for me
__________________
2015 Fuzion 345 Chrome
2014 Ram 3500 Megacab CTD Laramie
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08-05-2015, 12:51 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Kingston WA
Posts: 93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsmith0404
Just curious what failed and how on the Timbrens?
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In both cases, the Timbrens disappeared/fell off of one side of the truck, leaving me lopsided.
__________________
Bill Stuart
2012 Alpine 3555RL
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Limited Mega Cab Dually 4X4 Cummins, Aisin trans, 4.10 gears
Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection
Previous RV's:
1992 Prowler 35' Bunkhouse
1986 Fireball 30'
1978 Nomad 24'
1963 Kenskill 19.5'
1972 Dyna Cruiser Camper on '72 F-250
A Tent
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08-19-2015, 01:29 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Florida
Posts: 28
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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.
__________________
2016 Impact 311
2002 F-250 7.3 (retired, but still own)
2016 F-350 6.7 Platinum
2010 EZGO
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08-22-2015, 01:18 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 384
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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)
__________________
2015 Fuzion 345 Chrome
2014 Ram 3500 Megacab CTD Laramie
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