Air helper springs opinions

[wildweeds]

My buddy is looking to put a set on an F350.I know virtually nothing of the benefit on a truck,but I used to build horsetrailers and we had a swingarm style suspension on the horse trailers that used a custom springpack under the axle and a Firestone airbag mounted between the frame and the tail of the spring pack with a Silver E shock absorber mounted from springpack to wheel well.Super sweet ride on them that adjusted itself because of the onboard 12v compressor and valving.For those that have them on their trucks a few questions .. Easy to put on?Any problems?Easy to get dialed in on the pressure for a smoother ride?I'm kind of partial to the Firestone brand as we never had a lick of trouble with them on the horse trailers and alot of big trucks and trailers have them.Is there a better choice?Looking at the kits it seems like a straightforward bolt up job on the truck he is looking to add them to,no drilling.I haven't seen any directions but it really seems that it would be about a 2 hour job maximum.Thanks in advance for any info on this.

[wildmanoutdoors]

I ran mine too high of pressure I guess on long Vancouver island dirt roads with big loads. My frame broke completely in half were the mounts caused a pointload on the frame.

Do some google searches on the matter.

[wildweeds]

That sucks!

I ran mine too high of pressure I guess on long Vancouver island dirt roads with big loads. My frame broke completely in half were the mounts caused a pointload on the frame.

Do some google searches on the matter.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've had Super Springs on one of my trucks, but I went to Firestone Air bags without the onboard compressor. The springs were darn near as much as the air bags. I like the bags a heck of a lot better.

[KFhunter]

Tell your buddy to get an in cab controller!

man I'm kicking myself for going cheap and skipping the controller 


Other than that just don't go over 90 PSI or so.  They aren't a replacement for proper springs on the truck, they're helper springs!
If you crank them all the way up they'll carry the bulk of the load and that's not what you want, let the leafs carry some too.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Firestone Air Bags work real good. Haven't used anything else to compare to.

[Grizzly95]

Installed lots of them when I worked at Schwabs. Never had any major complaints, usually pretty simple to install.

[wildmanoutdoors]

I ran 90 max in mine all the time. Until they broke my frame. Id say 60 to 70 PSI max.

I fixed the truck and went to a Hellwig 1.5 ton helper leaf setup that is adjustable. I love this setup with my camper and boat.

[wildweeds]

So  the entire story is this F350 was  originally owned by an overweight old guy,he paid to have a few springs removed in the rear to lower the back end,My buddy bought the truck and is converting it to a dog truck,he has a custom 12 dog box to mount on the chassis.His thought that was since the spring pack on the truck has been downgraded to 3/4 ton status,the airsprings would make up that difference.My first thought is to weigh the box,add 600 pounds to it for an average pointing dog weight,100 pounds for water,another 200 pounds for extra training gear,and see what the real weight on the rig would be.My best guess at his box weight is 800 pounds,it's aluminum,semi thin material.090 with a 2" steel tube subframe.

[6x6in6]

Is he going to remove the bed in lieu of the dog box since you said mount it to the chassis?
If so, he won't need air bags with that kind of weight on 3/4 ton springs considering the poundage credit for the bed once removed.
He can just purchase the overload spring packs and hardware if he'd prefer that route.
Firestone Ride Rites with the onboard air kit is what I have and like it.  Problem free for 8+ years now.

[wildweeds]

Yeah the box and fifth wheel hitch were removed last weekend.

Is he going to remove the bed in lieu of the dog box since you said mount it to the chassis?
If so, he won't need air bags with that kind of weight on 3/4 ton springs considering the poundage credit for the bed once removed.
He can just purchase the overload spring packs and hardware if he'd prefer that route.
Firestone Ride Rites with the onboard air kit is what I have and like it.  Problem free for 8+ years now.

[bearpaw]

I have air bags on my F-350 and love them, I never have a sagging rear end. Helps greatly with highway handling.

[baker5150]

IF the box was removed then installation should be a snap.  We put a set on an F350 this past summer, it wasn't difficult. 

I love my air bags