AIR BAGS = AWESOME!!!

I'm selling a set for $250 if anyone is interested. I posted a thread on the marketplace if you want pictures. They are in like new condition, with less than 200 miles on them.

 

Firestone warning about using Daystar Cradles:

http://blog.truckspring.com/post/20...r-air-bag-cradles-with-ride-rite-air-bag-kits

 

Crazy when manufacturers do that but don't offer a solution. I'm not even going to pretend like I would remember to completely let the air out of mine when I had the truck serviced. It would majorly suck to end up with ripped bags and have to spend another couple hundred bucks when I could have not worried about it by using a cradle...

 

They do offer a solution. They have spacer blocks that raise the lower mounting point of the bags. You also don't have to air them down to pick the truck up using a garage lift.

 

Hmm, may need to look at that. I wonder if it would compress them to much since I'm still at stock height though? It's definitely worth looking into. THX!

 

If you are at stock height you should not use the Daystar cradles or the Firestone blocks that raise the lower mounting point.

 

I guess we will have to agree to disagree! I have been running the bags on a Tundra that is normally pretty well loaded. I have a stock TRD OR suspension. With the cradles you get way more droop than without. If you have air bags, check for yourself. Jack the rig up and unhook the bottom mount...the suspension will droop considerably more. On the other hand, I have never seen the cradles get close to the top bracket (may be different on Tacos as they are a shorter bag). Maybe a trade off. I have been running the bags for ten+ years and the only issues I have had were with the lower mounts breaking bolts and such. Firestone did state that there were issues with the TRD models (too much flex for the bags). Each person has to decide for themselves what works. All I can vouch for is lots of miles on bags with cradles on a Tundra with very little issues. If my new Taco squats too much with the shell I'm getting I'll add bags and cradles to it.

 

I have about 15,000 miles on my Firestone airbags/Daystar Cradles/stock suspension. That includes off-roading, camping trips, daily driving with an empty bed, and occasionally exceeding the "official" payload. I inspect them every oil change when I grease the u-joints and they have no signs of wear. Like pretty much everyone else with this setup, I have had zero problems.

 

just installed my Riderites but wish I had known about the Daystar cradles! Do they make a huge difference or is it just under heavy towing?
thanks

 

Unless your truck is lifted, they make no difference.

 

Get them. Only took me 15 mins max to install.

Has nothing to do with a truck being lifted. Just feel safer going over bumps, truck maintenance so your bags do not rip.

EDIT: LIFTED, I THINK YOU MEAN ON JACK STANDS. I would just get them to be safe. you can see the pictures.

Truck lifted w/ daystar cradles:



Truck lifted without daystar cradles:

 

I concur. The Daystar cradles are easy to install even if you've already installed the airbags. Just take out the valve stems so you can push the airbags up out of the way. You don't even need to remove the rear tires to do it.

 

I did the cradles after the bags too. I didn't need to remove the stems. I just jacked the truck up by the trailer hitch and let the air out of the bags. Plenty of room.

 

Lol - you guys can "feel better" about it all you want basing your info off of advice from guys on the Internet. I spoke directly to 2 different people at Firestone who told me the same thing......"the bags don't need to be aired down to raise the truck...no matter what you read on the Internet" and "don't use the Daystar cradles".

The reason the Firestone won't recommend using the cradles is really simple. Think about the bags like a balloon...if you're going to pop a ballon...do you put your foot on it & then put your weight on it or do you stomp on it (assuming you don't have something to poke it).

Yes I currently have the cradles on my truck because I have a suspension lift and the bags would undoubtedly fail with an AAL lift. When I talked to the people at Firestone, I had no plans of putting s suspension lift on my truck so I didn't ask them what to do if you lift your suspension. I've later come to find out they have spacer blocks to compensate for whatever height lift you install.

I would rather take my advice from the company that does R&D, tests, produces, sells and warrants a product. There is a reason Firestone won't cover their products if they find out you're using the cradles.

 

haha the pics are right here man. I bet you listen to car salesman too.

I quote from Mach375 "Yeah, I only recently learned about those......long after I bent fuck out of the bag perches."

Truck lifted w/ daystar cradles:



Truck lifted without daystar cradles:

 

The pics don't prove anything other than the cradles allow the bags to detach from the bottom and let weight of the truck slam down on them.

What the hell does listening to car salesman have to do with this discussion?!?!?

 

Weight slam on them? When? Because just because a guy from Firestone says something doesn't mean it's right.

 

When you are driving....you go over a bump that Bucks the rear end of the truck upwards....the axle drops to full droop.....the cradle allows the axle to separate from the bag....when the truck comes back down, the full weight of the truck (minus whatever suspension absorbs) is concentrated on the bags. By keeping the the bags attached at the bottom like they were designed, it limits he spikes in pressure that come from the suspension going through its full range of motion.

Just because some guy on the Internet says that the cradles are ok to use, doesn't mean it's right either.

 

Watch how many times the bag separates from the cradle & slams back together in this video.

http://youtu.be/r4QBG3izhyA

 

And? There's no air in those bags. Why would you have them aired up when you're offroading? Each bag is meant to hold 5k pounds. So 10k pounds all together. I doubt a 200 pound bed will cause any damage.