Yes, I was surprised to see the Firestone instructions showing only one U-Bolt for the axle brackets.

Ranchos at $79 seem reasonable for adjustable shocks.
http://tinyurl.com/yaekrwr

I think most of my pitching was due to bottoming the rear suspension giving the rear a big kick UP each time it bottomed. Hopefully keeping the suspension from bottoming will improve things a LOT.

Bob

 

My 03 already had FS bags when I got it and the empty ride was kinda hard on the RR Xing from hell, right up the road. The first thing I did was cut off the ends of those thick bottom OLs - no OLs are needed with bags. That helped but the next problem was the bags themselves squeezing all the way together and giving a big bottoming out thump. I cut down the edge of the bottom bag brackets so the plate sets tight against the axle tube and that extra 3/4" of bag travel solved any bottoming out. I had to bend the left brake line a little to allow the plate to fit snug against the axle, but no biggie. Then I made an expansion tank for the bags with ~2' of 3" pvc and two caps and that was the icing on the cake. My dually rides better than a 1/2T. I leave the bottom bolt out of the bags and run 0 psi when empty. That way the bags have absolutely no affect on the empty ride. I think the 5psi min. is to keep the bags from sucking flat and wrinkling when the axle travels downward and stretches the bags out. I've done this for 12 years and also with my previous truck with no problems whatsoever. Craig

 

Sounds like you have it down to a science, giving you good reliability and ride/load control.

If you wouldn't mind clarifying my inserted questions above, I will happily duplicate your installation! Another advantage would see to be that lifting the vehicle by the frame can't hurt the bags, either, since they are not stretched.

Thanks Much,
Bob

 

PacBrake has great customer support and from others say when they see mine, is the the lower plate with the added support it has is better than the others.
Mine also rides better with just a few pounds of air in them when empty and the truck handles much better when loaded.

 

I've run the Firestones on my 97 since it was new. I do need to replace the bags.

I don't remember what the model # of my camper is but its 11'3" or 11'6".

I plumbed the left and right seperate but I went cheap and didn't buy the compressor. That's not a mistake I'd make again.

I also added the Hellwig sway rear sway bar and that helped along with 19.5 tires.

Which set is best I don't know my have worked great for 13 years.

 

i went with the pac brake bags becuase i ordered their exhaust brake with compressor. the pac brake bags do look real nice and have stood up to michigan winters pretty good.

 

What do people suggest as far as sway bars in the rear. The camper loading document in my vehicles tells me I can only carry a camper weighting 1100 lbs and mine is well over 3000 lbs. I added the air bags to assist but would still like to provide additional support. (on the box the airbags came in it said would support 5000 lbs but it also said don't exceed the manufacturers GVWR) I have the Firestone bags with compressor and gauges and controls mounted in my dash. I find them somewhat useful when leveling my camper

 

I am happy with Airlift bags and Rancho 9000 all around. The bags lift the rear to a level ride height so steering is normal, and the Ranchos control the suspension. Without the camper, bags at 5 psi, Ranchos soft, my ride is real nice. Of course, I air down the tires with no load. Loaded up with the truck level, about 80 psi in the bags, the bags do not allow bottoming. I get more sway than I like, lacking a rear sway bar and overload springs (no camper special package). My 8-year old Ranchos wore out last year, so they gave me new ones on warranty, they are guaranteed for life. (Silly, isn't it? All shocks will wear out eventually, so pay once and get new Ranchos when you need them at no cost.) The new ones are a redesign, much more effective than the old models were when new, better control of suspension movements. At that time they had a promotion with a free in-cab adjuster system so I installed that also, and like it. I can change the damping of front and rear independently as I drive to tune the ride to the road conditions. I also experimented with small changes in bag pressure vs. shock settings for the best ride, and this makes a difference too. The bags are rated at 100 psi and I discovered that 80 psi gets the truck level, but 100 psi does not lift the truck to its unladen attitude but results in a stiff ride. I settled on 80 psi with a level truck and a smooth ride, the Ranchos controlling pitch and rebound.