Suggestions for airbag suspension systems

Hello All,
I’m new Tundra owner and New to the Forums. After adding the camper shell and a truckvault system to the bed the back of the truck is sitting a little lower now. I’d like to add an airbag suspension to address this issue and also help during towing. Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Justin

 

Welcome from Texas! Sweet Rig!!!

 

Welcome from Ohio! Great looking truck !!!

 

I use the Firestone Ride Rite air bags. The spacer under the bags are required for my setup.

 

Sweet Rig!

 

I've had firestone bags before on Tacomas. I liked then a lot, if suggest also getting Daystar cradles so you don't lose down travel.

 

I did firestone ride rites. I chose them over the air lift bags because the air lift have an internal bump stop which I read compromises ride and I didn't see great reviews on them compared to the firestones. I also did daystar cradles.

 

looks like you set for expedition. I would upgrade the leaf pack with some Deaver U748 as well.

 

Go with firestone they are higher quality and barely more expensive. They work great on my pro.

Don't cheap out or you'll end up spending more in the long run. Only down side is the bolts provided aren't that great recommend getting some grade 8s

 

This may be the way to go. That back end is sitting low. Using the air bags to provide lift could result in a pretty stiff ride. It can be done but I feel like they should be used more to prevent squatting when loaded rather than lift the rear when essentially unloaded

 

Yes avoid air lift bags. I had them, and the internal bumps engaged way too early. Ride sucked empty.

 

Welcome Nice looking truck

 

Probably not the best tool for the job. The intent of an airbag is to re-level when towing, but (and here's the important part), become effectively inert when you remove the load. Not really intended for use as a full time lift. I'd go with a leaf pack in your case, assuming you won't be putting the camper on and off, often.

 

This is a good point, When I do not have a load I am level and only have 3-5 psi in the bags.

 

I ran airbags in my 07 sierra for the camper and for work. I loved having them. I just pulled the camper for the first time this weekend in my new Tundra and I definitely will be putting airbags in this truck. I did not like how it sat at all.

 

I added then about six months ago. Love them.. You have to keep a minimum of five pounds..I keep ten love how much better it rides.. Do have a little front take at ten pounds..I installed the two filling valves underneath the rear bumper..I use a eyobi 18 volt portable air compressor.. That the set the pressure and it auto stops..10lbs normally and 37lbs for the camper tow..7000lb 30 ftooer..

 

Well, crap! I already have the Air Lift bags with the internal bumps. The ride empty is terrible right now. I have a ~200 lbs. canopy so guess it's the jounce bumpers engaging almost instantly when I hit pot holes, speed bumps and other on-road irregularities.

I only air up the bags to level the truck when I'm towing so I usually have them empty. The "accounting department" started complaining about the rough ride so I started putting 15 psi in the bags just to try and keep it off of the jounce bumpers, but it only slightly improves the ride.

I also have a rear 1" block spacer from my leveling kit and I'll be putting a DIY truck vault full of gear back there as well. I was thinking about adding the daystar cradles to decouple the bags from the springs, but now that I think about it that won't really do anything except prevent damage to the bags from crossing it up when (rarely) offroading.

Since they are still functional the "accounting department" will put a hard "no" on switching air bags at this point, but maybe getting rid of the spacer lift and switching to upgraded leaf packs (OME or Deaver) with shackles and daystar cradles would remedy the issue. I may as well upgrade the OEM TRD rear shocks while I'm under there too. I know route 2 is more expensive, but who said anything about logic being involved in the approval process?

I'd estimate the canopy, storage drawers and gear to be about 450-500 lbs of continuous load. Thoughts?

 

I choose the Firestone over those, cause that was the number one complaint people had about them. I keep about ten lbs on mine and love the ride much better after the air bags.

 

I've had this setup for a while. I bought the Air Lift bags with the internal bumpers and the Wireless One compressor system shortly after they came out when there weren't any reviews on these airbags yet.

The product info said you can run them with no pressure without damaging the airbags which sounded like a good feature. One of my friends with airbags damaged his compressor wiring when he ran over a branch in a field. I was worried about doing something like that and breaking an airline while out hunting. I didn't want to ruin the airbags if something prevented me from maintaining air pressure in them.

On paper it was a good choice and I haven't had any problems with the system breaking, leaking or malfunctioning when I've needed to use it, but the ride is rough with an empty bed (canopy installed). It doesn't matter if there's 0 psi, 5 psi, 10 psi, etc.

My wife did haul five or six 3k loads of crushed rock in the bed for about 8 miles before I installed the airbags. She took it slow, but it was definitely bottomed out. I didn't notice any unloaded ride height decrease in the rear after that, but maybe it killed the OE rear springs.

 

I put Firestone/Daystars on a couple weeks ago and love em. With topper and decked system and dogs I was sagging in the rear. First pic is after/before.

 

Looking at adding the Firestone Riderite bags to mine. What made you choose the dsystars?

Trying to compare which would be the best since I have the Toyotech shackle in the rear set at the 1.5" setting:

1) daystar -

$93 Daystar, Air Bag Cradle designed for full suspension travel, Fits All 6" diameter convoluted Air Bags, fits any full size of half ton truck, 2/4WD, KU09140BK, Made in America , Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0084ROJBM/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A2TW9PAD7D7YND&psc=1

2) Coachbuilder- https://shop-coachbuilder.myshopify...-actual-thickness-1-50?variant=12559340273741

3) seen a few others

 

Good question. The video below will show you exactly why. I take my truck in the mountains on trails (i don't rock crawl) and because the air bags are meant to be bolted from the bottom to the leaf spring, it takes away the articulation of the suspension and can rip if pushed past its limits. WIth the cradles, you never have to worry about this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MH4rE7GB_Q

 

You only need the @Coachbuilder1 spacer if you don't use the cradles and you have lift in the back (maybe you already knew that).

 

The whole adding airbags is new to me, so definitely learning! Adding the 2.5" front and 1.5" rear lift was new to me as well, I have always had stock trucks. Towing my heavy wakeboat last summer has made me decide a small suspension upgrade would probably make towing a bit easier.

 

You won't regret the airbags when towing the wakeboat. Install is easy too. Lotsa videos out there.

 

hey all, dont mean to hijack this thread, but would the firestone ride rites be the right thing for me here?

https://imgur.com/6MVhVJF

easy to install?

 

I would say they would be good for your application. I installed mine in a few hours and i would say it's an easy install.

 

do i need a jack? any special tools?

 

You will need to jack up the truck by the rear hitch to give you room to put the bags in. I also recommend getting hose cutters like...

$6 Malida Pipe Tube Hose Cutter Scissors tool,Cuts 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" PVC Nylon PU for Water filters Reverse Osmosis System.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0168X4QBQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

got it. i think the suspension is just super loose in this sport model. not too familiar with toyota trucks...i know my 2500 duramax didnt sag at all.