Air Lift for 23 Platinum

Looks like after doing a little towing this week I'm going to need to install an air suspension, entirely too much sag. Is anyone running the Air Lift 5000 on thier Tundra, if so thoughts, Pros and/or Cons.

 

I cant comment on how they perform for now as i just received my kit this week I opened the box to look at instructions and it looks fairly simple. I went with the 5000 ultimate kit just because I can leave bags empty when not using I’ll be doing installation this weekend probably

 

I am installing them tonight. Here is a video of the installation on a TRD Pro.

https://youtu.be/o-4oL8zuvJ4

 

How did the install go?

 

It went well. Haven't had a chance to tow with it yet. I did one side at a time. I'm a wuss when it comes to putting the entire rear end up on Jack stands.

 

LOL, it got done that's all that matters! When you get the chance to use them, would you mind letting me know what your thoughts on them are? How do they ride when you're empty? Inquiring minds want to know.......thanks!

 

Did mine yesterday it wasn’t hard at all the only struggle I had was to install the air valve by the license plate top hole ! Even had to look in owner manual on how to lower spare tire lol ! The instructions from airlift are crystal clear.

 

I’m waiting on my 5000 ultimate kit. I purchased a week ago and it’s on back order. Hoping that the 22 tundra kit fits my 23 sequoia.

 

I highly highly recommend running some sort of either wireless/wired controller, or a bluetooth app. An on-board compressor makes all the difference for not only dialing in the pressure while on the moved, but also maintaining that pressure 24/7. Sure beats having to find a gas station every time you need air. Mine remembers settings and the second I turn the truck on it tops off the bags if there was any pressure lost over night. Well worth the money. I did plumb in a backup manual fitting as well. In case someone uses my truck and needs different settings.

 

What were you towing?

Tongue weight?

Weight distribution hitch?

Appreciate the feedback. My Tundra should be here soon and I'll be towing a ~7000 lb camper with WDH. Curious if I'm going to need air bags or not.

Thanks

 

You’re going to need them. You will be squatting. What is your tongue weight?

 

I had the Firestone airbags on my 4runner and I agree turning on my garage compressor or remembering to fill them up before I went to grab the trailer was a pain. That price tag is pretty large for something I use maybe once a month so I’m doing something a little different this time. I purchased a AC/DC portable air compressor for $30, it won’t be too inconvenient to fill up now. I have already used it for a tire problem so it’s been worth the money already. Once you figure out what pressure you need for your given load there’s not much guess work after that. I’ve never had to stop to readjust air pressure in the middle of a tow.

 

Right at 700#

Thanks

 

I did the same with the Firestone airbags on my old XTerra. worked fine for the occasional need to air up.

 

This will be the third truck I have had Air Lift airbags on. 2 Silverado's and now the Tundra. Haven't towed a trailer yet with the Tundra (only at about 900 miles right now) but I have a camp trip coming up in a couple weeks where I will be. Having had almost the exact same set up on my other trucks My thoughts are.

1.Unloaded if you keep 5-10 psi in the bags you don't even really know they are there if anything it may help the ride ever so slightly. I used to keep 10 psi in there because I had a topper on my last truck.

2. I would get the ones with the bump stops (think that is the ultimate), I personally feel having a bump stop in there is a good idea in case you underfill them and bottom out or in the very unlikely event they blow out you won't bottom out frame to axel

3. Not required but I highly recommend getting the on demand air compressor, it is pricy but the ability to adjust on the fly going down the road is very very nice (its one of those you don't use it hardly ever but it makes you smile every time you do). My first truck I didn't do the compressor and my second truck I did it and never regretted buying it for a minute. You get to camp boom drop pressure after you unhook and drive to town. Unhook your trailer ball...deflate the bags and you can pop out of the coupler. It is very handy to not have to find a way to air them up or down and saves time and just one less thing to think about while on the road. I actually pulled my compressor off my old truck before I traded it in along with my bags, repainted the bracket on the compressor that had been under my truck for 4.5 years with some heavy coats of paint and then enamel and re-installed it on the new Tundra. Also sold the old bags for $200.00. Any easy aftermarket stuff always pull it off and sell it before a trade because the dealership don't care at all what you put on there. The wheels and parts I pulled off my trade in truck I ended up getting about $1600.00 to put towards new toys on the new truck. Funny thing was I think I paid something like $400.00 to buy the bags then used them for 4.5 years and then got $200.00 back out of them because the price had shot up to $550 so it seemed like a good deal to someone else. Something to keep in mind if you ever go to trade in the Tundra is you can likely recoup some money off your initial purchase.

