AirLift rear bag system - info you need to know

[Muddzy]

Got kit 60317 today. As expected, the kit isn't close to being right. Not only is the diameter narrower than the Gladiator kit but the length is shorter. I don't know what is up with Air Lift but it seems they don't know what's in their own kits. So, the OP still has it right...the Gladiator kit is the best you're going to do and stacking pucks to reduce empty vertical space is OK on paved roads but making a thicker, custom puck is your best bet if you're going off road.

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[gt3mike]

Has anyone made their own thicker puck yet? I didn't see it in this thread, but I might have missed it.

 

[Muddzy]

Has anyone made their own thicker puck yet? I didn't see it in this thread, but I might have missed it.

I haven't read anywhere about someone that did and and reported back. I'm going to make one in the next couple of days before I drive from the east coast to Colorado. I will have a full payload driving out, I will be renting a trailer and towing out there and also airing the bags down for off-road so all of that should be a good test. I will report back toward the beginning of Sept when I return. I was thinking of cutting mine out of 1 or 2 pieces of 1 inch scrap rubber I have and simply screwing and/or gluing it to the Air Lift's hard rubber puck that came in the kit. Seems to me someone could use PVC trim available at hardware stores or the black gym floor mats. Just cut it in a donut shape to match the original puck and secure it. I don't have anything lying around that is 2.5 - 3.5 inches thick of a similar material. Just bewildering to me that Air Lift doesn't sell a thicker puck or longer bag for lifts.

 

[Radio Guy]

Been following this thread considering air bags for my Mojave for those times I load the bed with lots of junk. Anyone have a P/N for bags that fit a stock Mojave that can be installed without removing the springs?

 

[Rubijeep]

Install took about 1 1/2 hr start to finish.
Stock rubicon spring with 3/4 daystar puck.
squzeeing the bags in wasnt too bad. Worst part was clipping the nozzle on the rear driver side bag. Very limited space. Installed the valve on the license plate holders for a clean look.

The bags work as promise so far. Not towing anything ATM. Just holding up my RTT and camping gears weights for now.

 

[Gren71]

Install took about 1 1/2 hr start to finish.
Stock rubicon spring with 3/4 daystar puck.
squzeeing the bags in wasnt too bad. Worst part was clipping the nozzle on the rear driver side bag. Very limited space. Installed the valve on the license plate holders for a clean look.

The bags work as promise so far. Not towing anything ATM. Just holding up my RTT and camping gears weights for now.

Inventive placement of the fill points! Very cool

 

[Gren71]

Been following this thread considering air bags for my Mojave for those times I load the bed with lots of junk. Anyone have a P/N for bags that fit a stock Mojave that can be installed without removing the springs?

I THINK theyll be the same as every other model. Others have called airlift directly and theyve made sure they have the right kit for their setup.

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Jeep/Gladiator/2021/AL60830.html?VehicleID=202199668

 

[Radio Guy]

I've heard the Mojave sits about 1.5" higher than other stock models so I'm hoping to get specific info about the Mojave. I'll check your link, thanks much!

I THINK theyll be the same as every other model. Others have called airlift directly and theyve made sure they have the right kit for their setup.

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Jeep/Gladiator/2021/AL60830.html?VehicleID=202199668

 

[Radio Guy]

I contacted etrailer about the correct Air Lift bags for the Mojave and here is their response. This should be good info for other Mojave owners. https://www.etrailer.com/question-562415.html?fb=yes

 

[Jeep_guy3]

I've heard the Mojave sits about 1.5" higher than other stock models so I'm hoping to get specific info about the Mojave. I'll check your link, thanks much!

I have a Mojave and went with this set: https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle_Suspension/Firestone/F29ZR.html

Install was do-able without dropping springs. Fit is great, and they work well.

 

[Radio Guy]

I got the Air Lift kit 60830 listed for the Gladiator and successfully installed in my Mojave this morning. Taking tips from others (thanks!) and pulling on my chin while under the truck for some time, I came up with a few more tips that might help others in the future.

Knowing the air bags must be deflated and folded in a way to fit through the spring openings and seeing a Ty-Rap used to hold the folded bag together I modified the procedure and the bags went in super easy with the air hose already prepped, avoiding trying to get tools inside the springs to attach the air lines.

There is a particular way to fold the bags by stepping in the middle and when deflated stepping on the top and bottom edges folding them inwards, then capping off the air barb so it won't inflate as in the picture below.

Then fold the bag over and attach a Ty-Rap around the lower section keeping the Ty-Rap lock mechanism near the open side of the bag. I found placing the bag on a step then putting my knee on the bag helped get the fold started.

Then measure the length of air hose needed to reach the T or fill valve and attach that to the bag making sure the sharp edges of the hose clamp face towards the open fold in the bag and can't poke into the bag when its squeezed. This picture shows the sharp hose clamp ears safely resting between the open fold in the bag.

Now fold down the upper part of the bag and attach a second Ty-Rap at the upper end of the bag as shown. Orient the Ty-Rap locks to the outer edge of the bag and trim off the excess Ty-Rap This will avoid snagging the Ty-Raps when the bag is pushed through the open spring coils.

At this point I inserted the big plastic doughnut that sits on top of the bag up into the spring and held it there with a scrap piece of sheet metal I had laying around. The sheet metal was about 1" wide and slightly longer than the springs are wide. After the doughnut is pushed all the way to the top of the spring and centered, I slid the sheet metal between the spring coils then rotated it screwing it towards the doughnut so it would rest on the coil and screwed it upward along the spring coil locking the doughnut at the top of the spring. You could probably use a thin wooden stick or plastic, etc, to accomplish the same thing.

I could then thread the air hose through the lowest coil opening up through the hole in the doughnut and the collapsed folded bag slid easily through the coil opening and bent upward in place inside the spring. with almost no effort I then removed the sheet metal holding the doughnut and it lowered onto the bag now held in place by the air hose going through it.

The rest of the install is normal stuff avoiding exhaust pipes and leaving some slack before Ty-raping down the air hose to the fill valve. I chose to put the fill valve in an existing hole that holds the plastic bumper trim on under the rear passenger tow hook as shown below. I pulled out the plastic rivet thing and enlarged the hole to accommodate the air valve. This location is recessed and should not snag anything for my type of off roading and you'll have to decide if its a good spot for you.

 

[gt3mike]

Did anyone with the Mopar 2" lift have difficulty removing their springs? I'm trying, but my brake lines are pulled tight and the left spring is still not loose enough to come out.

I'd rather not try squeezing the bag in between the coils if I can avoid it.

 

[Aberk]

Did anyone with the Mopar 2" lift have difficulty removing their springs? I'm trying, but my brake lines are pulled tight and the left spring is still not loose enough to come out.

I'd rather not try squeezing the bag in between the coils if I can avoid it.

Unbolt the calipers and hang them with a zip tie or bungie cord out of the way. Thats what I always do.

 

[gt3mike]

Unbolt the calipers and hang them with a zip tie or bungie cord out of the way. Thats what I always do.

Good idea. I may need to disconnect the sway bar also.

 

[Aberk]

Good idea. I may need to disconnect the sway bar also.

I would do that too. I always look for the shortcut when I want to remove the springs, but often its just easier to unbolt most of it rather than unbolt some and fight things.

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