What size airline to use?

[rex01atv]

I cant decide what size airline to use 1/4'' or 3/8''? I want to use 3/8 but I'm concerned that when I hit my switch it will be to quick for me to adjust for the right amount of airpressure? Any feedback woul help.

[smashingchuck]

You'll be happy with 1/4.

[OrangeAnimal]

My opinion is 3/8 in the rear and 1/2 in the front.

[theyammieguy]

This has concerned me as well. I want to be able to pop it up pretty quick but also need the ability to make precise adjustments

[OrangeAnimal]

That is why u use 3/8 in the back and 1/2 in the front. It will be very slow on 1/4.

P.S. the yammie guy, I like that quote.

[theyammieguy]

Originally Posted by OrangeAnimal

That is why u use 3/8 in the back and 1/2 in the front. It will be very slow on 1/4.

P.S. the yammie guy, I like that quote.

Are you still able to air it up to an exact pressure?

[Kayotic]

This is never going to end.....

You are just going to have to try different lines..

I have 1/2" fittings at all four bags. 3/8" air line and the ports on the tank are also 1/2".

Sorry I don't have a direct answer - but this is what I am going to start with....

-My 2cents -- 1/4" air line is a little small. The plastic line I have is measured on the outside. So the I.D of my 3/8" line is a tad over 1/4".

I wasn't expecting that at all.

[cdowns]

i dont use airlines that have anything smaller than a 747

[chevydog66]

I have 1/2", and it is fast. I think you will happy with 3/8".

[Twisted Minis]

I run 3/8" valves and 3/8" line. It lifts up plenty fast in the front. Not abrupt, but fast enough for me, and I can usually adjust to my desired height in one switch. For the back, it was a tad fast for my taste, with the bags being in a leverage ratio and not much weight. I got some stiff ball valves and put them right after the valve, and adjusted it until ti felt right to me.

The dump was always too fast for me, so I got some 3/8" plugs and drilled an 1/8" hole in them. The back is a bit larger (3/16") since the ball valves slow it down a bit too.

However, I prefer a pretty slow setup myself. I hold down the dump for about 5 seconds to air all the way down.

[OrangeAnimal]

Twisted has the right idea. You can tailor the speed to your liking. There are many ways out there to control the rate of rise and drop. For ball valves and orifices check out http://www.mcmaster.com/#

[Tony@AirRideTech]

For me personally.... 1/4" is plenty. An optimized 1/4" system will lift a vehicle in the 2.5-3 second range. Plus 1/4" is a heck of alot easier to route and plumb.

Now if you think you are wanting to go faster but are worried about making it to fast... there is actually an easy cure for that too. If you are running 1/2" airline... to slow it down just cut you off about a 10" piece of 3/8 airline and cram it inside the 1/2"... if you still want to slow it down from there... cut you off a pice of 1/4" airline and slide it inside the 3/8. if you ever want to pick the speed up again all you do is take a pice of coathanger wire bed a little L on the end of it, slip inside the line, hook the end and yank it out. Or spend a few buck and get a flow control valve.

[N2TRUX]

Thanks for sharing that Tony. I have heard of many ways to slow a system down, but that is the simplest, and cheapest yet. More importantly it is easy to reverse if you go to far with it.

Please describe what you would consider an "optimized" 1/4" system?

[c10addict]

I have 3/8 with ART Big Red Valves on my 68 and love everything about it... I have 1/4 on my 64 and it seems a little slow to me.. I bought another set of ART Big Red Valves and 3/8 line for it and will put them on soon...

[smashingchuck]

While on the subject of slowing the system down, I tapped the inside of my fittings, and simply ran an allen style pipe plug into them with 1/8 holes drilled in them. My truck lift nice and easy now, and I didn't have to buy new valves. For the record, I'm running 3/8 hard line.

[tds]

me personally i'm gonna run 3/8 line and ride as low as ****ing possible. so i'm gonna have fast fills, so i can jump at a decent pace if i need to corner hard or dodge a pothole hole or somthing but then probably choke my 3/8 dumps down to 1/4 or smaller and just float down.