Air bag system vs. weight distributing hitch?

[Skyco]

I have the Firestone air bags and love them.
I also have a weight distributing hitch for my toy hauler, works well.
They both are useful but have nothing to do with each other, different purposes.

You may need both though.

Confused yet?

I use the air bags to bring the truck back to level with all the stuff I tend to carry with me in the truck.
Then the WD is adjusted to bring the truck back to level when the TH hauler, which has a very high tongue weight, is hooked up. You don't want to use the WD hitch to lift more than the trailer tongue weight, ie raise your overloaded truck.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Skyco, not to hijack this thread but I'm looking at the firestones myself. I just got a gn trailer and would like to level the truck. My question is what type of inflation system did you go with? I was planning on the manual system but the remote compressor looks sweet. No need to worry just hit the switch and inflate. I don't haul every day but for the money the remote control seems worth it.

Matt T.

 

[Builder]

I'm wondering the same thing. I have buyer's remorse once in a while and I don't know what Firestone (or other brand) system to go with. I was even looking at the front air shocks (Bilsteins) you can add to the system.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Builder they say great minds think alike I was also eye the front bilstiens with the adjustable air coils. Why don't you buy them and tell me whether or not there worth it LOL!

Matt T.

 

[Skyco]

I guess I cheaped out and just have the two fill fittings mounted in the left rear wheel well. Been that way for 10 years now on my 96 F350 so I guess I can live with it. I did not tee the two lines together so I could seperately adjust the air..used to have a large slide in camper that was much heavier on the left side due to all the appliances so it took more air on the left to level the truck both front to back and left to right

 

[jimmysisson]

I use a half ton as I'm mostly doing estimating and small jobs. Every so often I use it for hauling the dump trailer, and rarely 2,500-3000# of something or other. I've had the Air Lift bags with onboard compressor for five years on my last pickup (99 Silverado). You know you're overloaded when you have to put 100# of air into them, but they make a half ton manageable when it's being abused. If I towed or hauled often, I'd certainly have a bigger truck, but this works well for my.
The AirLift bags last around 5 years, compressor about the same, in my experience. I'll be putting them on my 08 Silverado soon.
Jim

 

[Builder]

Builder they say great minds think alike I was also eye the front bilstiens with the adjustable air coils. Why don't you buy them and tell me whether or not there worth it LOL!

Matt T.

The only thing stopping me is (1) if the ride suffers on the front and (2) what happens if you lost all on board air? Would the shocks still work?