FireStone Ride-Rite Install question...

I have 5100s at 1.75 and the Ride Rites @ about 15psi and the truck looks level. Just adjust your headlights afterwards.

If I go offroading, I lower the pressure to 5psi. You shouldn't drive around with no pressure in them. I've articulated the rear suspension with no problems. I don't know if I flexed the suspension a full 100% but I have tried lol

I mainly have bags to level the truck when I have my snowmobile aboard. Works great for that,

 

Good info, sounds most likely the right way to go. This is what I will be towing, the picture is of my friends Taco and my boat. I was VERY impressed with how it towed though it was sagging in the rear (not so obvious in the pic). He has an SR5, no TSB rear leaf.

It's a 22ft. Boston Whaler, probably around 4500 - 5000lbs. Plus 4 guys and all our fishing gear in the bed/boat. Had no problems at all on the highway going 55-65 or on two lane mountain type roads. Towed twice with the truck to different locations, both about 40-50 miles one way.

 

I had them installed on my '05 to deal with the bottoming out soft springs (Harsh Ride) because my dealer declined to do anything (no TSB knowledge or would admit to)... I go off roading a lot, in the desert and in Baja (more with my '05 than I have been able to lately with my '10).

The Ride Rites worked perfect... no more bottoming, raised the truck when I added a lot of weight that would previously sag it. Ran it fast off road... never a problem. 15 psi normal... 25-35 psi for loads or to raise the back. I once had 45 psi in them, too firm, not necessary... They are rated to 100 psi, but I was warned to never go high with them as your frame could actually crack.

Also upgraded the rear Bilsteins to 5100's... I really liked them, too!

 

Thanks, good stuff. Did you add any kind of leaf/lift?

I've been lurking here for quite a while, your posts have made me want an 09+. Haha.

 

I have the 5100's at 1.75" in the front, bags in the back w/ 5100's on my '07. As others have said, seems to work really well! No TSB on my 3 leaf Sport. I normally ride w/ 15 psi in my bags, seems to add about an inch to unloaded rear ride height over my worn out 3 leaf, truck "looks right" with this. It also rides better, on road or off.



I find that 25 psi helps with light towing, carrying gear to the lease. Pump up to 45 psi and I can load 5-600 lbs corn in the back or greatly improve heavy trailer hauling. I like mine! I haven't decided for sure what I'm gonna do for the front suspension on my 2012, but I'm definitely putting the bags on the back.

David

 

Nope... adding a leaf would make the truck ride hard all the time... Ride Rites are totally adjustable for your load and firmness desired!

The money would have gone for one or another... no point in air bags and adding leafs... at least that was my decision. Off Road Warehouse recommended the Ride Rites and they were great!

 

I have the 4 leaf here in Canada. I wonder if I could remove the extra leaf and just have 3. May make the ride smoother and reply more on the airbags for comfort.

 

very good info

 

Why would you want to downgrade, then add parts to compensate?

I have a 2012 TRD DC with the 4 leaf rear (just looked to make sure). I also run 265/70/17 10 ply Cooper AT3's. The truck runs smooth as silk, even with the super stiff tires.

However, I just towed a 6'x10' 3.5 ton tandem dump trailer full of wood chips and the rear sagged down to about 1 1/2" from the bump stops. The truck ran smooth all the same, and only bottomed out when I hit a big dip in the road.

... which lead me to reading this thread. Now I have a decision to make ...

Which kit is better?

a) Firestone Ride Rite #2407

or

b) Air Lift #59561

I've had Air Lifts on a 1985 Dodge Power Ram years ago, and they worked great, but the Firestones appear way more robust.

Thanks for any input!

 

IDk anything about the Airlifts but I have had the Firestones for about a year now, I have abused them, pumped them up to their max psi and overloaded the truck, damn things aer tough, i'm happy

 

Thanks! Firestones it is!

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Edit:

Wait a minute...

 

... The Firestone Ride Rites at $280 are about $50 more than the Air Lifts ($232), and Air Lift has a $50 rebate offer. So that's a $100 in me poo-ket that can go to an onboard compressor ... or not.

Hmmmm.... too bad I already bought extra bump stops. I can probably sell them.

 

Hey if it works for you that's awesome, yeah you won't need the bump stops, the bags are the bump stops

 

Installing mine next week. Thanks for the write up!

 

The photos on the website for the Firestone Ride-Rites look very different from the setup in the photos that Gregman posted. Has there been a re-design of the kit? If so, has anyone installed the newest version?

 

Guys I'm planing on using the union tee to pump the bags together at once. Planing on putting the valve in the gas cap cover. But where will I mount the union tee??

 

I would not recommend that. When you make a turn and the truck leans to one side, air from the bag taking the weight on side of the outside of the turn will transfer to the other bag on the inside of the turn and you could roll the truck over or pop a bag.

Take a long balloon and close it off in the center but leave a small opening for air. Then squeeze one end of the balloon. The other end will expand. Same thing with your scenario.

I have the two valves under the bumper. Only takes a minute to pump both with a good bicycle pump.

 

+

Second that, don't do it you will not like it.
You will find the roll and shift left to right is going to be bad.
I used the drain holes in the two rear side storage areas for the tire air valve. There are three in the back and I used the back on each side, they fit with out drilling.
I only keep gloves, rags and zip ties in them anyways.

 

Also to add I use a cheap bike pump with a gauge on it, not the best I think it is always about 5-6 high or off but it will let me set both to the same, you can pump it to hit a given number and unhook. It only takes a few pumps with the arm and you are there. I see no need to waste the $, time, room, weight for a pump that is made for it.
On the other hand is you plan is to add a larger off road pump you can use to fill tires, air tools, go for it. But not the $$ but cheap firestone pump...

 

Nope, you're not going to notice it and you're not going to pop a bag. They are rated for 100 psi and the most I've ever run in mine is 40 psi with a 1/2 yard of crushed rock in the bed. Both of my bags are connected with a tee and a single line goes to my pressure gauge / inflator switch and compressor. You won't notice any effect in cornering. I have no problem hauling my 19 foot travel trailer, hauling two dirtbikes in the bed, or hauling dirt or whatever. You would have to have a very big difference in your load distribution left to right to justify needing different pressures in the two bags. You can really see how over designed these bags are for our trucks when you pump them up and try to articulate the rear axle by placing one rear wheel on a big rock or log - there isn't much in the way of articulation going on, even with the bags connected with a tee. I think the same rubber bags are used on the 3/4 ton sized trucks.

On another side note, I have had mine installed for almost 2-1/2 years now and have nothing but good things to say about them. The Air lines haven't leaked ever, not even a little. I can set the pressure at 5 psi and drive around for months and it never moves. I can see the pressure gauge bounce when I drive over bumps so its easy to see how the pressure spikes in the bags. The pressure doesn't spike as much as you would think.

No problem: