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It’s running smoother and starting quicker but only have about 60km on it so far, 40miles for you guys south of the 49th parallel.
Definitely quieter. I will do another db on it once I have around 100-150 miles on it and am sure all the air is out of the hpo system. I’m curious to see what improvement the FRx did over the noise reduction from the hutch.
I’m looking for an image of the rear stock leaf spring pack. 2001 drw cc lb.
Were there multiple options. If so how do I determine what came on my truck?
My truck has air bags, and recently discovered that the lines feeding them are broken at the fittings. Bags have deflated and about 1” clearance between top of bag and upper bracket. Finally found out what the clunking sound is over bumps. Bag hitting top bracket.
Roll plates are rusted out and found some powder coated replacements as well as the fitting, but not sure if I really need to do them or just remove the bags since I’m a bumper pull with tongue weight of 750# on a WDH and PO towed a 5er.
Not sure who’s bags they are that are in there and if it may have been necessary to remove any leafs for the bags, of 5er hitch.
Still don’t have enough miles on it to do another db to compare Hutch to FRx. Once I do I will post it up.
If I recall correctly that is what I have. A stack of 5.
I’ll check when I get home from work.
Hmmm... now to decide if I keep them and get them back up to functional, or remove them.
PO took the pump out before he sold it so it just had an open line under the dash where it used to hook to the gauge. I put the PTC schrader in there and pressurized to 10psi and forgot about it.
I guess they don’t like to run being empty. Plastic 90° PTC fittings broke off flush in the top of the bags.
Im going to try to unbolt the bags from the bottom mounts. If that goes well then the fittings from the bags. If not then my decision is made for me.
Bags are out. Only one nut came off. 7 snapped on the u-bolts.
Frame has perches for overloads.
Not sure if I’m gonna be able to save the bags. Next I’m going after the top brackets. Probably give up on wrenches and ratchets, just hit them with a zip blade on a grinder.
This style of air bag kit where the bracket goes on the outside of the frame and the bag goes above the leaf spring is getting harder to find. I know my Firestone Ride-Rite 2264 kit is no longer made. For gooseneck hitch compatibility, manufacturers now make them where the lower bag platform attaches to the axle tube. @Sous has just discovered the axle tube style mount leaves something to be desired. You may want to hang on to what you've got.
This style of air bag kit where the bracket goes on the outside of the frame and the bag goes above the leaf spring is getting harder to find. I know my Firestone Ride-Rite 2264 kit is no longer made. For gooseneck hitch compatibility, manufacturers now make them where the lower bag platform attaches to the axle tube. @Sous has just discovered the axle tube style mount leaves something to be desired. You may want to hang on to what you've got.
I have AirLift airbags. I haven't had any issues so far, but I've never been a fan of how they installed. I always thought the installation setup over the axle tubes was a pretty chincy setup.
Sous and I've been talking these setups. You may want to look at these Daystar crades. I guess this makes it to where you aren't hard mounted limiting the suspension travel and prevents you from tearing the air bags with suspension travel... https://www.daystarweb.com/product/air-bag-cradle-polyurethane-black
I have AirLift airbags. I haven't had any issues so far, but I've never been a fan of how they installed. I always thought the installation setup over the axle tubes was a pretty chincy setup.
That’s the right style but that 2071 kit doesn’t fit our trucks. The correct kit is 2264. Sous has found eTrailer versions of the brackets though so not all is lost.
That’s the right style but that 2071 kit doesn’t fit our trucks. The correct kit is 2264. Sous has found eTrailer versions of the brackets though so not all is lost.
That is the kit that their website said although I selected the over 8500 GVWR option. Maybe that wasn't correct for my truck.
Leonard and Shane hit the nail on the head. Just like Shane, I was never happy with the design of the AirLift bag mounting system, but it has worked for many years.
I believe they were one of the first ones to go over the axle and the kit is comprised ofL-brackets and U-bolts. I called them a couple of years ago out of frustration, but they seemed to think I was the only unhappy customer about how the bags mounted.
Fast forward to last week when towing the 5th wheel over the roads of Iraq Illinois. The driver side bag perch (lower bracket) rotated forward in a way that it was contacting the Hellwig swaybar when taking off from a stop.
Yesterday I resolved this issue with some adjusting, but will be going a more permanent route when we return home.
Yesterday I compiled all of my notes, links and advice from AKCooper9, FordTruckNoob and SJBJ.
SJBJ has the same kit I have and 8s also not happy. AKCooper9 and FordTruckNoob have a Firestone kit, which is what I hope to go with. Before I purchase anything, I need to look at the updated over the axle bracket offerings from various companies. If I am not happy with them, I will need to figure out which upper bracket over the leaf spring will be best suited for my application.
Leonard has a 2264 kit, so that will be my baseline. AKCooper9 has a kit similar, but it was on the truck when he bought it, so the model information may be inaccurate.
I am willing to discuss and share ideas if anyone is interested. I was planning on making a new thread, but not until I had a course of action set out with a viable solution to present to the community.
