Load leveling air bags for '12 AC 4X4 V-6

Sure looked like it to me.

 

I have Airlift bags with the controller on mine and they bolt on, no drilling required. I've had them 3 years now and they work very well. The only downside is they're bolted top and bottom so down travel is limited.

 

Nope, I didn't, just saying its possible if you want to.

 

Wow, Landphil... Don't think I ever want to see that.

Kidding aside, putting a T-joiner on for both bags is a sweet idea. Not having to go back and forth between the valves checking and re-checking to even it out sounds pretty good. But how would that work mathematically for PSI? Double the pressure for half the psi in both bags? 30 PSI means 15 in each bag? Or what?

 

The bags need be separated to keep air from one bag going into the other during cornering or uneven loads.

 

Got it. Makes even more sense. Thanks!

 

Those are good reasons to keep them separated. But teeing them together gives better traction on uneven surfaces. Both ways are approved by Firestone as laid out in the installation instructions. I know, who reads instuctions, right?

If teed together, setting at 15psi means both bags get 15 psi, no math involved.

 

I'm finally ready to install the bags, but does anyone have any pics of where they installed the inflation valves? Not really diggin' the idea of drilling holes, but I figured someone has more creativity than me...

 

Hindsight being 20/20, install them vertically behind the latch pin if you do this. I can't reach the inside valve without taking the cap off.

 

On my 06 I had them separate and now on my 12 I have them tee'd.

I think the ride is a little better with them tee'd but it is not as stable. Even with it tee's it is still a lot more stable than stock. With them separate its like a heavy duty sway bar for the rear. If you have heavy loads going around a corner it does not lean out at all.

 

I have the firestone ride rite installed with the self leveling feature its Great when towing it pumps up the rear to level them back down to normal when no load on the rear got the bags from a TW member and the compressor kit from a local dealer less than $400 invested Love it

 

I had Airlift bags on my first gen for 6 or 7 years, they worked great, no issues and no leaks.

I would routinely run 100psi in them to level the truck when I would use my slide in camper, no issues at all.
I probably had over 200,000 km's on the bags with over 20,000km's with them at 100psi with the camper.

The Firestones seem more popular on here, if I ever install them on my 2nd gen, I would have to look at the way they both install to see which one is better but I would consider both.

Shawn

 

Great idea for access! Thanks. Feeding them through the plastic wall sounds great, and gives me a few more ideas for mounting them near the bumper.

Anyone else have pics of mounting the valves near the back of the bed/bumper?

 

Whats this self leveling unit ye speak of?

What brand is it?

I have not see an automatic unit yet. I have seen a wired and a wireless ones but they are manual.

 

Mine are placed around the license plate(circled in red )

I like them there very accessible for airing them up and really not too noticeable.

 

this is where i put the air valves

 

Personally I would tee them together with a valve in one side to isolate it.. open it for easy filling/equalizing. Close it to increase stability while cornering.

 

Exactly what I intend to do after I install onboard air and tie them in with a regulator and gauge. For now mine are on separate schraders between the license plate lights and the plate, one on either side.

 

I just installed the firestone air bags in my 2009 DC TRD today. The reason I installed them is that i pull a 27' holiday trailer with it and even with a weight distribution hitch I felt it was pulling the back end down more than I liked. Before I hook up and take off with my trailer I was wondering if you need to inflate the air bags to the desired pressure before hooking up the trailer or is it safe to hook up the trailer and then inflate the air bags? It seems like it would be a lot of screwing around having to set the pressure in the air bags before hooking up the trailer. I still plan on using the weight distribution hitch.

 

I always loaded my truck first, then added air to each side to bring the truck up level.
With my slide in camper, I would typically run 100 psi on the drivers side and 80 psi on the passenger to level the truck.

With a trailer you could probably run the same pressure on both sides.

Shawn.