Thread purpose
Beyond Static kicked this off to consolidate bagging opinions and keep everyone from asking the same stuff; asked for sticky.
Rear setups that ride right
KP Components’ bolt-on 4-link with cantilever rides great, even with the rivets to grind. The KP 6-link bolts to the leaf hangers, doubles the lift and keeps the ride better, and Firestone bags back there feel great on those kits.
Air, valves, tanks
Running the Air Commander engine-driven kit with the York 209 keeps fills under 30 seconds, barely drains the battery, and beats the noise of the Viair 450 that others said they hated. SMC valves with 3/8" or 1/2" ports stay quick, and an 8.5-gallon Airlift tank tucks under the bed without hanging past the rollpan.
Front end bits
Air Ride Technologies’ Cool Ride with tubular upper and lower control arms keeps the balljoints lined up, and you can add Innovative or ART cups with Slam Specialties RS-72 or Firestone bags, Bilsteins, and 2" or 3" spindles depending on the year. Some guys weld the upper shock mounts after the bolts pulled, and leaving the frame un-notched for the tie rods still leaves you about 1.5" from laying out. Dakota Digital ARC-1004, ART RidePro E, or similar gauge/switch consoles keep switches and readouts together, and remote controls or a Schrader valve on the tanks let you top off air if the compressors or truck won’t cooperate.
Budget vs shopping
One guy added up the KP 6-link, Air Commander, Easy Street front, and the basics for valves, switches, tanks, lines, and fittings and still came in around $3,355, so if your wallet is in the $2,000-$2,500 range you need cheaper parts. Swap the KP kit for Suicide Doors’ four-link and brackets, the Air Commander for a single Viair 450, and the front bags/cups/shocks for Innovative stuff and you suddenly have room for the air supply and whatever oddball parts you find while installing. A ’99 front install used Airlift 2b7 bags at $65 a piece, Innovative cups for $50 a pair, four used Blitzluft valves for $125, an Airlift 8.5 gallon tank for $55, a Viair 450 compressor for $200, compression fittings for $90, a KP gauge for $30, 50 feet of 1/2" line for $30, and 20 feet of 1/8" line for $5.
Real installs and warnings
One 2004 owner drilled the rivets instead of grinding to get the KP kit done, bolted in ART upper and lower arms with cups and Firestone bags, then welded the upper shock mount after the factory bolts pulled; he’s running ART Big Red valves with 3/8" ports and 1/2" line but is upgrading to three 5-gallon tanks and the Air Commander because the Viair 450 screamed and the single 5-gallon bottle took forever to refill the truck. Those who skip the tie-rod notches still sit about 1.5" off the frame in the front even with 2" spindles, so plan accordingly.