Well I finally got around to installing my ride rites. Towing my 18' boat or my 20' equipment hauler was sagging my truck pretty badly and raising my front end past what I felt comfortable it being at. Since my truck is lifted beyond stock I had to fab a couple bracket extensions, but it wasn't that bad. I'll give credit to Stovetop for sending me a few pictures an giving me some advice as to what I was going to have to conquer. The entire process wasn't bad at all, and anyone with a little bit of knowledge and some basic tools can install these. Sorry for the dirty truck. Dirt roads and a previously leaking pinion seal don't mix! Here's some pics showing what I did.

Other than buying four longer carriage bolts this is th only bracket I had to make. As you can tell from the picture it's a pretty simple bracket that doesn't take too long to make. Pictured on the right is the bracket if you have the stock 4x4 block.



Here's a picture showing the bracket installed. It goes from the lower bag support and rests on the axle tube. You can also see in this picture the two longer carriage bolts that are needed to secure the bracket against the tube so it doesn't move around. The other side of the lower bracket rests against the top of the bump stop on the inside of the block. If you have no block the lower bracket just rests on the axle tube without this extended bracket. On the outer side of the lower bracket there is a u bolt that wraps around the block and holds the lower bracket against the block.







Here's one showing the complete assembly. Notice how I ran my lines into the frame and covered the parts where it makes contact with metal with the supplied conduit. To route it through the frame I had to wiggle the line for a few minutes to get it around the various support tubes running through the middle of the boxed frame.



Here's a picture of the drivers side entering the frame.



Picture of the passenger side exiting the rear of the frame.



Drivers side exiting the frame.



Both lines exiting the frame and exiting into the bottom two license plate holes. I had to drill a 5/16 hole to mount the air inlets.





The upper bracket just replaces the rubber bump stop. I had to slide it down the frame with a hammer to get it to the right place for the bolt to line up. It was pretty self explanatory.

I hope these pictures will help anyone else out who's planning this mod! It's great and now I can load my trailer down and not have a bit of sag and much more control.





Good luck guys!

-Brent

 

This is great man! thanks for the info and photos!

 

Looks great, I like how you ran the airlines through the frame I wish I woulda done that when I installed mine.

 

I just hated how there wasn't really any documented pictures and info out on these on our trucks. I seen a need for this

 

Nicely done and agreed on that extended bracket. Once you see it installed, you see how simple a set up this really is. I also like how you routed the air lines into the frame. I have my excess line coiled and zipped until I figured how much I needed to cut and seeing your lines just reminded me of that...great job. Not sure how critical this is but I suggest grade 8 bolts where the bracket attaches to the bag perch since it is a clear shear point (in my opinion), but I guess if it was an issue they would've included G8 fasteners...

Good job and thanks for posting you pics!

 

Nice job....

 

Those grade 5 bolts are never going to make the cut. Grade 8 or better..........

 

It was what was in the kit. I have some G8 bolts in the shop ill swap out. I figured they wouldn't include them if they weren't going to work, but with me having the extended bracket which probably puts more stress on them anyways it does sound like a good idea.

 

same exact way mine was run before I took it off

 

An 18' boat was making your truck sag? WTF do you have in the bow of the boat that causes so much tongue weight?!!

Nice install, BTW, but if an 18' boat causes excess sag, you have your trailer set up improperly.

 

It's because my truck is dead level, if not a tick higher in the front. Any weight on the rear causes it to sag, and IMO looks bad. The equipment hauler loaded with 10,000 lbs was my main concern. Thanks for your concern though.

 

So now you're hauling 10K lbs with an F-150? I really hope you're kidding.

 

Bud, just go somewhere else. Please.

 

It's a public forum, so I may comment where I please. I am only commenting so that others who see your mod will not think that it is sufficient in order to tow 10K pounds simply by adding air bags on a 1/2 ton truck. No offense intended, and I mentioned the install looks great, but if you are towing that amount of weight, it really is unsafe. I'll leave it be.

 

I can tell my boundaries as far as towing goes. I have 4.56 gears and the trailer is a tandem axle with trailer brakes rated for 12k. I have not weighed the load and it may be closer 7-9k. I feel that I have good control with my setup and when used reasonably shouldn't have any issues. If I was towing on a daily basis, sure I would get a 3/4 ton or a one ton. But for the occasional tow it works just fine and I see no reason to upgrade trucks. Thanks for the compliments and have a great day.