You MUST pay special attention to the details of the kit fitment. For example, the kit you linked says "Kit only fits applications with a Reese fifth wheel hitch."

My 5th wheel rails were installed already, so I have no knowledge of the manufacturer.

 

I was referring to the Firestone kit. I was not aware of the AirLift kit you mention. My kit is AirLift, and I don't know why I went with it over the ones that mount to the leaf packs. At the time I was unedumacated about the setup. So I must have just selected the 1st one that said was for my truck. However, after installing it, I was thinking how wonky a setup it was during the install. If I knew then what I know now, I would have preferred a setup like the ones mentioned here. Live and learn I guess....

 

The devil is in the details. Thankfully I don’t have to do the entire kit. Just the bags and roll plates should I decide to keep them.

I won’t be towing a 5er and at 750# tongue on a wdh I believe the leafs are more than adequate for my needs. When I bought my truck it came with the bags, and the 5th wheel hitch, plus a louvred tailgate.

I made the dealer put a real tailgate on the truck then pulled the hitch and rails myself, which is still sitting in my shop. The mounting brackets are still attached to the frame. I got lazy on that point, but also had the thought maybe one day a 5th would be purchased so make it easier on myself to put the hitch back in.




My guess is some of the hitches bolt to the frame above the axle location where the upper bracket for the bags would be.

I don’t currently have a good picture of that location right now.

 

Follow up for anybody interested in the upper mounting bracket. I’m not sure on the model # used since I got nothing for documentation when I bought the truck.



Overview of airbag upper mount and hitch rail brackets.

Lower overall width

Depth to frame.

Upper overall


New bags are going in. Wife insisted.

I still have to get to the intercooler leak as well.

Got an hour behind the wheel drive in yesterday before dinner. She’s idling smoother, but only 100km/60mile on it so far.

 

These pictures are great, thank you sir. I am shooting to install brackets like yours soon and throw the over the axle brackets in the trash.

 

I've had the Firestone bags with the Airlift auto leveling system. It was good, but not as good as the OBA system that supplies the bags via a homebrew auto leveling system. The ride height sensors are for like a semi trailer....I used one at each side, but you could go with one. It's stupid simple. The Airlift system I had to replace a couple of magnets and a sensor. Like I said good, not like I have now.

 

Definition of irony.

Going to a company called LOW riders for an air-LIFT replacement bag.

Too boot, they were $30.00 cheaper than any of the truck suspension shops local to me.

Roll plates are on order and will be in on Tuesday.

 

I installed AirLift 5000 bags and the Wireless One compressor 5ish years ago. Since then, everything has performed flawlessly and easy to use, except the axle brackets. I never liked them, from day one.

I have the 1 button on the compressor remote set to 5 PSI and the 2 button to 45 PSI for the 5th wheel. If I have a load that does not have a predetermined PSI like lumber, firewood, rock, etc... I air up to 45 PSI and push the up button until I am happy with the level.

I don't feel the need for OBA for my application and the Wireless One compressor is fulfilling the role of inflating the bags well, for our application.

Kate flowers the 5th wheel onto the AUH, as they make contact I push the 2 button. Within 60 seconds, the bags are 45 PSI and we are ready to roll.

OBA could be useful for people with other thoughts on air bags or how to inflate them, also pneumatic accessories.

I have the compressor mounted above the spare tire between the bed and bed rail. If the compressor does, I plumbed a Schrader valve to the back bumper and we have a Viair compressor on the 5th wheel.

I know this application is not for everyone, but it works very well for us.

 

Your system is good...But brah..i can't believe you don't see the benefit of OBA....I just don't think we can be friends.

 

I do see the benefit, just not for our very simple application. When it comes to the truck and the usefulness of the truck, I like to keep it simple.

We can be friends with differing opinions.

Also...

 

Looking through the Air-Lift installation manual and they have a maximum distance of 8” between the upper and lower bracket. Minimum is 5-1/2”.

Put a tape measure onto mine and just a smidge under 9”. This might explain why the threaded inserts were ripped out the top of mine and when deflated they were about an inch away from the top bracket. I’m sure having 0 air pressure didn’t help my cause either.

Yesterday I stopped by the local metal shop and picked up 2 ‘ of 1”x 1” metal rod to use as a spacer between the leafs and lower bracket. Then over to the spring shop to pick up some new square u-bolt’s.

Last night I managed to squeeze in an hour and got the 1 x 1 cut to length. Be nice to have the metal band saw I took a pass on when Gramps passed away, but the chop saw is all I have.

Going to get the drill press set up for the holes through the 1 x 1 before I head off to work this morning.

Roll plates are scheduled to come in today but nobody local had the powder coated and 3 weeks lead time doesn’t work for me. Looks like a few coats of paint will be applied to the galvie’s.

Funny thing I noticed is that the lower roll-plate is like the day it was put on the truck, upper was rusted clear through. I’m guessing from the tires throwing crap at them like a sandblasting when on wet roads, but that doesn’t explain the upper brackets looking mint though.

11.99 for steel, 49.73 for u- bolts, 293.44 for airbags. Roll-plates still to come.

I will be done all in for under $400.00. A new kit was $500 ish + 13% for taxes, maybe a full kit was the way to go with ALL new components.

Sometimes it’s the thrill of the hunt, not the kill. Woulda saved me a boatload of time, but that’s like going to the grocery store an buying a salmon instead of putting a line in the water.

 

Check this out if you haven’t seen it. So much cleaner than an abrasive cutoff blade and lasts way longer than I expected.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DIABLO-7...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I’ve got the angle grinder version of this and it is wonderful.

 

I too have one of those blades for an old chop saw that has been converted into cutting up random things like dog chews, steel, aluminum, PVC, etc...

I have a couple of different blades that fit it and get swapped in based on the material. I just don't have a welder, so no way to affix the cut pieces, not yet any way.

I believe when I rebuild my air bag mounts, I will use Daystar cradles.


Not sure yet though.

 

I did look at the daystar cradles but was concerned as to how they bolt on.

The air-lift bags have 2 bolts for attachment to the brackets where the daystar cradles appear to be in 1/3’s.

Do they get bolted to the lower bracket and the bag floats loose? I can see that being an advantage if major suspension travel is anticipated so that the bag doesn’t get over extended, but for a pavement queen my feeling is that firmly bolted into place is right for me.

I will look into a metal cutting saw blade for my chop saw instead of the abrasive. That 1” steel bar played havoc with it and took forever to cut.