[IAm_Not_Lost]

Hey guys,
I am thinking about installing airbags on my 2013 4x4 frontier. I plan to install a truck cap/shell in the next few months and also get a small camping trailer (something <3k lbs). Currently I use OME front shocks and medium coils and OME rear shocks paired with Deaver 2 leaf add-a-leaf packs. This setup works great for better articulation and light offroading but the leaf springs aren't very good for carrying a heavy load as they tend to squat (like most frontiers seem to).

It seems that if used appropriately and within the specs of your vehicle that airbags work very well, and I think I would like to get some to help with the added loads that I plan to use the truck for. The question is; for light offroading (fire roads, hunting trails, normal rutted out roads) are the airbags detrimental to articulation to the point that folks notice it?

Any help or opinions would be appreciated. I have read the reports from Nissan4Life and they seem to like theirs, and I have also read the threads that seem to indicate that Firestone has updated the brackets to make them easier to install.

 

[Nissan4Life]

I wheel with mine all the time. No noticeable lose in articulation. I have been bearing on mine for many years and they have not torn. Love them and would not go with out.

 

[Zedbra]

I have Firestone bags in my truck and have had them for years now. I have a 3" suspension lift and do not have any issues with articulation and the bags - the brake lines are the limit. I find the bags are imperative for heavy loads - like when I am loaded up to go hunting or am carrying weight for the snow. The bags were easy to install before, I thought - so any changes would only make it easier.

 

[shift_RUSH]

I wheel with mine all the time. No noticeable lose in articulation. I have been bearing on mine for many years and they have not torn. Love them and would not go with out.

Do you air down at all when off-roading?

 

[Nissan4Life]

Do you air down at all when off-roading?

Air down the bags? No. I general keep about 20 psi in them so I have a little lift and to keep my leaf springs happy. 10 psi is the min. When I am wheeling hard I am often carrying a bunch of gear. I think last time I had my bags at around 50 psi. I do not want to lose any height.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

I wheel with mine all the time. No noticeable lose in articulation. I have been bearing on mine for many years and they have not torn. Love them and would not go with out.

I have Firestone bags in my truck and have had them for years now. I have a 3" suspension lift and do not have any issues with articulation and the bags - the brake lines are the limit. I find the bags are imperative for heavy loads - like when I am loaded up to go hunting or am carrying weight for the snow. The bags were easy to install before, I thought - so any changes would only make it easier.

Awesome info, really appreciate the fast responses. That was my only main concern as I really like how the truck rides with my current setup. Also, if I may ask, are you guys running separate air lines or using a T? I would rather use a T as it seems like it would be generally simpler and faster. Thanks.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Separate lines: to avoid a bag taking on the air for both if one side is fully articulated up/off the ground.

 

[Nissan4Life]

Awesome info, really appreciate the fast responses. That was my only main concern as I really like how the truck rides with my current setup. Also, if I may ask, are you guys running separate air lines or using a T? I would rather use a T as it seems like it would be generally simpler and faster. Thanks.

Agreed that you should use separate lines. I tried the "T" as I was told it would allow for more articulation. Almost rolled my truck. Came off a off camber step, rear wheel comes off the step, and suddenly starts to lose spring force on the downhill side (air going to uphill non loaded side). Downhill side loses ride height and the uphill wheel comes off the ground. Truck teeters a bit before my spotter jumps on the rear bumper.

 

[murphy]

Before I picked up the Xterra I used my Frontier for wheeling about once a month. I used the firestone bags with my previous TJM leaf packs and left them on with the Alcan's I have currently. I picked up the Daystar 'cups' for the lower mount. They allow the axle to droop independent of the airbags.

Since I already had both lines plumbed into the cab for separate gauges, I set it up with a 1/4" ball valve between the two air circuits. It allows me to run unloaded with the ball valve open for comfort. When it is closed it gives me the load stability. I only need a single feed for the system. Fill one side when it is open and both sides get equal pressure. Provided you are on a level surface. Then close the valve and go.

 

[glamisdude]

Before I picked up the Xterra I used my Frontier for wheeling about once a month. I used the firestone bags with my previous TJM leaf packs and left them on with the Alcan's I have currently. I picked up the Daystar 'cups' for the lower mount. They allow the axle to droop independent of the airbags.

Since I already had both lines plumbed into the cab for separate gauges, I set it up with a 1/4" ball valve between the two air circuits. It allows me to run unloaded with the ball valve open for comfort. When it is closed it gives me the load stability. I only need a single feed for the system. Fill one side when it is open and both sides get equal pressure. Provided you are on a level surface. Then close the valve and go.

This setup is near exactly what I had in mind, glad to hear it worked well.

I had thought it would be cool to do a air solenoid valve that can separate or link the bags together. Separate for high load/towing/highway, linked for added flex. Add OBA and you have an awesome 100% cab controlled load system.
As an added plus I was thinking of using one of the those magnetic level sensors between the axle and frame connected to a relay triggering the compressor to turn on and off for a "Auto Load Leveling" feature.

Add in the Daystar bag cups and you have a system that does not impede travel/flex at all and helps a ton with heavy loads.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Before I picked up the Xterra I used my Frontier for wheeling about once a month. I used the firestone bags with my previous TJM leaf packs and left them on with the Alcan's I have currently. I picked up the Daystar 'cups' for the lower mount. They allow the axle to droop independent of the airbags.

