Hi Keith,
Airlift is my vote.
I had the load Level 5000, on both my 2001, 2013 F250’s. Mainly, I hand these to level out for towing.
The ride: With the 5er on the trucks, it was a smooth ride. I ran around 40 pounds in the bags.
When running solo, the ride was the same with/without the bags, rough with only 5 pounds of air in the bags.
I did have the on board compressor which made adding or releasing air easy..

I just picked up my 2023 F350 Lariat last Friday 9/29. Not sure what sag I will have, but I expect the same as Rob ( cate&rob ) or you see currently.
(My payload is 3963 pounds on the F350. SRW, CCSB, Diesel)

If, my new hitch gets here, we are going out Oct 19th. I do not want to add bags on this truck, as it is supposed to have auto adjusting headlights for night driving when pulling a heavy trailer. It will all hinge on how much sag I see.

Steve

Well since it's Keith's money, I vote he goes for the https://www.vmacair.com/product/unde...0-truck-series compressor.

With airbags, I have heard both good and bad about both. Pick which ever you can source easily and get parts for if / when needed. Never run the bags empty as it causes them to have issues. Like Steve mention 5 psi or so keeps the happy.

I suggest the dual setup just in case you get the odd situation where you need to level the truck side to side for some reason. If you can find a set with the auto height adjustment go for them as it will keep the rear of the truck at height regardless of tongue load as it may vary.

I know nothing about suspension air bags, but you should keep the sway bar. Bags do not work like a sway bar (to the best of my knowledge)
Curious though. You have a Reflection 150, supposedly made to be pulled by an F-150 (ya, I know that is pretty optimistic of most F-150's). You have an F-350 and you figure you need to add bags?!? I know you have added a few tweaks to the original equipment...but...I just gotta think a one ton Ford diesel should be able to handle a Reflection 150 with ease as it came from the factory. No?

I ran the Airlift system on the 2014 HDPP F150 and it is still going strong (my son has this truck now). I figured I would try the F350 without airbags and it is just as stable as the F150 was with bags at 30 psi when towing. The F350 sags about 3” (springs are really soft at the top end for empty ride comfort) which results in the 5th wheel towing perfectly level. I can’t see a need for airbags on an F350 with an 11K 5th wheel.

Rob

I installed the airlift 7500 xl bags two weeks ago. I did not install a compressor and am unsure if I will. For now I have each of the bags on a separate air line that I ran to the rear bumper and adjust manually. We are currently about a 1,000 miles into a 3,000 mile trip and I like how the system works, my truck has the sway bar from the factory so I’m no help there. Let me know if you have any questions!

Yoda I have the Airlift Load lifter 5000 Ultimate+ bags with the small onboard Airlift compressor with dual channel system (Wireless Air system - with EZ mount) which comes with a Bluetooth remote (you can also use the app on your phone).

My thoughts:

-For my situation (bumper pull with about 1300# tongue weight), the airbags don't make much of a difference when pulling my little 21G.
-The ride comfort seems about the same.
-I can reduce rear squat (reduce all rear squat if desired), but it doesn't help the front because, well I have a bumper pull trailer and laws of physics keep the front high. Weight distribution hitch helped tremendously in lowering front of truck.
-While not towing the airbags might make a slight difference in ride quality (not real noticeable to me), but not enough to justify the $$ spent. If you are looking for ride quality, a complete truck suspension upgrade will do wonders. If you're rich, go with 5-6" lift Carli E-Venture system with rear progressive springs and their long throw bags...best of all world (off-roading, towing, daily driving)
-The air bags are handy for reasons I didn't consider: I have a utility trailer with a low tongue jack height. When i need to raise the trailer tongue over a hump, I just air up the bags and can gain a few inches of height. When I have the truck bed loaded with a heavy load, the airbags can help keep the truck more level (depending on where the bulk of the load is...in front of or behind the rear axles). I can air them up to raise the rear when changing rear diff fluid or accessing the spare

If I had a 5th wheel, I think I would see the benefit of having the airbags much more than with a bumper pull, assuming your pin is over or in front of your rear axles.

As far as compressor system, the little Airlift compressor I have does just fine with the airbags. Inflates them quickly. However, as an aux compressor for inflating tires it is terrible. If you are going to use the compressor for airbags ONLY, get the small compressor. It will handle the job. If you want to use the compressor for other thing, like inflating tires, get a more capable compressor with at least 2 gallon air tank.

Single or dual path? Depends on what you intend to use it for. I doubt most people ever have differing pressures in their bags. In the 3 the years I've had this setup I have never had the left and right bags at different pressures (well, I have to show it off, but that's it). The dual path was something I paid extra for and didn't need to - but it is cool.

