Firestone Ride Rite - inflating questions.

[shear]

Hey so I just got a new 2019 Tacoma and have done a complete overhaul on the suspension including ride rites in the back. Right now I just have the manual version and am curious about the best method for keeping air in them over the summer while we travel. I've read a cheap bike pump is one way and im also curious about a portable air compressor as well.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[JWL]

I just use a small telescoping bike pump (for mountain bikes) and check with my regular tire gauge.
The only time I need to add air is when I am loading up for a trip, my shell is “modular” so I load up when I go and remove when I come back. Upon return I will lower the pressure down to daily driving.
Plus instal for pressurized each bag separately.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I carry a portable Viair compressor for airbags and tires.

 

[Cottonww]

I haver both a 12v electric pump and standing foot pump. Never us electric pump. Foot pump is much easier
to set up. I use tape measure for height of fender above tire rather than pressure.

 

[SkyP]

A hand pump is difficult to disconnect without losing too much air in my experience. The volume in the airbag is small and a second of "wooshing" severely drops the pressure.
While I carry a more traditional off road 12V compressor I like this even better for airbags>

I hold the trigger on still pumping air as I yank the chuck off- virtually no loss of air in the bag.
I already carry a Ryobi drill, fans and batteries so it is a minimal "too much stuff" increase

 

[MarkBC]

A bike pump has worked for me.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Bicycle pump works well for me.

 

[shear]

Awesome! Bike pump it is. Is that also how you inflate them once the camper is on? Or do I need something a bit more substantial to get it from the 5-10psi to the much higher psi?

 

[AWG_Pics]

I last pumped mine up with the bicycle pump when the camper was fully loaded with water, food and such.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I use a small 12v pump works well,plugs in near the sink.
Frank

 

[shear]

Also curious roughly what psi you’d recommend on a Tacoma with a fleet? I’m at around 88 right now.

 

[MarkBC]

Also curious roughly what psi you’d recommend on a Tacoma with a fleet? I’m at around 88 right now.

I based my inflation pressure on whatever made the fully-loaded rig level.

 

[CraggyMan]

I've had a set of Rite-rites on my 09 Tacoma for about 11 years. Always just inflate via a bicycle pump which I always bring along with our kit. With my beefed up rear springs and shocks I only need about 30-35 #s to bring the vehicle back to level, measuring to top of wheel well plumb through the center of wheel hub from garage slab. I also use the airbags to level the vehicle in some campsite situations and just have to remember to air back up before moving on.
Before I redid the rear springs I would usually have to put 60-65 #s so the 88# inflation sounds really out of whack.

My $.02

 

[Lighthawk]

Also curious roughly what psi you’d recommend on a Tacoma with a fleet? I’m at around 88 right now.

Too hard can cause problems too. I had 60# in the back while loaded for a week, with bikes and 5 gal gas behind the camper. We hit a vee shaped deep rut with a bit of required momentum in DV and the airbag jumped out of its lower mount. The next day it popped, ten miles beyond camp and 40 miles from pavement. I had to remove it in the field and drive out with only one bag. Now I use 30-50psi.

 

[rubberlegs]

We use Sumosprings. No pumping required.

 

[SkyP]

We use Sumosprings. No pumping required.

No adjustability either- which for me is priceless...

My loads vary tremendously- for my F150 I can have nothing in the bed, or a 250lb RSi topper with or without a bunch of "stuff", or a loaded up ATC Panther...or even a Panther and a 16ft Camplite travel trailer. Or just the CampLite....
I adjust air pressure in the bags to bring the truck back to original unloaded level whatever the load.

I once (20 years ago) had a huge Jayco extended cabover slide in camper that I hauled in my F350- probably 3000 lbs plus- many truck campers are way heavier on the left side since all the appliances are on the left side.
Being able to independently adjust left and right leveling as well as front to back leveling was very nice.

 

[shear]

Yeah I’m thinking I need to air them down some. I have a fleet shell and it’s not terribly loaded down. Dry weight is 900 and we use a 7gal water jug. 20lbs of propane for a he added stove.