Air bag questions

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Aug 27, 2007 | 01:21 PM

jsw22250

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Air bag questions

Ok, heres the deal. I haul and old heavy mid 70s camper around some, I haul lots of firewood and have considered a 5th wheel. I have a 99 extended cab super duty 4x4 and want to add air bags. Did I mention the camper is heavy? I will be going to british columbia in november and plan to haul back a couple of dead moose as well, probably only have the camper shell and haul a 5x8 utility trailer for that trip. Fuel cost would be more than the hotels if I take the camper. Which air bags do I want? How much are they? I have seen everything from$250 to $340 for the kit to $450 installed. What model numbers? Give me your opinions and experience. Help, I have looked at the firestone website and it just confused the hell out of me with the vehicle wieghts and stuff. I will do the install myself. Would prefer to use a sponsoring vendor. squirrelcop

Last edited by jsw22250; Aug 27, 2007 at 01:27 PM.

Aug 27, 2007 | 01:29 PM

bradshaw6243

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From: Central Mississippi

I do not have any good information on installing airbags, but unless you are well versed in how to do it, it seems like a dangerous experiment to install something that could blow up on you while driving. Often there are finer points in repairs or installations of that type that a novice may not get quite right. Not saying you are a novice, I would just be hesitant to do that myself, but that is just me.

Aug 27, 2007 | 01:48 PM

jsw22250

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Where is your sense of adventure. Besides have you looked around at some of these places now days. I am not particularly familiar with the auto industry but I can tell you that in the motorcycle industry most shops don't impress me. I was a better wrench by fifteen than most of the so called mechanics(parts changers who could not find a problem without a computer and have limited ability to actually fix whats wrong). Mostly some bolts and bracketry. Running airlines is pretty basic stuff. Unless I missed something in the instructions I looked over I could probably talk my wife through the install. I haven't found many wrenching projects I couldn't handle, now I can also afford to take the ones I don't want to do to some one less competent than I am. Feel free to correct me or just tell me I am wrong. I have been before and it could be that I will be again. Squirrelcop

Last edited by jsw22250; Aug 27, 2007 at 01:52 PM.

Aug 27, 2007 | 01:54 PM

wlihntr

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From: colorado

firestone superduty air bags. i have had them for 6 years and they have been great. they are pretty easy to install and will not "...blow up in your face?" (dont understand that comment)

Aug 27, 2007 | 01:56 PM

bdrummonds

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From: Millbrook Alabama

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradshaw6243

Jim, I think he is talking about airbags for suspension, not crash type airbags.

The Ride Rite kit from firestone with the in cab controller is what I would go for. Have you thought about going to your local spring shop and having your springs rearched and a set of add-a-leafs installed? (could be a less expensive alternative)

Aug 27, 2007 | 02:11 PM

Badluck

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From: The Dalles Oregon

yea firestone is great I have only seen one blow up and it scared the **** out of me lol, I had a dual go and it took the airbag with it, god the noise it make was like a bomb

Aug 27, 2007 | 02:24 PM

bradshaw6243

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From: Central Mississippi

So Sorry

Well that explains a lot!!! jsw22250, I was brain dead on that question and thought you were talking about in car airbags, just did not sound like a wise idea. Now that bddrummonds has cleared things up for me, I am sorry for the confusion I may have caused. I have plenty of sense of adventure and would certainly install suspension airbags myself for sure. Sorry guys.