Nothing but the truth - airbag question

[adrian]

Several months ago I walked into my local truck store to order some Firestone air bags. The man said; He prefer Ride Rite air bags, besides they are made by the same comp. Asked, why, are they better? Said they have a bump stop built into the air bag, so if your bags go, you got some support there. Adding again that he believed they where just a better bag.
I don't recall anyone talking about the Ride Rites on this forum. I may be wrong, but in need some feed back on this subject.
Truck---2017 tundra,4wh drive TRD and Towing package.
Camper---Four Wheel Camper, Standard Hawk with Refer. heater, stove, sink.

Also, what is best way to install on truck?

 

[Argonaut20]

I believe Ride Right is the Firestone brand for pickups and smaller vehicles than semi's. Instructions with the bags are pretty comprehensive for a DIY install.

 

[rando]

I don't think ride rite bags have built in bump stops. The ones for my 2016 Tacoma certainly don't. However, I am not sure firestone sells anything besides their 'ride rite' branded air springs for the light truck market, so it is likely a moot point anyway.

 

[Old Crow]

Several months ago I walked into my local truck store to order some Firestone air bags. The man said; He prefer Ride Rite air bags, besides they are made by the same comp. Asked, why, are they better? Said they have a bump stop built into the air bag, so if your bags go, you got some support there. Adding again that he believed they where just a better bag.
I don't recall anyone talking about the Ride Rites on this forum. I may be wrong, but in need some feed back on this subject.
Truck---2017 tundra,4wh drive TRD and Towing package.
Camper---Four Wheel Camper, Standard Hawk with Refer. heater, stove, sink.

Also, what is best way to install on truck?

There may have been some confusion over brands in your conversation with the man. He may have been referring to Air Lift-brand bags. We see on this Air Lift web page for the 2017 Tundra that Air Lift's "Load Lifter 5000 Ultimate" bags have an internal jounce bumper (bump stop).

 

[adrian]

Thank you for your replies. IF Old Crow is right, then which air bag is better, Air Lift or Firestone?

 

[adrian]

Just found a Dec. 2015 discussion that may answer my questions. If anybody as updated info. would like to know.

 

[MotoDave]

I have the airlift bags on my 2012 Tundra, and would recommend going with Firestone.

Airlift air bags do have an internal bump stop. They also have plastic end caps, which becomes the point of failure when the bag limits droop and you pull the metal thread inserts out of the end plate - ask me how I know.

The airlift bump stops are very harsh, way more than stock.

I would up adding a rear lift (Icon leaf spring pack) and Daystar cradles to eliminate the combination of damaging the bags under droop, and constantly hitting the harsh airlift bump stop.

I wish there was an option that used firestone bags and kept the stock bump stops. May just have to design some one of these days.

 

[idahoron]

These are Firestone bags. I had mine installed by a off road specialty shop. Mine still have the factory bump stops.

 

[verynice]

If it's not too late, you might want to add Hellwig bigwig bags to your list of options. They take 1/2 the air pressure for the same support which equates to better ride and have nearly double the travel. The bigger the bags the better the ride.

 

[trikebubble]

I have the Firestone airbags on my 2014 Tundra, I think their is only one option from Firestone, and they do have the "Ride-Rite" name in their somewhere. I also have the Daystar cradles.
I also replaced my leaf pack with a full Dakar pack, and added an additional Dakar XL leaf into the pack. My leaf packs seem to carry the majority of the load, and the airbags are there to supplement for differing loads. I like the idea that in the event of an airbag failure in the middle of nowhere, i know my leaf packs will get me home

 

[buckland]

I had Firestone Riderites on my toyota eagle.... they are great. I went through three pair of the Air Lifts....in my experience they are not worth the frustration. Get Firestone...well made.

 

[Andy Douglass]

Here is my limited but disappointing experience with both Firestone Ride-Rites and Air Lift Load Lifter 5000 Ultimates:

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/16797-behold-the-air-spring-nightmare-2008-ram-1500-4x4/