Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bag Kit for 2000 Ford E-450 Cab and Chassis Motor Home

Updated 04/24/2014 | Published 04/22/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle

(3008)

$545.15

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

(359)

$784.38

Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle

(3008)

$567.77

Lift Spacers for Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - 1-1/4" Spacers - Qty 2

(23)

$21.44

Question:

I need Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs Double Convoluted - Rear Axle 2000 ford e 450 commercial cutaway Super Duty 158inch WB DRW motor home with huge over hang Are spacer blocks that go between the axle mounting pad and the spring pack available? In 1/2inch increments? I want to purchase Firestone Ride Rite Air helper Springs. Your website states that it can not find them for my application. I went back to your website again and it seems that #F2176 may fit my application. If I choose to install an overload helper spring from either super spring or hellwig, can it be done with this f2176 air helper spring kit? Thanks for your help.

asked by: BOB K

Expert Reply:

The Firestone kit you referenced, part # F2176, is designed for trucks but will not fit your 2000 Ford 450 van cab and chassis motor home. The appropriate kit for your E-450 van is Firestone # F2377.

The shortest spacers offered for use with this kit are the 1-1/4 inch # F2536. In order to use these you need to have between 6-1/2- and 7-1/2-inches space between the upper and lower brackets. This spacer should not be needed unless your truck has a 1-1/2-inch suspension lift.

The air bag kit can be manually inflated but Firestone also offers a dual gauge/dual function compressor that allows independent air bag inflation from your cab. This is part # F2219. I have linked a video for this item.

Rear axle air bags are a good solution when your vehicle often has varying and uneven weight loads. The independent side-to-side adjustment provided by air bags helps to keep motor homes and tow vehicles level under such conditions. For general rear-axle load support in conditions that are fairly consistent then the simpler and maintenance-free jounce spring type kits might be better.

The link will show you two such kits from Timbren, one rated for 3600-lbs and the other for # 12000-lbs.

Several articles on both Firestone and Timbren springs are linked for your review.