I got a new fifth wheel a couple of weeks ago and took it out for the first time over July 4th. The truck pulled great, but with the leveling kit on the front I didn't like the way the back end sagged under the pin weight. So I ordered a set of Firestone Ride-Rite air springs and installed them today.

The install is super easy And they bolted right up with no drilling.
I put 70 lbs in them to check for leaks and it lifted the rear a good 3-4 inches empty.

I'm looking forward to hooking up to the fiver and having a nice level ride.

 

Let us know how they ride with no load.

My buddy put them on his 05 F250 and it seemed to make it ride nicer.

 

70psi in the rear will jar your teeth loose, I ride around w/ 15psi if I'm wanting the back lifted. It rides ok, but w/ no load, air bags don't seem to help the ride IMO.

 

I love my Firestone RR. I keep about 20psi in them at all times, because I have a very heavy flat bed. Seems to ride just fine. I should have done this sooner.

 

Actually the ride with 70 wasn't too bad, but after hooking up the trailer it actually sat too high! I dropped it down to 20 and will leave it there empty. Next time I'm towing I think I'll try 50 psi.

 

I've had the ride rites on for about 2 years now. i normally keep them aired at 10-15 psi without any load. i've never really noticed a difference with them air down that low.

 

Like others unloaded I run around 10-15 and to me it rides just like with out the bags. When I leave them aired up high unloaded its the worst ride I've ever expirienced.

 

I run mine with 50PSI in them pulling my horse trailer. Got to love them!

 

The first time to pull your 5th wheel with them you wonder how you ever lived with out them. Makes a night and day difference even with my bumper pul toy hauler, only 1K tongue on it.

 

My 04.5 went from the dealer to my garage for the ride rites. I had them on another truck, and really don't want to pull without them. You can adjust the air on the fly, which makes keeping headlight in aim very easy, and can change the ride because of the road with just a touch of a switch. Wanna run with a full water tank, no problem. Just bump up the air a couple of pounds. I think it will save shocks and springs in the long run, too.

I run about 10 pounds when not pulling.

 

I too have had the air bags for a couple of years, and use my truck mostly for towing, and love having them. Hate to see a 1 ton with the tailgate sagging down.

 

Put me down as another customer.

I have towed 10,000# (1500# on pin) FW for many miles and recently ended up going to Bilsteins to help a bit with the ride. Before picking up our new FW I installed the Firestones "just in case". We just finished 650 miles towing 12,660# (2720# on pin) and I found the ride comparable to the much lighter FW prior to the Bilsteins.

BTW - I run them at 10psi empty which jumps to 22psi loaded. The truck squatted 2" under 1500# and 3" under 2720#... but with the bags at the 22psi it lifted 1" up (eg back to 2") which is fine. I am concerned about lifting it too much because I've heard reports of cracked frames with the bags maxed out and loaded heavy btw.

oh yes pic of new/old FWmypics

 

Most of the frame problems I have heard of associated with airbags is where there is a large load spread across the frame (like a slide in camper) and the frame cracked around the airbag mounts. Also, it usually happens when someone is grossly overloaded, etc. I am still within all of my weight specs and am just using the airbags to level out and improve the ride.

It's ironic that I spent money to bring the front end up to level and now had to spend more to raise the rear.

 

I wonder if my rear shocks are bad(Bilstein 5100s) my truck rides like crap w/ anything over 10psi in the rear, stiff as heck!

 

wow, i need to quit clicking on these threads.......put somehting else on my list of upgrades......