If you are at all handy with tools the kits are a simple install.

The most important activity is the layout, on mine I used the center of the wheel well liner and the center of the spring pack bracket, just make sure you are parked level and unloaded.

There should not be anything behind the four holes to drill, but check first!! Use a heavy Duty 1/2" drill and cutting oil with a sharp bit and little muscle.

Took me about 2 hours.

 

To the OP,


I had the firestones on my first rig. Loaded with a welding machine(1100lbs), tools, gear, tanks, etc. Truck was pushing max load. Yes, I know, should have had a bigger truck.


Anyhow, I could not afford the on board compressor and after about two years the bags were a big hassle. I had issues with leaks where the hose connected to the bags and when trying to remove to fix said leaks had problems removing the hoses. I only had them on the rear. It helped get the truck up in the rear but had to watch how much air I put in because it would cause issues in the front due to weight transfer. I did find a happy medium but had to monitor the bags constantly, even only a few months after install, a hassle. Loading the truck with a trailer and had to air the bags up, when I dropped the load had to lower the pressure to the proper level for being unloaded, tire gauge in the glove box essential.


After this time on a job welding a field caught fire, caught my mud flap on fire due to an incompetent fire watch, then burned my tire, airbag and lines. Cost to replace one airbag was outrageous.


Being fed up with all of the hassle of the airbags I checked on some Timbrens. I bought the front and rear kit for my 2002 for less than the airbags, about $150 over the cost of one single airbag to replace the burnt one. Install on the Timbrens took less than 20 minutes for front and rear. Rated at 5000lbs they brought the front of the truck back up and the truck sat correctly for the first time since I rigged it out. I drove like this towing trailers and equipment for another few years and had no issues or hassles. I was actually thankful for the blind fire watch, helped me get rid of those pains in my backside.

Less cost than the full on airbag/compressor kits, you can do front and rear Timbrens for less than $400 and they don't wear out, leak and any other fun stuff. Well worth looking into if you haven't already pulled the trigger on the airbags.

 

The fleet ambulances I maintain at work have an air ride suspension. Recently I had to go thru the system and fix a bunch of little leaks. I found small leaks at all the quick connect fittings. Repair was to simply cut about 1/2" of the end of the hose and shove it back in. Where the hose was inside the fitting it actually had wear marks. System was about 6 years old. Other than that it works pretty good.

I've also installed probably a dozen other kits. Personally I prefer the drilled and bolted ones. I've seen a few of the "drilless" kits come back with cracked brackets. Trucks were loaded heavy(not overloaded) and drive rough roads non stop.

On my '92 3/4ton CTD I actually removed the factory overload pack when I put the air bag kit on. The truck rode rough when empty as it would rebound off the overloads. With them removed the truck rode great empty. With the 12ft camper on I added 20psi, with the 7000# trailer I bumped it to 30psi. Only time I went higher than that was when I hauled a full pallet of sod that was higher than the cab or the truck. Had it up to 60psi that day to make it sit level. Rode like a Cadillac!

Truck I have now is a 2006 2500 with a custom flat deck. If I run the bags at anything less the 10psi the ride gets rough as the suspension will bottom out.