cquestad

Hello all...

Does anyone have an opinion on Ride Rite or Timbren air springs...

I am looking at killing the sag when heavily loaded and don't want to compromise unloaded ride and axel travel. I am worried that Ride Rites limit axle droop and Timbrens make unloade ride harsh and unloaded upward flex limited...

Thanks in advance for yuor opinions...

4X4 HULK

Try airlift.com I'm thinking about doing to my truck.

MAJORCOMMOTION

That's funny, because I was just looking at the same thing. The Timbren system looks to be big hallow rubber bushings. Cost is good, but seems like they would be a ride killer. The Ride Rite would limit axle drop, and I think they actually recommend disconnecting or removing them when you have to lift the truck by the frame. I think a read that in the install instructions. I'm not lifted in the back, but there might be an issue if you are. By the way suspensionconnection.com has the system on sale for 218.95. Replacement bags are 100 bucks....wow!

troy b

I think that is http://www.airliftcompany.com/

signature600

I've had firestones on my rig for ~1.5 years. My truck came stock without helpers, and with a 1250 lb flatbed on them all the time after already 200,000 miles of use, they were useless pulling our trailer.

I put the airbags on and never looked back, and use them almost daily (I mean as far as carrying a load). The unloaded ride isn't much worse than just springs, but remember I'm carring the weight of 2 pick-up beds on them.

I have thought about making guides so they can float above the axle when I don't need them, kinda like regular overloads, but just haven't had the time.

The only downfall to them is you have to keep at least 10psi in them, or the shock from going from 0psi to 10psi over a bump can blow the seals. I've also thought about running a dump valve like a semi the let the pressure escape into the atmosphere without hurting the seals.

Whoops, now that I've finished my book, I hope I've said something helpful
Chris

tcr

On our d-max the air springs help level out the truck, (6" procomp lift) but the ride unloaded is very stiff for a 2500. w/ our 35' trailer (contains two four wheelers) the ride is much better w/ about 80 psi in each bag. Unloaded the truck is very stiff, bumps cause the back end to be all over the road.

BEHRMAN

I have Firestone Air Bags and they work great. They don't effect ride quality when unloaded and level the truck just right. Couldn't haul my camper without them.

OOPS

I ran the Firestones on the back of my Tundra and they worked fine, you keep 10 psi in them un-loaded and the ride was not harsh. I built my own compressor system for it out of a Cadillac air suspension compressor and that also worked great. This is hearsay, but I have been told that there are a lot of problems with the Air-Ride system, but like I say that is hearsay.

durango12

i just installed a kelderman air bag system on a buddys ctd dually and it works great. he has the front and rear system .
d12

dogger

I have been running the Firestone Ride Rite on both my '89 Ford F-250 Supercab 4X4 and my '03 Dodge CTD QC Ram 2500 4X4. Personally I think they are a great investment as I can level my load, which the Timbrens do quite give you that option. My Dodge I have added the Dual Command air control in the cab so I can adjust the air bags anywhere and it gives an air compressor to use to fill up air toys and re-inflate tires when I have had to drop the pressure in them for sand out at Port O'Connor, TX. I make consider the Timbren for the front axle of the Ford as it is sagging a bit, if I do not actually end up replacing the front springs. I purchased my Dodge kit from www.truckspring.com; they also handle Timbren. You might give them a call they have been very helpful to me.

L8r,...........dogger

triplenickel

I installed a set of Ride Rites with compressor and 1 gallon tank to help with the camper. My compressor is mounted to the rh fender in behind the battery. There is a big thick bracket there that I drilled and tapped (had to use an angle drill) then I just screwed the supplied #10 machine screws. It was an ignorant spot to work in, difficult to hold the compressor and start the screws but it went in. It should stay nice and clean and cool up there. I just oriented it in such a way that the filter could be accesed for periodic cleaning. My tank is mounted to the top of the tranny crossmember on the lh side, the member is u-shaped which had to be built up flat with a small piece of aluminum plate to allow the tank's mtg pad to work. I also didn't like the switch/gauge panel that came with it so I junked that, it was too bulky and clunky. My gauge now lives where the cig lighter used to, and the switches or valves whatever you want to call them are in the panel below the steering wheel, basically centered. I installed a schrader fitting on the drivers side firewall to allow easy access to attach the air hose. You can't do much with the air that little compressor will supply, but it's fine for tires, air matress's or toys at the beach. Overall I like the set up, alomst a year, zero leaks. Also having the ability to level front to back and side to side is slick. It took me about 5 hous to do everything, but i wqs quite picky. Just the bags shouldn't be but an hour, if you went with bags alone and not the compressor I would suggest a $30 cigarette lighter compressor it's nice to be self contained. One last thing the onboard controls rule, I learned last year going to the coast elevation has a big impact on air pressure. One minute it's all good, then you climb a few thousand feet and it's like you have no rear suspension!

edit; If you choose the white face gauge, it's like they're made for our trucks. An excellent match!

cquestad

The ride rites sound the way to go but:

Will the bags be damaged when I am REALLY crossed up four wheeling...

and

With the minimum 5 psi in the bags...does the ride feel worse unloaded?

OOPS

Here are some pictures of the Cadillac air suspension compressor I got from P-N-P for ten dollars and the manifold I fabbed and put together. The small compressors that they have will air your tires up, but it will take a long time and will cause premature death to the compressor. I used to air my wheeler tires up with the ARB compressor when I would come off the trail. It would take me at least an hour to air my 33 x 12.50 BFG MT’s from 12 psi to 25 psi. in addition, I wore the compressor out in about a year and a half. I now have a Power Tank set-up on the wheeler and I put it in the Ram when I am not towing the wheeler. The PT will allow me to air up my 35 x 12.50 MT/R's from 10 psi to 29 psi 15-20 times on a full tank. With the PT, I can also run air tools on the trail.