Air bags
- Thread starter Powderboy
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Highmarker
Well-known member
Is the compressor pretty noisy being inside the cab? Why not put it under the hood or on the frame somewhere?
I am a dealer for Firestone and air lift and I went with Air Lift with wireless remote on my 2012 Longhorn 3500. Mounted the small compressor up inside of the fender well. Ran the lines and now its so easy and quite when I'm inflating and deflating the bags. Hope this helps and I believe u can get a $100 rebate on them right now.
I have bags on my Tundra. It is lifted a little and the bags are the single best mod I could have made to add towing capacity, or safe towing capacity. Keeping the truck level is really important. I like that I don't have to suffer the harsh ride of heavy duty springs when I don't need them. I have the gauge in the truck so I can set pressures to what I know I like and tune them on the run. My compressor is really loud, would never want it inside the cab. That thing fires off randomly on start up and it startles me every time, lol. For 2 seconds I am like "what the hell just broke?". I would prolly commando roll out of the cab if it was inside and fired off.
I have the same truck (2011 Denali HD). I mounted the Firestone wireless controller/compressor on top of the fuse box under the hood. Do it just right and there is no rubbing on the hood. It's easy to wire here because you can tap right into the fuse panel. There is even a IGN tap for one of the wires. Let me know if you need pictures. Works well. You don't hear it unless you are airing up your bags. It's not like they leak.
The airlift(ride rite) set up is the best--better remote and a much better compressor (HD).
As far as mounting under the hood--right in the directions it says not to put the compressor under the hood for longevity--They say the under the hood heat will shorten the life.
The air bags are still firestone for bohe the ride rite and firestone kit. Only 2 manufacterers make them--goodyear and firestone.
We build a box and hang on the inside of the frame behind the cab--Keeps the compressor cool and keeps it clean. Short run on the air hose and run the elctrics and done. Also us the no drill kit as it lifts from the axle straight up to the frame. The other kit mounts them on your leaf spring and you put a bracket on the outside of your frame--which can cause twist in your frame if you are hauling a heavy load and really useing the air bags. I also split the lines from the compressor to the air bags and add a manual fill as well in case the comp dies or the remote, I can still air up my bags the old fashioned way.
Just my experience with them.
Good luck---H20SKE.....
As far as mounting under the hood--right in the directions it says not to put the compressor under the hood for longevity--They say the under the hood heat will shorten the life.
The air bags are still firestone for bohe the ride rite and firestone kit. Only 2 manufacterers make them--goodyear and firestone.
We build a box and hang on the inside of the frame behind the cab--Keeps the compressor cool and keeps it clean. Short run on the air hose and run the elctrics and done. Also us the no drill kit as it lifts from the axle straight up to the frame. The other kit mounts them on your leaf spring and you put a bracket on the outside of your frame--which can cause twist in your frame if you are hauling a heavy load and really useing the air bags. I also split the lines from the compressor to the air bags and add a manual fill as well in case the comp dies or the remote, I can still air up my bags the old fashioned way.
Just my experience with them.
Good luck---H20SKE.....
Yes you can buy all accessories to complete a kit
P
Powderboy
Well-known member
Sheesh, it's never simple is it lol. Thanks for all the reply's. I have the good old fashion fill them up with an air hose kind on my Powerstroke. Almost makes me want to stick with the low tech method. I for sure don't want a compressor in my cab and or have to drill holes in the cab to plum electrical and air lines out. Any more suggestions or setups? For those like me that have a shop do it how much are you guys paying out the door?
Do any of you have any problems with the compressor freezing in the winter? That is why I'm interested in the underhood and in-cab mounting. I would think the moisture in the air would freeze the pumps. I live in Alaska where it is cold (er) most of the year, heat is not a big problem.
I have sixteen years with compressors under the hood, never had one burn up. (Disclaimer, if you mount near the exhaust manifold or anything labeled "Hot" your results may vary.) The fuse box usually has a nice cool cubby near by.
I did buy a second compressor when I bought my 2012, left the 15 year old one on my 2006 because I couldn't part with the truck, previously it had been under the hood of a 93,97,00,02,05.
If you were to mount a compressor to my frame rails it would be full of water.
Most trucks have a rubber grommet passing through the firewall that will easily take a pressure guage line and control wire for manual.
After spending the extra for the remote with built in presets, I adjust my ride more frequently to match the load of the day.
I did buy a second compressor when I bought my 2012, left the 15 year old one on my 2006 because I couldn't part with the truck, previously it had been under the hood of a 93,97,00,02,05.
If you were to mount a compressor to my frame rails it would be full of water.
Most trucks have a rubber grommet passing through the firewall that will easily take a pressure guage line and control wire for manual.
After spending the extra for the remote with built in presets, I adjust my ride more frequently to match the load of the day.
all of the firestone and ride-rite kits come vehicle specific. i have installed them on 3 vehicles and non of them required drilling. they come with brackets that bolt or clamp on between the axle/leaf pack and frame.
I have mounted a compressor under hood by the second battery, and intake. Never gets any snow there, or any water. Never had any problem with it freezing up either. It is a compressor older then i am as well.
yeah i never had trouble with mine under-hood in my tundra either. here are some pics below....
i now have a dodge ram, and i wanted to put it under-hood in that too, but there is no room to find a good place to do it. it would have been a cluster fk. so, i mounted it in a toolbox in the bed. no complaints with either install. if you do mount it under hood, YOU WILL NEED EXTRA AIR LINE
i now have a dodge ram, and i wanted to put it under-hood in that too, but there is no room to find a good place to do it. it would have been a cluster fk. so, i mounted it in a toolbox in the bed. no complaints with either install. if you do mount it under hood, YOU WILL NEED EXTRA AIR LINE
