2024 Update: Go check out our newer article on 3P vs 3H: here
Which Air Management Should I Choose?
When it comes to bagging your car, an important decision is which management system to go with. We've already covered which suspension option we think you should choose, which will affect how the car rides. Still, your management will control adding and removing air from your suspension setup and directly affect your everyday experience.
Currently, we offer four different management packages: Bag Riders Manual, Air Lift 3S, Air Lift 3P, and Air Lift 3H. Each has its pros and cons and can be suitable for your build, depending on the feature set you're looking for and what style you are going for.
Bag Riders Manual Management
Our Bag Riders Manual management kit will be our least expensive and has minor electronics, meaning fewer components can fail. Manual kits require airlines to be run through the car's interior to the manual paddle valves, which are the "brains" of this setup. Each valve controls one corner. The valves are generally mounted in the driver's vicinity and are accompanied by 2 or 3 gauges to monitor your bag (and potentially tank) pressure.
The old school style looks at home in classic cars, but keep in mind these often involve the most modification to interior panels to mount the paddle valves and gauges. Additionally, being the least advanced doesn't necessarily mean being the easiest to install. It can be more expensive to install if you pay a professional to do it. Running the airline through the interior to the paddle valves also can be more complex than running a wiring harness in other kits.
Check Out This Video To See What's Included In Our Manual Kits And A Breakdown Of The Selectable Options
Air Lift Performance 3S Management
Air Lift Performance 3S management is the next step up on the management rung. Instead of paddle valves mounted by the driver, the brain of this system is a digital manifold that is usually installed in a trunk near the tank and compressor. 3S doesn't come with a physical controller by default; instead, it comes with wireless Bluetooth control via an app from your smartphone. Although the manifold looks very similar to the Air Lift 3P and 3H manifolds, it is essential to note that it is NOT the same and is not upgradeable. The wireless capability allows control over each corner, but it will not display your bag and tank pressure. Because of the reduced functionality of this digital manifold, it tends to be classified as analog management. In the same fashion as the manual kit, you can add gauges to the system to monitor bag (and tank) pressure. You can also opt for a different pigtail harness to allow a physical controller.
The 3S will not require running as much airline through the car as the manual kit but does require basic knowledge of wiring to wire all the components up correctly. It may be easier to run one wiring harness than multiple airlines, but hooking the other electronics up to the included wire can be time-consuming and cost you more if you are paying someone to install it. It is important to note that even though you can opt for a physical controller and corresponding harness to add to your 3S, we only sell the 3S in our kits without the controller because we firmly believe that if you want a controller, you should purchase the Air Lift 3P system as it will benefit you in the long run. The 3S is ideal for a budget who isn't concerned with monitoring their bag pressure and doesn't want to worry about a physical controller.
Check Out This Video For What's Included In The 3S System
Air Lift Performance 3P and 3H
Undoubtedly the most popular systems currently on the market, the Air Lift 3P and 3H management systems share their main components, so we'll cover them together. These kits also use a digital manifold, similar to the 3S. Still, these manifolds contain internal pressure sensors, which allow the included controller and Bluetooth app to display bag and tank pressure. They also have a prewired harness to make installation easier. The biggest perk of the 3P system is the ability to add pressure-based presets. You can save a set of bag pressures into the system and recall them with a button. You can store up to 5 presets at a time, making it super easy to go from aired out to your ride height or your ride height to a higher elevation to avoid road debris.
The 3H upgrade adds four height sensors and wiring harnesses that connect to the pre-wired main harness. These sensors are installed in the wheel well and connected to a suspension component to measure travel. The saved presets become height-based presets instead of pressure-based, which means if you add cargo or passengers, the system will automatically adjust to maintain your desired ride height. In any other pressure-based system, a car will ride lower when more weight is added, similar to a traditional coil spring, and that's where 3H shows its advantage.
The height sensors in the 3H need to be installed with the proper amount of travel to work correctly. Although they are the most expensive management packages, they include many features. Due to the prewired harness included, they require the least connections when installing, which can mean less expensive installation costs for the 3P. We recommend taking your time or using an installer with previous experience to get the best functionality out of your system.
Phin Breaks Down The Contents Of The 3P And 3H Kits Below
These management systems will allow you to move air efficiently and out of your suspension. Think about the features you want for your ride and your budget when deciding. Hopefully, this info and these videos will make choosing your management easier! Buying the kit that suits your needs right off the bat will save you time and money in the long run, even if it means waiting a little longer to bag your ride.
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Questions?
Have questions about bagging your ride? We want to hear about your build or project! Let us know what you're up to at sales@bagriders.com. Feel free to email us or give us a ring at 1.844.404.7344.
