Question for air bag owners

[Bosque Bill]

The Firestone Ride-Ride installation instructions conclude with this warning:

Once the air helper springs are installed, it is recommended that the vehicle not be lifted by the frame, as over-extension may occur, resulting in damage to the air helper springs. However, should it become necessary to raise the vehicle by the frame, deflate both air helper springs completely.


Do those of you who have been using Ride-Rides follow this directive? And if so, how do you lift your truck to change a flat tire?

(p.s., It is not necessary for those of you who have installed extra springs or Timbrens to chip in on how much better your suspension is as it doesn't have this issue. That may be true, but for some of us air bags are a reasonable way to balance a load side-to-side, or when we don't have the camper on all the time.)

Thanks,
Bill

 

[MarkBC]

....how do you lift your truck to change a flat tire?

I put the jack under the axle. That's the usual way to lift the truck to change a tire, isn't it?

 

[dsrtrat]

I just deflate the bags when it goes on a lift, seems to work ok, no problems for over 5 years with the bags.
Dsrtrats

 

[Gormley Green]

I put the jack under the axle.


Same.

 

[Bosque Bill]

As a fellow who prides himself for always reading the manual, I sure missed the obvious this time. Sure enough the manual says to put the jack under the rear axle. D'oh!

Thanks MarkBC and Gormley Green for setting me straight before I got a flat - hopefully I would have figured out the jack placement in time, but I've probably done dumber things before... and will again.

And thanks, dsrtrat, for the information that you've had no problems on a lift by deflating the bags. That makes me feel better.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Always lift by the axle on any vehicle.But knowing about deflating the bags if the truck goes on a lift is good to know.
Guess I skipped that part of the instructions.
Must be the Italian in me.
Frank

 

[sourdough]

Install the Daystar bag cradles. No more worries mate.
http://daystarweb.com/productdetail.php?productID=1232

 

[Jamesiam]

Luckily for me I have never raised my truck. I have Michelin E rated All Terrains from Tires plus in Reno and they have done all my raising since I purchased my airbags, all work that I have done I was able to slide underneath. After purchasing my bags, I called around and a local place, Reno Vulcanizing said they would put my Firestone airbags in for me. They put a small sticker on my bumper that I'm sure was included with the airbags that stated to let anyone who's raising truck to be aware of airbags, and that's what I do.

On a side note you might have had questions about the airbags before so I'll just include my experience with them. I have a 2005 Toyota Tundra with a 2005 Hawk which replaced my late 90's Ranger II camper. With my Ranger II I couldn't even feel it, the the Hawk was a different story. On Windy days I feel the tug and I noticed a good amount of sag in rear. The tug is because of the above cab space but the sag is load. I can't vouch for the safety on the airbags, or if they do any harm to truck but I do enjoy them. A few small squeezes of air and my truck bed instantly rises to a level position, I could even have rear higher If I wanted to. On a side note the kid that installed my airbags informed me that because of the airbags, the Toyota sensors will read a lighter load and apply brakes accordingly. I also remember him telling me that he jacked each rear up to make sure the airbag didn't hit/pinch frame, so maybe that's the reason of caution on raising your truck with airbags installed.

 

[Bosque Bill]

Thanks all for the replies.

soughdough, thanks for the link. I'd looked at those before when someone recommended them. However, they say "fits most full-size pick up trucks" which made me think they wouldn't work on my little Tacoma. I may have to look into that further.

James, I didn't get a sticker for my bumper, but think telling the service guy and/or putting a post-it note on the center of the steering wheel might get noticed more!