Those Daystar cradles are interesting. Are you able to fill the bags to the upper PSI limit and carry a heavy load with them and still hit some goodly bumps? I am just wondering if when the bags are very inflated they may not line up perfectly with the cradles after major down travel. Thanks!

 

[Zedbra]

I have my lines set-up with a T as I would prefer both bags to let go over just one - and then I can remove my load. I have had no issues while wheeling; granted, I have a crew cab long box and do not rock crawl at all but I am also not easy on my truck going through ditches/mud/over trees. I only air down to 10psi minimum.

 

[murphy]

Those Daystar cradles are interesting. Are you able to fill the bags to the upper PSI limit and carry a heavy load with them and still hit some goodly bumps? I am just wondering if when the bags are very inflated they may not line up perfectly with the cradles after major down travel. Thanks!

I have no issues with the airbag re-seating. I have seen a thread about it once. It may have been a Frontier, but it could have been a Tacoma. The bag came out of the cradle in a way that it folded up next to the wheel, ruined the bag and damaged the tire or scraped the wheel or something similar.

This is why I kept them. Mostly my Frontier looks like this. I keep it at 10psi with the ball valve open unless I'm towing the trailer. Then it's 20psi and the valve closed.

Sometimes my Frontier looks like this. It's somewhere between 40-50psi.

And sometimes I take it here to camp. No issues getting down the access road.

I'll let you decide if they are right for you. They definitely are for me.

I will say, be careful with the automatic leveling setups. My buddy has an F-350 DRW and a much larger but same style camper with an auto setup. His is one that senses psi rather than ride height. Around long corners like hiway ramps the inside bag will sense low psi and the outside bag will sense high psi. It wants to compensate by adding to the inside bag and deflating the outside bag. The exact opposite of what you would want.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

I have no issues with the airbag re-seating. I have seen a thread about it once. It may have been a Frontier, but it could have been a Tacoma. The bag came out of the cradle in a way that it folded up next to the wheel, ruined the bag and damaged the tire or scraped the wheel or something similar.

This is why I kept them. Mostly my Frontier looks like this. I keep it at 10psi with the ball valve open unless I'm towing the trailer. Then it's 20psi and the valve closed.

I'll let you decide if they are right for you. They definitely are for me.

I will say, be careful with the automatic leveling setups. My buddy has an F-350 DRW and a much larger but same style camper with an auto setup. His is one that senses psi rather than ride height. Around long corners like hiway ramps the inside bag will sense low psi and the outside bag will sense high psi. It wants to compensate by adding to the inside bag and deflating the outside bag. The exact opposite of what you would want.

Thanks for the info! I ordered the firestone bags yesterday, but I was trying to decide If I wanted the Daystar product too. I think I will trial the bags without the cradle first and then go from there. Appreciate the help.

 

[NEWARE]

I just installed my airbags a couple weeks ago. It seemed like the new brackets are easier than some of the older reports I’ve read but the driver side was still a pain. The passenger side took 15 minutes. I have a 1 1/2” lift in the rear so I installed to firestone 2” spacer (part#2366) under the air bags. I ran the air lines separate as well.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Well, got my airbags installed, not too painful, the brackets definitely seem to now fit better. Cut the carriage bolts down to about 3" as everyone else did. At 10 psi my truck gets about a 1/2" lift (started at 37.5" in the rear from ground to fender). I used the firestone 1.25" inch spacer that you can find for about $12 bucks online since I have about a 1.5" lift in the rear. For our airbags Firestone specifies that between brackets you should be 4.5-5.5", so if you have a lift then check and see roughly how much you need to add to get to around 5.5". For some reason the spacers that are 2" and up are way more expensive at about $70 bucks, maybe they are designed differently.

I tried following the torque specs that you can find on their website but found that the brackets had too much give to meet the torque specs so I just snugged everything up with decent arm strength and your typical 8" ratchet. Placed the schrader valves by my license plate, ran separate lines to each bag. Seem to hold air just fine, ride at 10psi is firmer but not too firm. A normal bike pump that rests on the floor fills each bag to about 20 psi in around 5 pumps, so I think I will buy a smaller hand pump and just store that in the back instead of getting my compressor out each time. Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Just a quick update: Airbags have been on for about a month now and have been great. No loss of air pressure, gauge reads exactly the same over periods of weeks. I have them set at 10psi and that seems to provide a good ride and also compensate for basic loads. Went on a three day camping trip out to Lake Alamo recently and through so pretty gnarly roads and trails and the truck did well.

 

[OutFrontFrontier]

If anyone else comes looking, I've never had any issues with mine in 3yrs/25Kmi. Would buy again!!

 

[jcentsi]

Just to touch on the auto levelling kits. I used to repo cars and my self-loader had airbags for the big jobs. It was great to be able to pick up denalis and escalades but it was pretty much a hard rule that if I filled past 20 to not take the highways or anywhere where I would have to take turns past 50. This is because of the opposite compensation and there are too many stories of trucks flipping or losing their loads because of this. Just some food for thought.

 

[IAm_Not_Lost]

Just to touch on the auto levelling kits. I used to repo cars and my self-loader had airbags for the big jobs. It was great to be able to pick up denalis and escalades but it was pretty much a hard rule that if I filled past 20 to not take the highways or anywhere where I would have to take turns past 50. This is because of the opposite compensation and there are too many stories of trucks flipping or losing their loads because of this. Just some food for thought.

I could be wrong, but I feel like what you are describing could only occur if the lines were T'd together allowing air to compress from side to side. Mine are not in a "T", but separate lines.