Airbags vs Timbren vs Rancho RS9000XLs?

[spetka]

Hello all,

Just purchased a 2017 SR5 premium, and wanting to start making it a better tow vehicle than stock. My trailer is about 3700 lbs, 4000 with water. I have a weight distribution hitch that I was using with my old Explorer to tow with, and brake controller already. My Explorer had the tow package, but I did upgrade the rear shocks to "heavy duty" Monroes, which did help load and handling. But for the 4runner I want to make it a little better. Was researching airbags vs the Timbren kit, and they seem to do about the same but the airbags are more adjustable, which is also the downside of having to adjust it. But I am wondering if the Timbrens would make the ride worse when going off-road? The only off-roading I usually do is getting to campgrounds when necessary, some fire roads here and there, and washes out in the Anza Borrego Desert, nothing too crazy by any means, but I don't want something to make the ride worse. Then I was thinking maybe just getting the Rancho RS9000XL adjustables would be a good way to go, where I can just dial up the shocks to 9 when towing and then drop them back down for day to day or off-road? Anybody have experience with any of the 3 options? Or possibly combining them?

Thanks!

 

[MossJenks]

The Ranchos are (were?) nice for adjustment but shocks don't hold up a vehicle, springs do.

I used to love the Ranchos but I don't know if I'd buy them again. I had them on my 1st gen in the early 90s and they were great. Contrary to intuition I ran them around 5 on the street but then crank them up to 9 offroad (more damping to soak up the bigger hits) for a full on "magic carpet ride". But then I put some on my 2nd gen around 2004 or so and the adjusters all broke within a year. Maybe they've gotten better again but I don't think I'd buy them unless I really hear definitively "they've fixed those issues". Rancho used to be the "gold standard" but now I think they're just cheap.

 

[philsey]

If I were doing this, I'd have Bilsteins for better damping, plus airbags to keep the rear from squatting. The rear WILL squat with that tongue weight plus gear plus passengers. The 4R has soft springs.

I had Ranchos on a PF and didn't care for them.

 

[(none)]

I liked the adjustability option of the airbags, so I went that route. at the normal 5psi, you don't know they are there. I wheeled with them just fine, no issues.

When I installed the icon rear springs, I re-used the same airbags. They've worked just fine so far.

 

[spetka]

Ok thanks all! So sounds like airbags are probably the best item to get first. Looking around I see some from Airlift and some from Firestone. Both around the same price, I'll probably get the manual ones for now and possibly add a compressor later one. I have a decent size shop compressor in the garage I can use for now.

 

[(none)]

Ok thanks all! So sounds like airbags are probably the best item to get first. Looking around I see some from Airlift and some from Firestone. Both around the same price, I'll probably get the manual ones for now and possibly add a compressor later one. I have a decent size shop compressor in the garage I can use for now.

Sounds like a good plan. Even a cheap 12v compressor put the bags from 5 to 35 psi in no time. There isn't that much volume to fill.

 

[spetka]

Sounds like a good plan. Even a cheap 12v compressor put the bags from 5 to 35 psi in no time. There isn't that much volume to fill.

Is that about the max air pressure? Looks like a I can get a 12V compressor on Amazon for $30-40:

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00073-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0NMST9N8TTBFSHCMR4NE

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Portable-Air-Compressor/dp/B0036E9VB6

Which would be nice to have camping for filling up kids bike tires etc.

 

[(none)]

Is that about the max air pressure? Looks like a I can get a 12V compressor on Amazon for $30-40:

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00073-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0NMST9N8TTBFSHCMR4NE

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Portable-Air-Compressor/dp/B0036E9VB6

Which would be nice to have camping for filling up kids bike tires etc.

Yep, that'll work fine. It'll be slow to fill your tires if you air down off road, but for the airbags, kids bikes, etc, it'll be just fine.

 

[Jetboy]

Ok thanks all! So sounds like airbags are probably the best item to get first. Looking around I see some from Airlift and some from Firestone. Both around the same price, I'll probably get the manual ones for now and possibly add a compressor later one. I have a decent size shop compressor in the garage I can use for now.

IMO - buy the firestone ones. I've had both. The airlift routes the airline under the spring to the axle then has a drooping air line. Firestone bags replace most of the bumpstop and route the airline up to the frame directly. Between the two - I prefer the firestone - although I happen to currently have the airlift on my 5th gen. I didn't know about the differences and they had the airlift in stock. Should have looked closer.

At some point when I have some spare time, I'm going to try these.

Either these guys: GM autoride shocks - with my own dial adjustment for the magnetic dampening on the fly - Plus they have air lift capability and happen to be about the right length.

 

[spetka]

IMO - buy the firestone ones. I've had both. The airlift routes the airline under the spring to the axle then has a drooping air line. Firestone bags replace most of the bumpstop and route the airline up to the frame directly. Between the two - I prefer the firestone - although I happen to currently have the airlift on my 5th gen. I didn't know about the differences and they had the airlift in stock. Should have looked closer.

At some point when I have some spare time, I'm going to try these.

Either these guys: GM autoride shocks - with my own dial adjustment for the magnetic dampening on the fly - Plus they have air lift capability and happen to be about the right length.
https://www.arnottindustries.com/uploads/AS-2411_V1_20110501%20sm.jpg[/MG][/QUOTE]



Good to know, thanks. Looks like this place has the Firestones for a good price: [url=http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4588]1998-2017 Toyota 4Runner - Firestone Coil-Rite Air Bag Helper Springs (NO-DRILL) [REAR] [4135] | $89.95 | SD Truck Springs | Leaf Springs, Helper Springs and Suspension Parts[/url]

I had also seen some Gabriel air shocks that looked to add as much leveling as airbags, but wasn't sure if those would work as well. [url]https://www.amazon.com/Gabriel-49235-Hijackers-Air-Shocks/dp/B001AM8KAO/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1502465176&vehicle=2017-76-1005------------1-0&sr=1-1-catcorr&ymm=2017%3Atoyota%3A4runner&keywords=air+shocks[/url]

 

[Jetboy]

Good to know, thanks. Looks like this place has the Firestones for a good price: 1998-2017 Toyota 4Runner - Firestone Coil-Rite Air Bag Helper Springs (NO-DRILL) [REAR] [4135] | $89.95 | SD Truck Springs | Leaf Springs, Helper Springs and Suspension Parts

I had also seen those Gabriel air shocks, but wasn't sure if those would work as well. https://www.amazon.com/Gabriel-4923...r&ymm=2017:toyota:4runner&keywords=air+shocks

Skip the Gabriel shocks IMO. They're shitty shocks. if you turn them upside down the oil literally just pours out of the air hose inlet. I actually have a set for my camper to use as a height adjustment for going off-road. For that - they're cheap and work. Stock shocks are just fine for most use. Unless you want to lift or go fast offroad.