i have an 08 f150 4x4 with 31k miles. i plan on adding some air bags in the near future to help level out while hooked up.

i still have the OEM shocks on and i know they are not the best out there. i was thinking of a set of bilsteins.

should i replace the shocks first in the rear or just go ahead and add the air bags?

also, if this matters, i plan on just doing the rear right now. mainly due to cost of the front set!!

 

shocks do not control the ride height they just dampen shock... i would do airbags, on mine i have the add a leaf, block and the racerunner shocks and it still squats... or there is always the option to change to a more heavy duty leaf spring such as deaver, atlas, or national

 

Do the shocks first, cheaper,easier to install, and you use your shocks all the time and at this point they are probably shot.

 

Add some Monroe Sensatracs they will level off 1500 lbs.

I just added them to my truck with Hellwig helpers, and now no squatting.
I pull a 6 by 12 lawn trailer with about 2-2500 lbs daily.

This may help. What are you pulling?

 

i tow a 7100# camper about 3k miles a year!!!

i dont need the helpers as when i use my WDH it gets my front back to original height, but the rear sags about an inch. i know shocks wont help the sag, but it will tame the last lil bit of bounce i have. i know the OEM are crap and wanted something better. are the monroes as good as the bilsteins??

 

I would get the airbags. I got mine over 2 yrs ago and would not be without them!! They are one of, if not, the best thing that I have put on the truck. They made a world of difference while towing our Bobcats and tractor.

 

I have never had Bilsteins, but these required me and my dad pushing them against the ground and then we had to tie them to install. I have a STX so it has a weak suspension. I could push the old shocks in all the way with no effort, and I know that they werent blown because my dad works at the Dealership and I went to parts dept, and they were the same.
If you have a stiffer suspension, then the shocks might not be the way to go, but if you need shocks anyway these have been great for me. I am also getting bags, just waiting until we get some new equipment and I actually need them, cuz now 2500 lbs is nothing.
Get the bags and take pics of the install.

 

yea guess i will looking into the air bags. think i will go with the Air Lift set. they are about $70 cheaper and i heard they are mostly the same. just mount differently. i will let you know how it goes!!!

 

i would do the air bags. lil expensive but well worth it. we pull a hagie 2100 sprayer with my dads 350 and it squats it only a lil bit with 80# in the bags. and it levels my truck with a full palet of seed in the bed

 

How much is this going to make the bags?
Are you going to have a compressor or just lines?

I looked at the Air lift for my truck and it only shows 2000 lb of leveling.
The firestone ride rites had 5000 lb of leveling. I was looking at these a while ago and found them for 225 w/ free shipping. This is the way I am going to go because 2000 isnt much better than what I have and I could do way more with the 5000.

 

i thought the 5000lb was for 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks....

i found the air lifts for $177 with free shipping....and im just doing the bags. i will also get a 12v pump to keep in the truck to air the bags and to air TT tires if needed

edit---i just looked the firestone ride rites up again and they do 3200-5000lbs. where did you see them for $225??

 

I would do the Firestone bags if I were you. Firestone makes the bags for class 8 trucks (semis, tandem axle dump trucks, ect) so they have been making bags for a long time. Also the bags for the F150 are rated at 5000 lbs. I have had over 3500 lbs in my truck and they bags handled it fine with only 80ish psi in them. I want to put a in cab gauge set up in my truck, but until I do that I have just been using a small compact air compressor that fits under the rear seat.

Edit--Another thing that you can do is check the classifieds on here. Every once in a while someone will list a pair of bags for sale, I bought mine off a member for $180 shipped to my door and they were only 6 months old.

 

cool deal!!! thanks!!

 

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