Airbags

[BusterLily]

For those of you who have self-installed air bags to assist in towing, what brand do you recommend? Also, where did you mount the air nozzle? Please post pics if you can! I had the nozzle in the bottom two license plate holes of my 2006 Ram (which I just sold to get my 2019), but the 2019 appears to have more "stuff" behind the plate. Thanks!

 

[Brutal_HO]

Recent threads on this.

I've been a happy Air-Lift Air Springs user for 15 years. 14 years on a used 5000 set I bought off Craigslist. Last year a new set of Air-Lift 5000 Ultimate Stainless. Then sold the truck.

What are you towing? Air Springs WILL NOT do you any favors with a bumper pull and lift weight off the steer axle. If you're doing it to level your load or firm up the ride and handling load in addition to a proper WD hitch setup or fifth wheel haul, they're great.

I mounted mine above the tire in an existing unused wheel liner hole. Realizing that may not be an option on newer trucks, I would opt for using license plate holes or nearby.

 

[User_1648]

I installed the AirLift system recently (including compressor). I mounted the air nozzle to the rear by the license plate, but I do not use it as the remote-controlled compressor inflates and deflates the bags as I need them.

 

[BusterLily]

This is for 5th wheel towing. I've been towing 5ers for 30 years. I am just looking for the best air bags out there and the best location to mount the air nozzles.

 

[BusterLily]

Recent threads on this.

I've been a happy Air-Lift Air Springs user for 15 years. 14 years on a used 5000 set I bought off Craigslist. Last year a new set of Air-Lift 5000 Ultimate Stainless. Then sold the truck.

What are you towing? Air Springs WILL NOT do you any favors with a bumper pull and lift weight off the steer axle. If you're doing it to level your load or firm up the ride and handling load in addition to a proper WD hitch setup or fifth wheel haul, they're great.

I mounted mine above the tire in an existing unused wheel liner hole. Realizing that may not be an option on newer trucks, I would opt for using license plate holes or nearby.

I searched the forum and cannot find a recent thread on this. I am just looking for best location for air nozzles...I think I am going with Firestone or Air Lift.

 

[orlando bull]

I recently installed airlift 5000 bags. I did the on-board air and honestly didn't install the Schroeder valve yet. I just ran out of time off from my dad duties and wanted to wrap up so momma didn't get angry for having to watch the twins alone. I think there is a video from etrailer out there though showing it going into the license plate area on a 2019 3500. They had the routing and everything.

Install was easy, the only issue I had was running out of space to tighten the bolts on the bottom of the bags after everything else is installed. Took some work to get a wrench to it, then, very short turns. Removing the shock would have made it a bit easier there.

 

[BGaero]

I just installed the Airlift 5000 Ultimate (stainless braided lines) last weekend. ‘19 2500 shortbed. I opted not to use the license plate bolt option because the I way routed the lines it wouldn’t reach. From the bag into the frame, out the back of the frame and to the plastic piece bottom of the bumper. Pics attached. It’s not my final but will do for now. I can get a couple of plastic plugs that will fill those holes no big deal. I need to get a longer stainless line to go from the right side to the left rear of the bed next to my 7 way plug (pic). There I will put a T in the line and mount a gauge and two valves. I’m not a everyday hauler so I don’t really need the compressor but when I do haul it’s max weight for the truck.

 

[time2kyl]

Firestone air bags

How has this been working for you? I'm considering the same setup for my '19 2500 Cummins. 2200 isn't enough for payload! You realize that airbags won't change your payload any, right? They just make it look like you're not overloaded!

hdrams.com

 

[BGaero]

They work like they’re supposed to. You realize not everyone here is a rookie?

 

[Hecmn]

Looking at installing the Airlift 500 Ultimate air bags like BGaero only with the wireless compressor on a 2019 2500 shortbed with Cummins 6.7. Wondering about compressor mounting locations? Thanks

 

[Kimo7]

I just installed the Airlift 5000 Ultimate (stainless braided lines) last weekend. ‘19 2500 shortbed. I opted not to use the license plate bolt option because the I way routed the lines it wouldn’t reach. From the bag into the frame, out the back of the frame and to the plastic piece bottom of the bumper. Pics attached. It’s not my final but will do for now. I can get a couple of plastic plugs that will fill those holes no big deal. I need to get a longer stainless line to go from the right side to the left rear of the bed next to my 7 way plug (pic). There I will put a T in the line and mount a gauge and two valves. I’m not a everyday hauler so I don’t really need the compressor but when I do haul it’s max weight for the truck.

