Greetings all.......


Other than cost, which is better? or are they about the same? Seems like the Ride Rites are easier to install on the X, but the Jounce Jumper offered by the Load Lifter Ultimate is an added bonus.


Please send any helpful info.........install tips too.


Swmpbgy1

 

I just did the Load Lifter Ultimate a couple of months ago. Make sure you have a Sawzall to cut off the old jounce bumper, it will not unbolt. Other than that it went pretty smooth about 3 hours.

Not sure if there is much of a difference between the 2. But I like mine.

 

what is your definition of "better" ?

easier to install ? warranty ? price ? dealer network ?

at the end of the day they are both airbags that do the same thing.

I would have a difficult time devising an actual test to determine if one or the other performed better. my hunch suggest that they offer nearly identical performance.

if you want to consider time to inflate to desired PSI then you would need to evaluate the various compressors avaiable but since you are asking about air bags I will assume you have the compressor figured out already.

 

I haven't actually bought/installed one yet, but I have decided on the Load Lifter kit. I went over a bunch of threads on here. I don't remember all the reasons I picked it, but I do remember that it has an internal rubber bumper that acts as a bump stop if the bags deflate for some reason. It also had way more responders than any other and they all seemed happy.

 

I also just installed the air lift may need to cut the jounce bumper but if you pre soak it and remember that you need to pull down to keep it locked in the frame to unbolt it that helps. However i kind of wish i had just cut one of mine instead of monkeying with it for a long time. My pain was in the rear block arm which has a curve to it. The instructions tell you to bend the bracket to fit. However once you do that good luck getting it on there by drilling a straight hole on both sides. Hard to explain without pictures. Hopefully yours are 90 degrees (which is stock), and you avoid my personal hell. It ended well though, and they work really well.

Everyone seemed to be in agreement that they are both great systems. I wanted the wireless compressor option from airlift although idk if it was that big of a deal on retrospect.

 

Ordered the Ride Rite Ultimate's today......It's my birthday.....Happy birthday to me!!


Thanks to all that replied............
Swmpbgy1

 

...you guys must live in salt states! Mine came off easily - although the instructions could have helped by mentioning that small tab on the jounce bumper needing to remain in the block to keep it from spinning as you use the ratchet/wrench to remove the bolt. When I discovered that I just wrapped some duct tape around it a few times to hold it down against the block and it made it pretty easy.

I had air bags on my Expedition and now on my Excursion...on the Expy it was hard-wired (had to run an air line into the cab up onto the A pillar to feed the gauge/switch) - on the Excursion I went with the wireless controller option...so I've had experience with both types of systems.

My advice - drop the extra $ and get the wireless system. Being able to have three pre-set pressures, activate it while inside the cab, and have it automatically add/release air to maintain pressure while you drive - it's all worth the extra money. I pull search and rescue trailers for our FD, and being able to back up under the trailer, hit the remote and get out to start hooking up while the truck is 'raising' 2 inches is great...by the time I get the chains, safety cable and umbilical in place the compressor shuts off and I can drop the trailer onto the ball. Same when dropping it off - hit the button, get out, drop the foot and start raising it...by the time I clear the ball the compressor shuts down - and because the truck is 'dropping' while I'm 'raising', it's only half as much time spent on the crank of trailer foot.

And here where night-time temps are in the 60s and day time temps can get over 100 (changing the pressure in the bags due to temps), it's awesome that the system is constantly monitoring air pressure and as it changes - it adds or removes automatically.

It really is a convenience thing, but on those days where it's freezing cold and rainy or you are in a serious time crunch, the less time you need to spend outside fiddling with the system or in the cab waiting for the air pressure to reach what you want, the convenience becomes really nice.

AND...it's a hell of a lot easier running wire into the cab than it is the air pressure line.

A note however on the wireless system: add a switch to the ground for the manifold, and add the shrader valve like the instructions say. IF for some reason your remote goes out (let's just say a dead battery), you are stuck with whatever air pressure is in the system at the time the remote dies.

With a cutoff switch, you can disable the manifold (without having to unplug the wiring harness) and just use the shrader valve and an air pressure gauge to change your bag pressure.

I can tell you from experience it sucks climbing under the rig when it's cold, wet and muddy to pull the connector out of the manifold.

 

Let me know if you have any questions on the Air Lift product at all!

 

Installed the Air Lifts over the weekend......not the easiest to install, but doable. My biggest question/concern is regarding the torqueing of the bolts that fasten the roll plates to the bellows. The instructions say to torque to 15 ft/lbs.....I tried to torque them, but it seemed like I was over tightening them. I stopped when I saw the lock washer crushed against the plate. Is this adequate?


Swmpbgy1