Should An Air Bag Leveling System Be Inflated Before Or After A Trailer Is Hooked Up?

Updated 07/31/2024 | Published 12/07/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Firestone Airide Red Label Extreme Duty Air Helper Springs - Rear Axle

(981)

$762.31

Firestone Air Command Heavy Duty Air Compressor with Tank - Analog - Dual Path

(391)

$981.63

Question:

When do I inflate level this system, after connecting fifth wheel or prior?

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

When using the Firestone Ride-Rite Red Label Extreme Duty Air Helper Springs # F95FV on your 2021 Ford F-350, you will want to inflate them once your fully loaded camper/trailer is coupled with the hitch. This way you can it to the exact right pressure for level towing. Filling the bags beforehand may get them to where they need to be, but odds are you will need to inflate them a little more or even deflate them if you have too much air. This is why it is always best to do it after the load is applied to the system.

Just as a side note, if you are using an external air compressor, you may want to look at adding an onboard compressor unit to your truck. Something like the Firestone Air Command II # F2168 has the ability to control the pressure in each bag separately and includes a tank so you can actually use it to air up other accessories as well. It is a very nice system to have.

expert reply by: Lazer S

Dean

7/31/2024

If you set the air bags to 50 psi then attach the load, is the pressure still 50 psi?

Lazer S.

7/31/2024

@Dean Probably not. If the load is light it might, but most likely it will raise the pressure. I always tell people to fill up the bags after you are fully loaded so you can tell what the pressure needs to be to tow level. Pre-filling them could potentially be easier, but you wont know if the psi you put in is correct for your current load.