4. Inevitability after googling where to buy them you will see SD springs will be cheapest. I highly suggest calling first to see if they have them in stock (maybe get them to put it in writing before you pull the trigger)....I waited 4 weeks after getting the second email that it will be 2 more weeks and finally started pestering them like hey WTF you took my money where my parts? and then they basically said we don't' have them in stock, but for $60.00 more we can ship them through a third party (still was about $30.00 cheaper then everywhere else at the time which it seems like they have raised their prices slightly now).... I Did that and they showed up two days later and for some reason AirLift didn't put any cardboard in the box to keep all the parts from banging against each other imagine one of the drums they use to make polished rocks in gift shops.....I sanded the chips of missing paint and gave the brackets a couple extra heavy coats of paint and they ended up refunding $30.00 for the trouble. Sounded like they might have exchanged them but I had parts in hand after 5 weeks of waiting. Not sure if I get a blem or something that got returned without its packing materials or something??? who knows, but I know my other sets didn't have that problem so take that with a grain of salt.

Overall I think Airbags are a necessity on any truck you have if you haul or tow anything and I feel the compressor is necessary as well (others will disagree). They eliminate squat and the ride quality and control is much much better loaded.....now if Bilstein would get their ass in gear and get some 5160's and 6112's for the 3ed gen I would be dialed in again....

Thats my 5 cents....

 

Thanks for asking the OP his specs before I did.
Considering a new TV so I'm curious about this as well.

At 700# there is hopefully no need for suspension modification to prevent sag. On my 2019 with OEM suspension my truck is perfectly level w/o my WDH attached and 700 lbs on the hitch.

 

I went through the same thing. They emailed me twice offering to ship through a third party, and when I cancelled the order one of their salesmen called and wanted me to call back to see how "we can get you those airbags shipped out to you today". I don't even believe they ever have them in stock and just use the low price as some type of sketchy business practice. I ended up paying more but had them in three days and no hassles at all.

Agree with the on board compressor. I installed my compressor in the bed under a tonneau cover cassette and it works great at keeping the pressure at the right level.

I've towed a 6500 pound little toy hauler that is hitch heavy at about 800 pounds. The trips were 175 miles one way and having the Load Lifter 5000s combined with my Andersen weight distribution hitch, I didn't have any issues and it feels more stable than without.

 

I’m on week 2 for SD. Who did you buy through? I should probably cancel to, I need them within the next week.

 

Thanks. My Suburban (similar payload cap.) doesn't sag but it also has the air-ride suspension which may be compensating.

 

I also canceled an order with SD after ordering, then finding out they were not in stock. I purchased some on Ebay for just a few more bucks and got them immediately.

I have yet to install, but do not have an onboard compressor. Planning to get one at one point, but wondering if maybe I should on the initial install, so I don't need to re-route any lines or anything later on.

 

does the air-lift kit use firestone bags? Had firestone bags on my silverado and they saw 5-180psi and worked awesome. Definitely recommend having a compressor or even an air tank so you can air up on the fly. Air valves are cheap and all you need is simple toggle to air up or down

 

I went with etrailer. It was definitely more but they had them in stock and they ship fast.

 

I wonder why the big difference in price SD $460 eBay $570 4wheel parts $620.

 

just called SD, overseas customer service. Waiting for a call back now because they are busy. Blah

 

FYI I just talked to SD yesterday afternoon. They have none in stock and told me it would be a little while (though I don't know what "little while" means). I needed them fast (by end of next week) and they said that will not happen, so I canceled.

 

Thanks I’ll cancel mine too

 

I ordreed

My theory is they wait for blemish returns, so that is why they aren't ever in stock. Basically I think they have to wait for someone to return a set then they buy that set at a deep discount and send it to you hoping you'll just take em for the low price. Even paying the premium to have their third party ship them I got them for $510.00 including taxes and everything and bought $10.00 in paint to make em look pretty again. Original price was $460 + $20tax and then $30 to get them from their third party (it was $60.00 but I made them laugh at how bad the parts were scratched up and they took $30.00 off for me painting them) Soo at $520.00 all in compared to etrailer at $660-ish w/ taxes I'm still happy with my purchase but I won't order from SD springs again.

 

I bought mine from SD springs. I had to wait a couple weeks, but I eventually received them after multiple phone calls.

 

The way they go about the third party you maybe exactly right, they did the same thing over the phone today. Presented it as “options” lol. Sketch

 

What psi would you run in your tires to tow a tt with 700lbs hitch weight On stock tires 265/60/20. ?? 40psi