Airlift vs Firestone: I prefer Airlift but have nothing against Firestone. The biggest reason I went with Airlift is the internal jounce the Loadlifter Ultimate bags have. At the time of purchase Firestone did not offer this in their bags. I also spent a little more on the Ultimate + package that contains the stainless steel components. I'm a big fan of avoiding possible issues in the future.

5000# vs 7500# bags: Again, depends on your intended use. I'm not sure I'll ever exceed the 5000# bag limitation for my usage. My truck has about 3200# payload, yours probably has around 4000# payload. Maybe the 7500# will be a better choice?? Up to you. Personally, I didn't like how much the 7500# bags hung over the axles unsupported. Just didn't look right - if it did look OK, I probably would have got the 7500# because more is always better than less lol.

If I could do it again: I really like the Airlift Wireless Air system. I can literally inflate/deflate bags anytime I want....driving down the road, hitching up the trailer, when ever/where ever I want - with remote or app. The change I would make is I would not use the small Airlift compressor. I would get a much more capable compressor. First choice for compressors would be ARB, second probably Air Zenith, then 3rd Viair. Viair are good compressors, but do not have the performance of ARB or Air Zenith (Air Zenith is a beast, but it is very noisy). I would make a proper onboard system with a 2.5 to 5 gallon tank and 1 or 2 auxiliary quick connects to air up tires, rafts, or anything you want - oh, and air bags. I'd probably keep the dual channel system as well because I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and wish I had it

Oh, sway bar. Airbags probably won't make a difference as far as sway. I'd drive as is...if you don't like how it feels, add the sway bar. I'm thinking a 1 ton truck with a small 5th wheel shouldn't give you any sway issues with or without the sway bar.

Hope this helps.

When you pack the turck with about every tool you own plus the Daughters stuff - it got to the overloads. Add in our great America highways an things bottomed out - not good.

LOL Talk about overkill

WOW a lot of food for thought - Thanks
If it had not been for being a U-haul for the Daughter stuff to Georgia and the extra tools I took to the rally I would not have been as loaded as I was. I probably need to think some more. As I got the king ranch Ford does not offer the Camper package which has the sway bar due to the 18" tires. On my Alaska trip and this one driving in stiff cross winds moved me around a bit more than I thought should be happening. My old truck had the sway bar and was rock solid in cross winds. Also driving at night I got a few headlight flashes as I was a bit nose high, but I do have the brighter LED lights.

I just may get the sway bar and get my air horns working with a new compressor - the stock horns are worthless. Thanks Joseph acoleman43 for the other choices to investigate - I have always used Viair
Ponder this more I must

Keith

Now you got me thinking....You mentioned brackets falling off. This happened to me. The lower bracket on the underside of the axle tube fell off in Big Bend while going on Old Ore Road - very rough road. These brackets are help on by 2 bolts/nuts. Because I had weight in the bed of the truck, I was not worried about the bags coming loose. When I got back home, I called AIrlift to order a replacement bracket....they sent one to me at no cost (like free shipping and everything). So, excellent customer service. To keep these brackets on, I added a lock washer with the "lock" nuts (nuts with nylon that don't really lock anything). I haven't had an issue since adding the lock washers and I've gone another almost 20K miles and on some rough roads up in the Sawtooth Mountains. If you get bags, just add checking for loose nuts/bolts on your checklist just in case.

Also, as far as airing up tires, I find the 18V Milwaukee air compressor does a fabulous job. Much more convenient than dragging out air hose to connect to an onboard compressor. It replaced a portable Viair compressor. So I find I do not use the onboard system at all for airing up tires. Now, if you want a train horn....get an air tank

Yoda

I've had the Airlift 5000 Ultimate Plus​ setup since Oct '18. The controller has failed once and had to be replaced (error code on remote and no response from pump) but I'm pleased overall with the setup.

Initially I used a separate Viair pump, but that's a whole story in itself I won't rehash here. Short version is the bag installation is now in the OEM configuration. Write-up is not on this forum, so I'll send you a PM.

Howard

Keith,
Have you thought about using "Sumo Springs or Timbren" instead of air bags? Just a thought here.
(I too, with the daughter with us, she takes the whole house with here andI can feel the extra weight..... of her stuff.)

Nobody here voted for Firestone so I will. Back in 2014 I didn't know if there were options. I read about the Firestones and had them installed. They have performed well since then. JMHO.

I have tried both the Timbrens and then the air bags. HANDS DOWN---air bags. Hated the Timbrens after one short trip. Removed them and went to the air bags. I think both Firestone and Air Lift are similar and I have tried them both. This last time on my 2022, I went with the Air Lift ultimate 5000 for internal jounce bumpers. I also run the wireless compressor so that I can make changes on the fly and when I hook and unhook the fiver. Love the setup.....it's customizable based on your load and ride preferences.