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Firestone RideRite, Air-Lift, or Timber Grove Airbags on a Mojave?

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Az_Ed

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I installed the Air Lift 1000 bags on my stock 2020 Gladiator Mojave. The install was fairly easy. I used a floor lift jack to lift one side rear tire off the ground. Removing the spare tire gives a lot of room to get under the vehicle and work. Lifting one side provided enough clearance between the spring coils to push the bag between the lower coils. I found that heating the bag with hot water and not fully deflating it made the install between the coils easier. Air Lift provides a top cushion but not a bottom cushion. I did not like the idea of the bag contacting the bottom surfaces of the spring mount without a cushion so I re-used my old Firestone RideRite cushions. One could fabricate a bottom cushion out of plastic or rubber and silicone it to the spring bottom seat. The bags seem to work well. 9 lbs of air and about 425 lbs of rear weight (canopy and tools) delivered a somewhat stiffer ride but ok for rough terrain.
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Jobofly

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Airlift lasted 1 winter for us and failed. They sent a new set of bags on warranty but I didn’t bother installing them. Not much point. I spoke with my Jeep buddy/mechanic at dealership here and he confirmed they have a poor record in cold climate.
I am in upstate Ny where winters are awful. No issues with mine in the cold.
 

MudderNuker

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I'm considering trading my JTW 3.6 for Rubicon Diesel or maybe a Mojave. Air bags would definitely be one of the first things I would do to either. I have them on my Willys and they help a lot. It was a pain to install.
 

Sargegreen22

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So technically yes, I do believe they limit articulation. I use my JT for all sorts of things so I modified my brackets and extended the bolts that mount the bag to the brackets and I have near full articulation with 3 inches of lift.
Do those bags maintain their pressure for months or do you have to frequently air them? Their site says to maintain 5-7 psi is that enough to act like a bump stop and is there any noticeable difference in the ride with the minimum pressure? If you were to lift up the Jeep and let the axle sag down would it restrict this? I would be putting these on a diesel Jt with the 2” mopar lift. Thank you for any insite you can provide. There is very little information I can find about this kit.
 

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Benbean66

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Do those bags maintain their pressure for months or do you have to frequently air them? Their site says to maintain 5-7 psi is that enough to act like a bump stop and is there any noticeable difference in the ride with the minimum pressure? If you were to lift up the Jeep and let the axle sag down would it restrict this? I would be putting these on a diesel Jt with the 2” mopar lift. Thank you for any insite you can provide. There is very little information I can find about this kit.
So I have yet to have to add air to the bags unless I am adjusting the pressure (depending on what I'm towing/hauling.) They hold air pressure quite well. They do act as soft bump stops if you isolate the bags from each other via an in-line valve, which will prevent air pressure transferring between left and right bags during articulation. And as I previously mentioned, I modified my setup to allow the bags to fully extend, to where my shocks stop downward travel. I basically trimmed the brackets to allow for the maximum compression, and I installed an extended length bolt that centers the bottom of the bag to the bottom bracket. The pictures are from the day I installed the kit, and I didn't have any air in them yet.

Jeep Gladiator Firestone RideRite, Air-Lift, or Timber Grove Airbags on a Mojave? IMG_20220917_112140129


Jeep Gladiator Firestone RideRite, Air-Lift, or Timber Grove Airbags on a Mojave? IMG_20220917_105750308_HDR


Jeep Gladiator Firestone RideRite, Air-Lift, or Timber Grove Airbags on a Mojave? IMG_20220917_112157671
 

Sargegreen22

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So I have yet to have to add air to the bags unless I am adjusting the pressure (depending on what I'm towing/hauling.) They hold air pressure quite well. They do act as soft bump stops if you isolate the bags from each other via an in-line valve, which will prevent air pressure transferring between left and right bags during articulation. And as I previously mentioned, I modified my setup to allow the bags to fully extend, to where my shocks stop downward travel. I basically trimmed the brackets to allow for the maximum compression, and I installed an extended length bolt that centers the bottom of the bag to the bottom bracket. The pictures are from the day I installed the kit, and I didn't have any air in them yet.

IMG_20220917_112140129.jpg


IMG_20220917_105750308_HDR.jpg


IMG_20220917_112157671.jpg
Thanks for the info. You have a taller lift than mine. I gained 2” from the mopar kit. I’m wondering if I would have to do the same modification as you went through to keep articulation? I don’t mind loosing a little but looks like at least 3” you would have lost without the modifications. What about the ride do you notice a change when unloaded?
 

Benbean66

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Thanks for the info. You have a taller lift than mine. I gained 2” from the mopar kit. I’m wondering if I would have to do the same modification as you went through to keep articulation? I don’t mind loosing a little but looks like at least 3” you would have lost without the modifications. What about the ride do you notice a change when unloaded?
I actually enjoy the ride more with a little bit of air in the bags. I have my homemade cap on now full time and I run about 8-10psi and it keeps the ride smooth and maintains the rake.
 

Sargegreen22

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I actually enjoy the ride more with a little bit of air in the bags. I have my homemade cap on now full time and I run about 8-10psi and it keeps the ride smooth and maintains the rake.
I decided to order a set of the timber grove bags. Installed them today. Do your bags sit straight up and down at normal ride height? On mine the way the bottom mount is made it’s got the bottom of the bag to far forward putting it at an angle?
 

Benbean66

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I decided to order a set of the timber grove bags. Installed them today. Do your bags sit straight up and down at normal ride height? On mine the way the bottom mount is made it’s got the bottom of the bag to far forward putting it at an angle?
Do you have a lift on your JT? If so, do you have adjustable control arms? I have the Clayton kit and adjusted my control arms so my rear sits centered (front to back) in the wheel well.
 

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Sargegreen22

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Do you have a lift on your JT? If so, do you have adjustable control arms? I have the Clayton kit and adjusted my control arms so my rear sits centered (front to back) in the wheel well.
No just the standard 2” mopar kit. I did add an adjustable track bar to center the axle from side to side.
 

jeepers29

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I actually enjoy the ride more with a little bit of air in the bags. I have my homemade cap on now full time and I run about 8-10psi and it keeps the ride smooth and maintains the rake.
I have an Alucab topper and RTT on my Mojave. I run 11 psi in the bags and the ride is great as well and a nice level truck.
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