Air ride or add a leaf

Hello everyone. I’m pulling the trigger on a ‘21 DC longbed for a new glass truck. It will be sporting an aluminum glass rack that weighs around 1200lbs fully loaded. 900lbs empty.
https://unruhfab.com/equipment/pickup-truck-glass-racks/

https://www.chaosfab.com/product/2007-2021-Toyota-Tundra-Bed-Stiffeners-48677
I have already decided to go with the bed stiffners but am unsure if I should go with the add a leaf or air ride addition for the full time extra payload. anyone that has a utility bed or something similar with experience in this what would they recommend and why.

Thank y’all for the advice!

 

No DOT inspection. I’m more concerned with structural integrity

 

I would likely opt for a new set of leaf springs that are designed for the constant additional weight.
Air bags rely on a compressor and extra parts that increase the failure factor.
Leaf springs are just leaf springs that don't have electronics, a lot of moving parts and usually don't fail.
I vote for beefier leaf springs and a rear sway bar.

 

The spring route is a better way to go, but the add-a-leaf isn't ideal. They are curved too much and designed for lift, leading to eventual failure with a load. You want to match the factory curve (which isn't much) with more leafs. Boise Spring does kits for Tundras where they add 4 leafs to each side and remove the overload, and people seem very happy with them on Wander the West forum. Cost shipped was ~$550 a couple years ago, but like everything it's probably higher now. You could also probably find a local spring shop that would do the same thing.

Shocks with more damping would be a good idea too... I like the Ironman FCPs on mine.

 

Awesome so the Boise spring kit just adds to the top of the existing leafs it looks like from the picture. Would I be loosing a good bit of travel going that route? We do glass for heavy equipment (cat, komatsu, John Deere, etc) so we will be driving through rough job sites multiple times a day for grading crews. That would be my only concern is if we loose travel.

 

They just add 4 leafs to the 3 stock ones, minus your overload. If stock curve is maintained, travel up and down will be the same as stock. You'll gain a little ride height I think because the pack is thicker.

 

Dobinson's HD 5+2 leaf packs. Solid product for around $1200.

 

Bags are great. I’ve run mine for several years without issue, occasionally running gravel roads at 50+mph with similar loads. They have helped my factory springs last longer. I ran each bag on a separate line up to the gas tank filler where they are easy and convenient to access. The nice thing about them is that they can be adjusted to suit the load and aired down when not needed. I’ve almost always had a compressor with me so it is convenient to fill wherever I am. Recently, I purchased an m18 inflator (the m12 version is good for basketballs and bike tires, and works great for air bag lines but not truck tires) and use it to adjust the bags and air up tires on the rare occasion that I need to air down (had to recently to self extract myself and trailer from the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm).

That said, I am looking at entirely new custom leaf springs as my Icon 3 leaf add a leaf has not held up to the weight as I hoped. Alcan spring quoted me $1200 plus shipping, so it isn’t cheap. Maybe we ask them for a volume discount if 2 sets (says me jokingly).

 

Not for this application.

Which ones? I think I'm going to get springs and bags both...

 

I chose Firestone Ride Rides. The main reason I chose them over Airlift was the jounce bumper - or rather, the absence of a jounce bumper on the ride rites. I understand the reasoning behind putting one in the bags (so you can run 0 psi and not worry about destroying the bag by bottoming it out) but I didn’t see a time when I would need to run 0 psi. Very rarely is my bed empty, and since I decided to leave my camper shell on year round instead of swapping it for my tonneau in the summer, there’s always going to be enough weight on the bags to offset the minimum 5 psi.

Also, due to the leaf spring position that Toyota chose being directly under the frame, there is a limited amount of room between the axle and the frame. Many manufacturers place the leaf spring outboard to the frame which sometimes allows the upper bag bracket to be mounted higher up on the frame or adjusted for different ride heights. Additionally, I chose to add Daystar cradles which are about 1/2” or maybe 3/4” thick; I don’t honesty recall offhand, but they take up a little more room. So while there is enough room for bags, the jounce bumper wouldn’t have much room before engaging.

The Firestone bags have held up very well to my use and abuse. Gravel roads, rutted two track, hours of freeway towing and hauling on 100+ degree days, completely ice and snow packed undercarriage, heavy trailers, and lots of weight in the bed… they’ve made me a believer and been well worth the cost. I’ve had zero leaks with the plumbing, as well. I thought I had blown a bag last winter as one day it had zero psi in it, but I’m pretty sure it was a buddy poking a little fun at me; duramax owner humor, I guess… It has not had any pressure issues since. I think I’ve got around 100k miles on them. Maybe a little more.

and added bonus, they even make a fun Monty Python and the Holy Grail-esque “clipptity cloppff” when flexing the suspension enough for the bags to leave the cradles, then reengage..

 

Oh, the clippity clop is a selling feature for sure!

I've been looking at long travel bags though. Zidaro on Tundra Solutions and ExPo had good luck with them, but is the only one I know who has used them on a Tundra. And I was going to upload a photo from my computer but I don't see a way to do that. Pretty sure I've done that before... ? Anyway, I can't remember why I thought this was a better way to go, but this is the kit: https://airbagit.com/products/towkit-toy4?rq=yr_2016~mk_toyota~md_tundra

 

I’ve heard a mixed bag about airbagit gear. I can’t say they are junk cuz I’ve never used them, but the reviews I’ve seen are polarized: they are either the best thing since sliced bread or dumpster worthy. I don’t recall which series I was looking at but they had something like 9 or 10 inches of travel. Prolly a triple convoluted bag. Luckily, the cradles and firestones have met my needs.

 

Ah, you have a big lift which gives more room for the bags. I want to be at stock height.

 

Check out Ironman 4x4 greasable shackles and bushings if you get decent springs. Definitely a great improvement to the system. Install with the zerk fittings to the outside for ez lube maintenance.

 

No, that’s just the wheel drooping. I thought I had a shot of the bag out of the cradles but wasn’t looking close. Stock springs and shackles, so stick height. Just showing that the bags and cradles don’t limit suspension travel.

Couldn’t find a parking spot so I drove half way up the snow pile in the parking lot. Stuffed the other side. My boys thought it was hilarious. As did a jeep guy in the next row.

 

not sure if it’s a GA thing or not but we haven’t ever had issue with DOT. Hopefully this isn’t me speaking something into existence

 

Will do thank you for the tip

 

“I understand officer but you see I have a really big family and we are all known for being clumsy and having bad luck”