Firestone ride-rite airbag report

Already logged 31,648 miles on the Firestone ride-rite air suspension. I'm using Tuff Country 3 inch lift rear shocks with stock leaf springs. Absolutely no complaints with this set up. No more sag!

 

Cool man.

thanks for doing a review after 31k and not 31 minutes after install like most people do. What is the switch next to the pressure gauge? Are you able to increase/decrease air pressure from in the cab? Do you have left and right bags tied together on the same air hose or did you keep them separate? Have you seen any issues with off-roading without the separation cups for the bags?

 

The switch is to adjust air pressure up and down.
I opted to install the pressure switch/gauge in the bed of the truck. Once I set the ride height it stays there, no air pressure lost while driving.
I kept the air bags on one air hose so both inflate and air pressure equalizes. I’m only doing easy trails right now so no issues with cup separation to report.

 

How do you like the T@G? I have been eyeing them up for a while. I was thinking one of them with some frame reinforcements and timbren axleless suspension would be a good set up. The Hiker trailers and the like are way too expensive.

 

nice. Notice any air shift during turns since the bags are tied together?

 

I really like the T@G. It’s sweet to have ac when camping in the middle of summer in Death Valley and I also run the Buddy heater when camping in the snow.
I added a high mount third brake light and two more running light in the rear, I just needed more visibility for other drivers especially when driving in snow. The brake lights are so low they get caked with snow and become useless. I also added fender clearance lights.
The first mod was the 3 axis articulating hitch.

 

Love mine also, got 127k hard miles and haven't had a single issue.

 

When I was running the stock shocks the ride was a bit bouncy. Then I switch to a 3” lift shocks. No more bounce. I never noticed any “air shift”.

 

Got my air rides in the garage waiting to be installed. They look beefy looking forward to putting mine in. Hopefully the country allows us to do some camping this summer. Good to know they will hold up well. Thanks

 

Good to know about the lights. Do you have the 5' or 6' wide model? Do you have trailer brakes wired up? How does your taco handle it (relative to that, what is your tire size and R&P ratio?) Thanks, I have not found many Taco owners with this trailer.

 

Hey bud, 2 quick questions: 1 did you use the daystar brackets for the rear? 2.) yiu said the ride was bouncy at stock height? Could you remove air to help with that?

sorry, I’m still learning

 

I have had the bags for about 5k miles or so (not my daily ride). My suspension is otherwise stock and I can confirm the ride is pretty bouncy. You can only let so much air out. Because the bags replace your bumpstops, you have to keep enough air in them to keep from bottoming out, and the stock springs are very, very soft. Bottoming out on the air bags feels terrible. I contacted Firestone about this and they stated the bags are designed to act as a bumpstops when the rubber compresses on itself, but it is an extremely hard bumpstop. I wound up putting a GoPro under my truck and watching the rear end going over SE PA potholes. I have to keep 15psi at a minimum in the bags, with no extra weight, to keep from bottoming out. This makes it ride like an empty F350, but with less rebound control. I found the cradles to cause the rebound to be even more severe, maybe because the body of the bags was not slowing the axle on the rebound stroke. Everyone with aftermarket leaf springs+air bags swears by them. The stock leaves seem to be the problem.

 

Trailer is the 5' wide, I tapped into the brake light wires and ran the third brake light wires under a black trim piece. Not sure about the ring & pinion ratio, whatever came stock on the 4X4 TRD V6. The truck has no problems towing the trailer fully loaded with camping gear. I'm using the stock tires size.

 

The OEM shocks are too short. The OEM shocks are at full extended travel when i air up the air bags to make it sit level to the front.
I'm only using the parts in the kit that Firestone provided to mount the airbags.

 

I am thinking about getting the airbags myself here soon. I have the Dakar EL096R HD rear leaf packs but I want the added assistance with heavy days off roading and camping with all our crap. Which brings me to my next thing, I know that Daystar has an add to the airbags which allow for complete articulation which just go underneath the airbags and separate the airbags from the truck. For those of us that want the articulation with the added help I have heard this is a great option.
How hard has the install process been? I have all the right tools and descent skill.

 

As long as you don't cross thread any bolts or short circuit any wiring for the compressor during the install you'll be fine then.

 

I just bought the Firestone bags. I have a stock TRD DCLB Sport 4x4. Do you suggest I upgrade my rear shocks to accommodate for the lift the air bags provide? Or upgrade my leaf pack? I’m worried that the ride is going to be harsh when loaded up.

I’m asking because I’d like to upgrade the shocks/leaf springs and install the Airbags at the same time if neeeded.

 

I went three inches higher to level the truck so i felt the oem shocks were not made to operate smoothly at the new ride height. The trucks' rear end would jounce too much with the stock shocks, I replaced them with aftermarket "3 inch raise" rear shocks.

 

Question. I’m adding the Firestone air bags to my 2016 Tacoma. Opened the box and my lower brackets are different than those in the pict. Mine are flat and bolt on to leaf. Yours appear to be bent down to contact the axle for more support. Did etrailer send me the wrong ones kit? See pict.