Hi all,

Curious what part number you have used with Air Lift brand bags? The 5000 series. I just bought probably the wrong one!! # 57215.
The Air Lift site doesn't even show this one.
I have fifth wheel brackets also.
As of now, the lower bracket won't clear the u-bolts (new from Ford last year), stock suspension, the upper bracket won't clear the 5th wheel stuff, and I will have to drill. Where did I get this no-drill notion??
Thanks as always.

 

The 57251 kit fits an 01 F250, however it is not designed to work with a fifth wheel. The correct kit for a fifth wheel application would be 57390.

Where did you get your current kit from? If it was a retailer, you should be able to exchange it for the correct kit.

Also, here is a link to 57215. For your year application it would still require you to drill the frame for the bolts. When you say it won't clear the bolts, are you saying the threads sticking past the nuts of the u-bolts are hitting the bottom of the plate? If that is the case, perhaps Ford gave you slightly longer U-bolts. Depending on how much threads you have past the nut, you could just cut down the u-bolts some.

 

Thanks Mike.
Yes I am talking about the u-bolt threads sticking up too high. Not much choice but cut them down I guess.
I bought kit from Amazon, hoping a way without having to send back. I will call them tomorrow and see what they will do. Hopefully they will let me swap out the top brackets.

 

More than likely you would have to swap the entire kit through amazon. If you can't figure anything out through them, let me know and I will see if there is anything we could do on our end.

 

The U-bolts on my '99 were also too long. I didn't want to cut them down so I made cut some spacers from 1/2" thick steel plate. Since I was making 2...I might as well make 4 (per side). I then purchased some grade 8 hardware of the correct length. I am quite sure I painted the spacers but I guess my rattle can paint job didn't last as long as the OEM finish.

This photo was taken about 2 years ago. The air bags were installed 6 years earlier than that...

 

Thanks for the pics and idea Greg. I will see how things work out for the rest of my issue and go from there. I can only guess when I bought the u-bolts I got the wrong ones. Of course, not an issue until this deal came up.
Thanks again Mike, I will let you know what Amazon does.

 

Mike (at Air Lift),
I am getting more confused the more I look at this. I looked at kit 57390, wow is it different looking. I also found a kit #57298, says it works with Reese hitches?
I should mention, after thinking about it, I have the more simple version, with seperate angle brackets, not the long bracket that spans from the front to rear mounts for the hitch.
Amazon said they would pay for return shipping, but haven't addressed my real problem which is getting the right kit, at least not yet. I hope to talk with a human there later today.

 

I'm not exactly sure what you are describing here. Do you by chance have a picture or could explain further?

The 57298 is designed for the Reese 5th wheel setup as you mentioned, but it only works with that one specific hitch. If your hitch has plates that wrap around the outside of the frame you will definitely need the 57390 kit.

 

As I understand it, there is a bracket, one piece, that some apps use. It would span from front mount to rear mount on the frame rail, sort of connecting both hitch mounts underneath. That would require a different bracket.
Mine is two separate angle pieces bolted to the frame/bed. The bracket in the kit I have almost works.
I am at work so no access to my pictures.
I will try later

 

Mike, I am sending the kit back and getting the 57390. Amazon gave me that option. I ran into another issue with the height of the bag, and the top bracket hitting the edge of the bed unless I compressed the heck out of it. Didn't look right, don't know what is going on, don't care anymore.
There is room for the mounting inside of the frame rail, don't think it will cause problems.

Thanks for your input.

 

I'm glad Amazon was willing to work with you. Let me know if you have any troubles with the new kit, I would be happy to help in any way I can.

 

Received my new kit today, the 57390. Put it together on the floor and looks pretty good. Nice hardware.
Amazon did okay. Took a couple of weeks for all the back and forth but they took care of the return shipping, and got my refund when they prcessed the returned kit.
Looks like I have something to do this weekend. And, no drilling!!
Thanks Mike (Air Lift) and others who responded.

 

Don't hesitate to get a hold of me if you have any issues or questions. I get notified by email of any pm's or replies to this thread, and check my email 8-9 times a day. I should be able to get back to you within a reasonable time if something were to come up.

 

Thanks.