Buddy and I installed the Reese/Ford 5th wheel prep kit and a set of Firestone RideRite air bags #2535 on my '12 F250 this Saturday. The entire process took the two of us a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes from back in to drive out. Not bad for a broke down old man and a youngster.

Both kits went in clean with the only real trouble being breaking the p-clip that Ford uses to attach the DEF tank bracket to the frame. That wasn't a big deal and it had to be removed anyway in order to install the upper bracket for the air bag on the driver's side.

Big improvement in ride quality with the air bags, even empty and noticeable instantly.

 

I have the Reese 25k Elite in my truck and plan to add the 2535 bags. Good to know its not a bad job and everything goes together right.

 

How much $$ is the Firestone air bags. Can you please describe the ride improvements that you found after the installation? Smoother ride, more stability ect.

 

I caught them on sale at SD Truck Springs for $350 and the ride is much smoother and the truck feels a lot more stable, especially when making a turn or a tight curve at speed. I didn't really need them for the squat, but wanted the added stability.

 

Most people think that airbags will make the ride worse, but if you play with the air pressure you can find the sweet spot where the bags are just starting to take most of the work off the springs (at least on an empty truck) and it actually improves the ride. I have tried a lot of different pressures but for my truck the PSI neighborhood seems to be the best. Different road surfaces seem to require different pressures to maximize the ride.

Good job on the install Javi! Sounds like everything went pretty smooth for you. My biggest battle on the Firestone install was getting the darn factory bump stops off the truck. It was a royal battle until I figured out the secret to holding them while getting that tight nut off.

 

Yeah... push em up against the frame so the locator pin holds them from turning..

 

Yup, air ride has been around for a long time and rides great, even improves ride in most situations. I can look up an Air Lift kit for you if you'd like. We have a rebate going on right now on our airbag kits and compressor/controller kits. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

My air bags improved the ride (with a load on the rear axle) so much that I have to say something here every chance I get. I read on a popular RV forum that the folks who had substantial pin weights on their air bags liked the ride at 35 to 40 PSI loaded, so I started there and ended up at using 35 PSI with full water tank, gas tank, toys in the RV and a Onan 5.5KW genset up front I am heavy pulling out of town and the air bags really make the handling a lot better than no bags. I played with different pressures in 5 PSI increments. 25 was not enough and 40 was way too stiff, but everyone's rigs and hitches are different you have to experiment to find your sweet spot. With 35 PSI in mine, and the toyhauler hitched up, the overload springs are about 1/2 inch above the stops. The air bags are worth the $$ if you pull a 5th wheel. Nice hitch that Reese is. happy towing!

 

I too have to give props to airlift for their bags and wirelessone compressor !!! Love it!

as far as towing setting - I've started @ 45 psi and will do closer testing with raising the rear to the same height as when unloaded and go from there... Already love the loaded ride !

But, I am not experiencing the better unloaded ride some report...
I do put mine @ 5 psi, but the rear end seems a LOT 'tighter' with the bags @ 5 psi than it was without bags...

So open to any hints as to what to do

 

So are you the "broke down old man" or the "Youngster"

Seriously, thanks for the information. That's a lot of work under 4 hours! I've been considering the same setup and now knowing I could do it in an afternoon makes me start thinking of when I'm going to start ordering parts!

 

That is a lot of work in 3 hours 45 minutes. Do you have any pictures? Probably no time to take pictures

Good job!

 

I'm 65 and have bad knees, bad back, bad shoulder and I'm 100 lbs over weight. The youngster is 44, skinny ( he might hit a buck 45) and can still bend his knees...

It really wasn't that difficult, I did what I could and he did the crawling around on the ground...

And no there were no pictures, we weren't wasting any time and the cold beer was waiting...