We had air lifts installed on Sid during our first stay in Wylie, TX in December 2019. In addition to towing, we were carrying a significant load of tools and felt we needed pneumatic lifts to ease the burden on Sid’s suspension. Before leaving Wylie, we went to DFW Camper Corral, discussed lift options, and had them install our first Air Lift bags. They ran air lines from the lifts to new fill valves accessible at our rear license plate. Really clever! We used the valves to inflate or deflate the lifts just like we would a tire.
A little over a year later, we began having trouble keeping the lifts inflated, and this worsened until we decided to have them inspected. In early June of 2021, we were visiting our friends Nick and Cindy Muszynski in Sumter, SC and made an appointment with Mr. Scrape Customs, a high-end vehicle customizing firm we found via Google. Mike Lee, the owner, crawled under Sid and exclaimed, “Uh oh, this isn’t good.” Both air lifts had loosened and become damaged to the point where one had broken a brake line. Miraculously, it had not yet severed the line’s plastic coating. That coating was the only thing preventing the brake from failing. We hadn’t known it, but a catastrophic failure was imminent.
We purchased new Firestone pneumatic bags because of the damage, and Mike convinced us to also get an on-board compressor. With it, we could now inflate or deflate the bags to specific pressures with a remote control from inside the truck, even will driving. Regarding the brake line, Mike contacted an acquaintance who ran the automotive courses at the High School. He said he had the brake line we required and was able to make the repair by the time we left Sumter. This was our first encounter with true “roadside heroes.” Folks such as these have been absolutely critical to our five years of successful RVing.
Our new lift setup worked like a dream for six months, until we noticed one lift wasn’t inflating the same as the other. Believing the bag must be leaking, we took it to Route 66 Truck Repair near Litchfield, IL. The mechanic found the bracket mounts were loose, and one bag was simply misaligned. He suggested we have the mounts welded to the frame. Because we didn’t want this to reoccur, we had him weld the mounts and once again hit the road with renewed confidence.
Our confidence lasted for two and a half years, when shortly after driving the infamous Dempster Highway (see descriptive blogs dated August 27, 28, 30, 31, and September 1), we noticed the compressor was coming on periodically for short bursts. We surmised one or both air bags might be leaking, but decided to momentarily live with it since we weren’t experiencing any significant problems, and couldn’t have it checked anyway until we settled in Carrollton for the winter. Once there, technicians at DFW Truck & Auto Accessories found several pinhole leaks in the driver’s side bag, but luckily confirmed the compressor and air lines were still solid. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t work on the bags because the mounts were welded, and they claimed to not have the correct equipment. What? MFI checked in with Mr. Scrape. He said the pinholes would continue to get larger until the bag failed and recommended we replace them both. This was when I crawled under Sid and took pictures and a video of what the conditions were. I found little good news.
…but here were the problems.
With this evidence, it was clear we needed to purchase our third pair of bags. MFI researched the appropriate Air Lift bags, purchased them, had them shipped to us, and arranged with 4 Wheel Parts for the installation three days before we left Carrollton. While they worked on Sid, we walked one block north to Bellini’s Italian Cafe and had a delicious lunch. This neighborhood was the last place we expected to find such an upscale restaurant. Service and food were great!
Once installed, I crawled under Sid and took pictures. Unlike our previous bags, these were bolted to the frame at the top of the lift. I wanted to fully understand what they looked like new, so that I could periodically check and ensure all the bolts remained tight. We believed this would be imperative, since the roads on which we travelled were often in horrible condition. Three sets of bags in five and a half years seemed a bit excessive. Hopefully, I could identify changes before they became problems.
For what it’s worth, the air valves on our license plate remain functional. Should our remote control ever break, or heaven forbid we lose it, there’s still a reliable back-up system.
