Air Bags for leveling with a load?

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy All...

I couldn't stand the jacked up look of my stock 2011 Chev Silverado so I threw in a small leveling kit in the front. Looks GREAT unloaded or when not towing. BUT... Throw the boat on the back and now the back drops lower than the front. No big surprise there. Enter the air bags.

I want something I can use when I need it and forget about it when I don't. Add-a-leaf or helper springs are not in the cards. A little stiffer ride is fine, but I didn't spend that much money on a buckboard wagon. Again, the answer seems to be air bags.

Which bags do you recommend for longevity, performance and ease of install and maintenance?

Thanks...

[Macgyver55]

A while back I installed an air bag suspension helper system on my buddy's truck. It kind of gives you the best of both worlds. The same nice ride when you dont need it, and he got it with an onboard compressor to air it up to whatever stiffness required even on the fly. These are very sturdy bags and will easily hold as much weight as the truck is designed to handle. Pretty slick system and far superior to the old air shock systems for cars. Cant remember if it was a Firestone Ride-rite or Sport Rite.

[Valv]

I second McGyver suggestion, Firestones are probably the best.

One issue you will have is to remember NOT to get carried away with the load, these bags can disguise an overweight problem, which could be dangerous.

[Dozer]

I have firestones on my 1/2ton silverado and really like them. I had Air Lift ones before and they are not near as nice as the firestones. Only problem with the ones designed for a 1/2 ton is they are on the outside of the frame so they are very close to the tires. I rubbed through one of the Air Lift ones with my 285 tires. The Firestone ones are even closer so I bought offset rims so they wouldnt rub.

I have a buddy who has Firestones for a 3/4 ton on his 1/2 ton. That is alot better setup since they are on the inside of the frame, but I have dual exhaust so there is a big ole pipe in the way so I couldnt use that setup.

Other thing to consider is if you have bags on the outside of the frame you wont be able to run chains on the back of your truck, which really sucks since I cant run them on the front either with 285 tires and offset rims!

Next time I will have 3/4 ton bags on the truck and have the exhaust made to work around it.

[K_Josh87]

I ran a set of the firestones in my 00 half ton ford I had a few years back... They are still running strong (my nephew bought the truck) Nice ride, and leveled loads out nicely... and yes, I put much more in it or behind it than what should have ever been there... they installed very easily... about a half hour for the drivers side where the fuel lines where run, and about 10 mins on the passenger side... and that was mostly taking the tire off and putting it on... I ran my air lines to the rear bumper, and put the facing down, and drilled through the steel in the bumper ( not the chrome.) I Have also heard of some guys somehow putting them through the holes for the license plate screws... Good luck!