How high can you stack a pile of chit?

Well i almost finished before it started pouring rain.

Some 1" sch40 sprinkler pipe out of a dumpster and some angle iron. I built some steps with the tie down at the end of it. I want to add some gussets but it might have to wait until after next weekend's camping trip.

 

Got the Firestone airbags installed tonight

 

Installed an Amazon special sway bar and sheeted the sleeping area.

 

Camper is currently loaded in the truck for a weekend trip about 3.5hrs away.

 

Diggin’ this progress.

https://youtube.com/shorts/74uda6Bl60U?si=b5V43-KBAhwmtsQW

 

On the road. Lost my outside cover for the fridge already lol. I forgot to check that.

 

ROWDY

 

What color are your knuckles?

 

Holy McFuck.

 

Looks like truck is buckling under the weight

 

Drove a lot better than when i brought it home.

I think the driver's side bag might be leaking. It's sagging on that side. I tried to pump it up but my milwaukee pump with a thread on air chuck lets out all the air i try to put in so i need to find a solution for that. Possibly a 1 gallon air tank?

Went tubing down Rainbow River today. Had a good time. Heading back tomorrow.

 

This thread is awesome.

 

Awesome job ... one reason I plumbed my airbags together to prevent asymmetrical loading if one fails. But that's towing a travel trailer.

 

Clean Setup

 

i dont want you to take this the wrong way, i say this with full respect.

but i’ve never been so jealous of hammered dogshit.

 

This is my first experience with airbags. I need to figure out if it is actually leaking or maybe it's just heavier on that side.

I'd prefer to have a heavy duty leaf pack instead of bags, but it's too late to make changes now. Leaving town in a week and a half.

Function over form my man. People worry too much about the way things look.

 

Made it home. Stopped at the Don Garlits drag racing museum on the way home which was pretty neat. It's right off I75 in Ocala if anybody is interested in that kinda stuff. Went looking for the refridgerator vent cover that i lost leaving town on friday but was unsuccessful...


It made it 400 miles so i guess it's ready for a 7500 mile trip lmao.

 

I use these quick clip on air chucks on my m18 inflators. Mine are the older style but they work perfectly. I had the exact same issue airing up my bags and would always have to overinflated them and hope they kept enough air when removing the screw chuck.

I also plumbed my bags independently. With the fuel tank, driver, brakes, and battery on one side, I always run a few more pounds in the left bag to level out the lean. Also, if plumbed together, air transfers from one bag to the other on corners, essentially deleting spring rate from the bag with more weight. This can cause excessive lean, whereas bags plumbed independently combat lean and increase spring rate on the loaded corner as the suspension compresses - EXACTLY what you want to happen when hauling heavy.



https://a.co/d/8WzFOc4


If you have a leak, more often than not, it’s a rough/not straight cut hose at one of the press to connect fittings. I’m sure you know hot to find a leak with soapy water. You can get a cheap airline hose cutter for a few bucks, or use a slow, purposely sawing motion with a new razor blade. I used the latter method on my Ride Rites 8+ years ago and have never had a leak. I’ve even unhooked them from the fittings a few times and still no leaks.

IMO, the Firestone kit is the best airbag kit for our vehicles.

 

Thanks for the info. A quick release air chuck is what I need. I will check for leaks tomorrow.

 

I saw this about a year ago and I so tried to make it work on the FGT, but it would not

 

Modified my milwaukee inflator to be quick disconnect so i can properly inflate my airbags.



Also built a new refridgerator vent cover.

 

One of the reasons I wanted to replace the wheel bearings was that the carrier pin broke and had been rattling around in the diff for a while. I replaced the diff a few months ago. That, the mileage, and the payload for this trip I figured they could be a problem.

Metal shavings from the diff grinding.



New SKF bearings going on. What a pain in the ass. Unnecessarily complicated IMO.



Hope i can reuse the retainers because i didnt do enough research to buy new ones. I did buy new axle seals though.



New brakes, replaced the calipers since the passenger side was sticking a couple years ago and I just greased it at the time. New hoses.



I also put a newer spare under the truck. It had what I assume is the original dated 0307. Did tundras have Michelins? I thought they were all getting Bridgestones from the factory during that time at least.