I’m still working on my Air Lift system too. Hopefully will complete this weekend. I was going to have a local specialty truck shop install but was unexpectedly quarantined for about a week so I thought I’d do it myself and save a lot of money. I also went with the Ultimate plus and like you also found the lines to be too short. I did the license plate bolt option. I decided to also add the EZ mount air compressor option (7400ez) which complicates things a little. The braided lines require an AN adapter fitting to work with the T connectors that come with the compressor. It provides the ability to manually fill the bags in the event the compressor fails. Unfortunately I came up 2 fittings short and I also need a little more airline. Fortunately the truck shop guys turned me onto a local shop called Tipco that specializes in this kind of thing. I’ll proudly post some pics once...if...I ever get it done!!

 

[Hecmn]

I’m still working on my Air Lift system too. Hopefully will complete this weekend. I was going to have a local specialty truck shop install but was unexpectedly quarantined for about a week so I thought I’d do it myself and save a lot of money. I also went with the Ultimate plus and like you also found the lines to be too short. I did the license plate bolt option. I decided to also add the EZ mount air compressor option (7400ez) which complicates things a little. The braided lines require an AN adapter fitting to work with the T connectors that come with the compressor. It provides the ability to manually fill the bags in the event the compressor fails. Unfortunately I came up 2 fittings short and I also need a little more airline. Fortunately the truck shop guys turned me onto a local shop called Tipco that specializes in this kind of thing. I’ll proudly post some pics once...if...I ever get it done!!

Where did you end up installing the 7400EZ? I have the 5000 Ultimate plus bags installed, but I'm not seeing a great location for the 7400EZ. Thanks,

 

[elephantrider]

I run the airlift 5000 bags with manual fill. they're awesome and simple.

 

[Kimo7]

Where did you end up installing the 7400EZ? I have the 5000 Ultimate plus bags installed, but I'm not seeing a great location for the 7400EZ. Thanks,

There was really only one place I found to put it. Drivers side of the chassis, what would be just behind the drivers seat. There was plenty of room there but that was it.

 

[Hecmn]

There was really only one place I found to put it. Drivers side of the chassis, what would be just behind the drivers seat. There was plenty of room there but that was it.

If you are talking about right behind the cab mounting bracket that does look it would have been a good spot, but I have the rear seat in floor storage tubs that blocks that spot. I was considering just in front of that same cab bracket, but there is a wire bundle running along the top of the frame rail. Will have to look closer today to see if I can move it up to get the u-bolt under the harness and over the frame rail. I am still hoping to use the u-bolt and not drill into the frame - road salt is brutal here in Minnesota.

 

[Kimo7]

If you are talking about right behind the cab mounting bracket that does look it would have been a good spot, but I have the rear seat in floor storage tubs that blocks that spot. I was considering just in front of that same cab bracket, but there is a wire bundle running along the top of the frame rail. Will have to look closer today to see if I can move it up to get the u-bolt under the harness and over the frame rail. I am still hoping to use the u-bolt and not drill into the frame - road salt is brutal here in Minnesota.

I’ll slide underneath and take a picture tomorrow, it’s supposed to continue raining pretty hard here all day.

 

[Hecmn]

I’ll slide underneath and take a picture tomorrow, it’s supposed to continue raining pretty hard here all day.

Thanks - I would appreciate that.

 

[Kimo7]

Thanks - I would appreciate that.

Here you go Hecmn, I hope this helps. Its tough to get pics that close up to be able to show where everything sits in relation to everything else. I have the hemi so I’m not sure how much different it will be underneath if you have the diesel. Essentially there was only one spot for the compressor unit underneath the entire truck and thats almost directly under the drivers seat. I don’t notice any vibration when it’s running. Good luck and again I hope this helps.

In the below pic it’s looking forward toward the front end so you have some idea where it sits in relation to the chassis


Looking across the chassis toward tranny and cat converter



A broader view of the same shot. You can see where it sits in relation to the lower suspension arm. That’s the wiring harness for the compressor running above the frame.


Looking straight up

 

[MB390]

I have my airlift 5000 in the box, maybe next weekend I will install it. Any suggestions where to tap into the Ignition powered source?

 

[Kimo7]

I have my airlift 5000 in the box, maybe next weekend I will install it. Any suggestions where to tap into the Ignition powered source?

This is a great video on how to. I followed it and ran the included wiring harness right to the battery.