I am thinking about getting the Firestone Bag set up from a friend. HAve any of you done this to your truck? What do you like and dislike about it? Are there any advantages to doing this? ANy info will be nice.

Done it and I like like like it. As far as I can tell there is no diadvantage to it. Adds leveling abilities for additonal weight, and reduces sway with the addtional weight. Not to mention other advantages.

I have the Firestone Ride Rite. I had Firestone on my previous truck as well. I have had a few problems with them due to the mounting location. Due to my B&W turnover Ball hitch, the installer put them behind the axle. I lost air pressure due to a leaky valve core and the bag moved rearward on the springs. In the following thread, some of the guys have Air Lift bags. I really like how they look. I think the "double doughnut" design will hold up better. but just my opinion.

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21763&page=1&pp=10&highlight=air+bags

So how much lift can I get out of a bag setup?

I have the Firestones, but my buddy has the Airlift ones and I think they look better, the way the mount is a little bit different.
Jason

olskool: I don't know how much lift you can get. I use mine to compensate for a heavy load when towing. I just bring it back up to level. But when I take the load off, it is probably only about an inch higher in the back until I release some air.

I just bagged a beer----------!!!.......????

If you are looking at lifting your truck with a air than you will need to look into a more modified air system than what we have discribed. We only have the air bags in the back for additional weight when towing or hauling. I would not rely on the set up I have for a permanant lift, but there are those systems that are built for a suspension lift/lower and are a great set up for a various rise/lower conversion.
To answer your question on how much lift does it give I would say at the most with the stock leaf springs still in place you should get about 3-4 inches to be safe.

I installed Air Lift bags in my `04, I like the way they mount better (in place of stock bump stops) They call for minium pressure of 5psi which will very slightly affect the ride of the rear suspension. When I do pulls I pump them up to 80psi or so which jacks up the rear of the truck about 3". In this configuration it rides like a hayrack but hooking to a 60,000# sled with 1000# hanging of the front, the rear only squats about 1-2". It will almost lift a front tire under the most extreme hopping situations, but the rear stays at about stock unloaded height.

I also pull a 30' gooseneck trailer and i gross about 30,000#. The truck rides much nicer and doesn't look like it has a load on it going down the highway. I can't prove it, but I know the D.O.T. guys have let me slide a few times cause it doesn't look like my truck has a load on, and with my mods I have no problem keeping up my speed.

Well worth the $250 IMHO. Would buy them again in a heartbeat.

Just my .02

I have the Air Lifts also.

This site is pretty cool - but the airlift for the Chevy with the IFS doesn't look that comforting:

http://www.keldermanmfg.com/productdetails.php?id=01GMLIFTCUSTOM

I am just starting to look at an air lift for towing, but i am curious if it would still be posible with a lift kit?, i have a 6" RCD and with a my fully loaded trailer it will sag the back end not too much but definetly more than i like.

Here are the pic: Sorry for the mud:grd:

wickii,

Do the tires drag on the bags? :eek:

No, that area on the bag that looks rubbed was caused when I had a leak in the air line and the bag folded under wrong. Thats why I would have liked the ones that look like 2 doughnuts better. I think Air lifts are like that. IMO that would happen with them.

I just installed a ridr rite system on my 04 and what a difference it makes!!!!!! Did not even need to drill one hole at all. It is a piece of cake and works great!!!
DAN

Air Ride Technologies (sp?) now makes a HD bag kit for the 3500's...It uses semi style bags and you can now lay out and still haul 20k lbs or so...It has frame strenghtheners and so on..Yes i know my spelling sucks...But Check it out for those of you looking for the dropped look..

http://www.ridetech.com/productinfo/airbarhd.asp

AirLift Super duty system for me. It was the second aftermarket item I put on my truck. Great setup.

No, that area on the bag that looks rubbed was caused when I had a leak in the air line and the bag folded under wrong. Thats why I would have liked the ones that look like 2 doughnuts better. I think Air lifts are like that. IMO that would happen with them.
The double convoluted bags will not give you as much travel....