I just completed the install of this Airlifter 5000 series air bag kit. First, the kit, without a doubt, is a high quality kit with many of it's components designed specifically for specific vehicle application. I installed it under the rear of our new-to-us 2021 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Laramie 4x4 Ecodiesel. I was very pleasantly surprised by the nice and robust powder coating of the metal mounting plates. That means protection for them for a long, long time. The hardware/fastners were/are of decent quality also. And, while the "springs" used for the temporary carriage bolt retention in part of the install are a good idea, I have maybe a better way of doing that. In my opinion, for whatever that's worth, here's a suggestion.
Since there are TWO of those carriage bolts that have to be installed AT ONE TIME, you now have to deal with those two long tailed springs, carriage bolts that continue to fall backwards into the abyss of the frame, all the while trying to maneuver the frame mount plate into position. Then, trying to retain tension on the tails of those springs that retain the carriage bolts, and align the bolt tips to enter the mount plate, and then, if and or when you get the mount plate into position and both bolt tips are protruding through it, you now have to hold ALL of that in place, while you remove at least one spring so that you can now grab a nut (a feat unto itself) and fit it onto the tip of one bolt, all the while trying to hold tension on that bolt so it won't fall backwards into the frame and start threading it.
Then, once it's threads are started, you can no concentrate on the same operation for the second bolt. What a serious pain in the petute!
But instead of the springs and tails to be used to retain the bolts while prepping to install the mount plate, you use whatever their called, a very, very thin retainer clip or washer or "push clip" (I really don't know the name of them) that are used to retain the drums onto hubs on an axle, ALL THOSE PROBLEMS would be over.
You'd simply use the springs as before to load and pull the bolts through their respective holes as before. Now, with the one bolt in place, reach through the center hole in the frame that's between the two bolt holes and using a finger, push on the head of that installed bolt. Your finger will now hold the bolt in place. Now, with that bolt held in place, you can remove the spring. Then, PUSH the very thing spring clip right over the threads of the bolt and it will "ratchet" down the threads until it bottoms out against the frame. You have now LOCKED that bolt in place and you can let got of it with your finger and that bolt isn't going anywhere!!!!!!!!
Now, do the same for the second bolt. Now, both bolts are held firm in place WITHOUT the long and cumbersome tails of the springs. You can now grab the mount plate and push it up into place and over both exposed sets of threads at the same time WITHOUT FEAR of pushing the bolts back into the frame. You can now hold that mount plate in place while you grab one nut at a time and thread it all the way on. Then do the same for the other nut.
To me, this would be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay easier than the method you (and I, and any installer, be it a shop or a home install) are presently using. If I had a link to what kind of clip I'm talking about, I'd link it.
But, those clips are seriously thin yet are quite capable of retaining those bolts and will not hinder the mate-up of the mount plate to the frame sides. Sure seems worth a looking into to me. Just a suggestion.
Scott 3298998
Brooke M.
5/30/2025
Would love to know your thoughts on them once you're able to try them out with the travel trailer, too! Thanks for sharing the different things you've used them with. Sounds like they are just the ticket for your scenario :)