Firestone "Ride-Rite" Air Bag Helper Springs on sale for $289.19 Free shipping!

Has anyone done this with a U Bolt flip kit? I can't really see how it works / lines up in my head. If anybody has done it and can post some pictures of it; I'd sure be obliged. Thank you ahead of time.

 

Also forgot to ask if anyone with 6" or general same size had done these bags? And if they had to use a spacer in conjunction with the cradles to get them to function properly?

 

I have the factory TA KO's. I want to go one size bigger and upgrade to the KO2's though.

Here's another photo from yesterday. I deflated the bags to about 8psi and its for sure a bit rough. Might try 5 on the way home. I think if I also had a cap on it for some bed weight it would ride buttery smooth like it did with the mower.

And yes I know my grass was tall, hence the reason for getting my riding mower back lol.

 

Thanks for the discount code I just pulled the trigger on these today myself. Just curious how hard was the install or what did you guys pay to have them installed?
I just mainly wanted them to pick up the sagging rear after I put my topper on.

 

Most seem to install themselves in a couple hours without too much trouble.

I'm wondering from guys already running these, do you need extended brake lines or longer shocks? @ERMB

 

I haven't needed extended brake lines yet. But I did notice I blew a shock lately I may get extended shocks this time around but need someone to chime in and let me know what to look for.

 

Just installed mine this weekend with the Daystar cradles. Took maybe 2 1/2 hours and I was being careful and double checking everything. Hardest part was cutting the stop bumper (Use a reciprocating saw. Hacksaw would take forever). I have stock leafs in the rear with 5100s and everything rides great at 5psi unloaded. Brake line lengths seemed just fine. The only "gotcha" I ran into was; since I installed cradles, I didn't need to raise the rear by the axle, which "unsprung" the rear leafs. So, when I was finished, and lowered the truck, the rear leafs compressed again, and the u-bolts loosened up. Just threw a wrench to them and torqued them down. Otherwise, pretty easy job.

 

cool kit no drilling is always good...but does this kit work with a rear 6 inch lift (blocks, AAL)

 

I paid $150 to have mine installed.

 

The bags took us about an hour and a half to install. That did not include the 1.5hr round trip to the store to buy a 1.25" sockets or whatever.

 

If your suspension is stock you won't need to extend the brake lines or change the shocks as you are not changing the rear springs so the travel will remain the same (the exception being that if you do not have the Daystar Cradles you will lose some wheel droop travel...with the Cradles all will be the same as far as travel limits go. Depending on the amount of air you have in the bags it could limit up travel but that won't affect the shock length or brake line length requirements.

 

For anyone looking at these and the Air Lift version, the Firestone are the air springs to get. Spend the extra $100. I've got the Air Lift and I'm looking hard at replacing them with the Firestone Ride Rites. The deciding factor is that no matter how I adjust the Air Lift brackets, the springs just don't set vertical. At the moment there is a half ton of #8 granite in the back of my little truck, so they do work, but I have a hard time trusting them. Also, there looks to be some rubbing on the plastic shock cover(passenger side) from the flange on the top of the air bag. I can certainly see that becoming a problem.

...Now that I see the Daystar cradles, I know I'll be swapping them out sooner than later.

 

I just ordered a set of these from autoanything.com. They have a 20% off sale going. $283 and some change shipped to my door. Looking fwd to getting these installed.

 

What kind of pressure are you guys that have these installed running / recommend when towing? I'll be towing my travel trailer (3330 lb dry / 340 hitch weight)

 

It's hard to say what you will need. Before I installed the gauge and valve switches, I just stopped on as level an area as I could find and pumped each bag up. Then, measured the distance from the center of the wheel to the fender flare. When they were even at about the right height, I called it good.

I ride around empty with somewhere between 5 and 10psi. This past weekend, I made a couple short trips. The first was with 1100-1200lbs of #8 granite @ ~65psi. The second trip was with 10 sheets of 1/2" OSB @ ~35psi. I would guess the ply wood weighs around 500lbs.

 

I figured I'd try around 25 or 30 psi at first with the travel trailer and fine tune it.

 

I would bet around 20-25psi would be good. On my Pro I run 12psi to give it a slightly tail high stance with a Snug Top Shell installed, so an extra 10psi or so should handle the tongue weight. If you can park it all on a flat area, simply air them up until the truck & trailer are level and you should be good to go. Also, is your Winnie an 1801FB? How do you like it. I've been looking for a smallish trailer and this one seems to have a good floor plan. I want something where the bed stays put and the dinette is separate and will be used for just a couple / no kids. Prefer double axle so this looks like a nice set up.

 

Thanks. The camper is the minnie 1801fb. It's been a nice little camper. Fits the three of us plus the dog well. The tacoma pulls it pretty good. I have a scan gauge and watch the trans temp. Stays right around 180 to 185. In stop and go traffic it will increase.

 

Thanks....hard to find smaller trailers that have both a full bed and a dinette section. I'm limited to about an 18ft box as the magic number is approximately 12ft. from center of front axle to the hitch ball to be able to make it across the bridge into my yard. There is a little leeway and we are gonna try my buddies 20ft. flatbed trailer to see if it will fit. Old spec came from a 16ft. Carson car hauler which I know fits as I had one to haul my FJ40...was tight, but made it. Plus I want a trailer that has available carrying capacity yet only weighs about 3k dry. The 1801 Minnie is one I had not looked at, but would work real nice. Have you had any issues at all, or are they pretty well built? I was looking at the smaller Lance trailers but they are hard to find and pricey when you do find them.

 

I haven't had any issues with the trailer so far. We really enjoy it. When I shopped for a trailer the requirement was to find dual axles. I couldn't find too many smaller trailers that had the dual axles. Winnebago is a pretty good name and been around for awhile. They just got back into travel trailers a few years back. I really liked the 21 ft with the slide out but it wasn't in my budget and the weight was pushing the limits of the tacoma. The 1801fb was the max I wanted to tow. Good luck with your shopping! Be sure to post a picture after you purchase