Load leveling Airbag / Air shock

chrisdowling84

chrisdowling84

New member
Getting ready to make a trip from CT to GA with a trailer with about 1500lbs of my house hold goods and wanted to see if anyone has any experience/suggestions/kits they are currently running to combat the rear sag while towing. I did it from NY to CT and I really didnt like hitting any bumps, as it seemed like it was really close to bottoming out. I'm running the Ultimate lift from Toytech, and non superflex coils. Thank you in advance!
 
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1500lb trailer will have less than 200lb of tongue weight, you shouldn't need anything.

I forget which brand of air bags I have, but I used them at max PSI to pull an over 5K lb trailer from Atlanta to Western Colorado. Even at max PSI, it sagged pretty badly, and I had to adjust my headlights for the trip. Don't think it ever bottomed out, though.
 
chrisdowling84 said:
Getting ready to make a trip from CT to GA with a trailer with about 1500lbs of my house hold goods and wanted to see if anyone has any experience/suggestions/kits they are currently running to combat the rear sag while towing. I did it from NY to CT and I really didnt like hitting any bumps, as it seemed like it was really close to bottoming out. I'm running the Ultimate lift from Toytech, and non superflex coils. Thank you in advance!
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Chris tongue weight is key for this. Just make sure you have your trailer loaded properly (weight bias correct) and you should not bottom out. If you are, with a tongue weight of 150 lbs, you have something broke.
 
I just looked at my weight ticket from my last pcs, it was apparently 3947 on weight and I know the trailer is 500lbs.


When I was done with the trip last time I had to take my front upper control arms apart and relube them as it was skweaking so bad
 
chrisdowling84 said:
Getting ready to make a trip from CT to GA with a trailer with about 1500lbs of my house hold goods and wanted to see if anyone has any experience/suggestions/kits they are currently running to combat the rear sag while towing. I did it from NY to CT and I really didnt like hitting any bumps, as it seemed like it was really close to bottoming out. I'm running the Ultimate lift from Toytech, and non superflex coils. Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

Due to all the positive reviews I've read from airbag users, and their fairly low cost, I'd certainly have them put on if this were my trip. I've done a lot of trailering, and anything (cheap) you can do to make a long highway trip more comfortable/safe would be worth it to me.

Surely the 4R is going to be loaded too? (people count).
 
philsey said:
Due to all the positive reviews I've read from airbag users, and their fairly low cost, I'd certainly have them put on if this were my trip. I've done a lot of trailering, and anything (cheap) you can do to make a long highway trip more comfortable/safe would be worth it to me.

Surely the 4R is going to be loaded too? (people count).
Click to expand...

Sounds like I will be making an Airbag purchase. So heres the breakdown of what I have done so far, stay with me, as its a little crazy..

Left Fort Belvoir, VA on 1 Jan and drove my 02' runner to Fort Gordon to look for a house, found one, and headed to Fort rucker AL for WOC school on 5 Jan.

Once I graduated at the end of Feb, I drove to Jacksonville FL, as my flight to CT was cancelled because of the ice storm in ATL. I was in CT for about 5 days, and flew back to AL to pick up my 02 runner to head out to FLW MO for WOBC.

Now, once I graduate next Friday, I have to drive to Fort Gordon GA to drop off the old 4runner so I can fly to CT to grab the wife, dogs (two Black labs) and my son, pack up the 4runner and trailer and drive it down to Fort Gordon where we will be for the next 3 years!

Ive done alot of driving since Jan!
 
Airbags and extended brake lines ordered! It was really tight installing the coils last time as it was limited by the brake line, so I'll be installing the extended ones before hand. Thanks for the help all
 
chrisdowling84 said:
Airbags and extended brake lines ordered! It was really tight installing the coils last time as it was limited by the brake line, so I'll be installing the extended ones before hand. Thanks for the help all
Click to expand...


?? You don't need them at all, in fact you don't need to remove the coils.

*Put the frame on jack stands- rear wheels off.

*Jack up one side of the rear axle extending the opposite spring.

*Take the cap off the airbag's nipple and kneel on the bag to squeeze all the air out. While compressed, put the cap back on the airbag.

*Squeeze the airbag into the coil, get it into position and pull the cap off again.

*Magic- the bag will resume it's original shape inside the coil.

*Hook up the airlines.

**Done.
 
Antman said:
?? You don't need them at all, in fact you don't need to remove the coils.

*Put the frame on jack stands- rear wheels off.

*Jack up one side of the rear axle extending the opposite spring.

*Take the cap off the airbag's nipple and kneel on the bag to squeeze all the air out. While compressed, put the cap back on the airbag.

*Squeeze the airbag into the coil, get it into position and pull the cap off again.

*Magic- the bag will resume it's original shape inside the coil.

*Hook up the airlines.

**Done.
Click to expand...

The air bags are tough, I tired to just squeeze them and insert them. It was a battle. Antman`s method is much better.
:ybrick:
 
Stock vs Lifted?

badhabits said:
Here is a link to Amazon for the airbags. It says it will not fit a 4runner but will fit a FJ, this one will work on the 4runner though. [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] has install help in his thread, just check the index for airbag install. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92013-antmans-thread.html



Amazon.com: AIR LIFT 60809 1000 Series Rear Air Spring Kit: Automotive
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Just curious...
Wouldn't this change for a lifted 4runner? I know it's what Airbag suggests for stock but I would have thought you would need taller bags for longer travel and lifted suspension? Or do they expand way farther in the longitudinal direction then needed for stock suspension?
 
Swarty said:
Just curious...
Wouldn't this change for a lifted 4runner? I know it's what Airbag suggests for stock but I would have thought you would need taller bags for longer travel and lifted suspension? Or do they expand way farther in the longitudinal direction then needed for stock suspension?
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Nope.

They work by expanding between the coils of the spring- not by extending like an air shock would.

I originally installed mine in stock springs, and they are currently installed in SAW 1.5" coils.

Work just as well.
 
Antman said:
Nope.

They work by expanding between the coils of the spring- not by extending like an air shock would.

I originally installed mine in stock springs, and they are currently installed in SAW 1.5" coils.

Work just as well.
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The only other question would be, I thought I saw someone cut that rubber bushing inside the coil to fit the bag better, is that not the case? And that would be awesome if I don't have to remove that damn coil again! I would however like to crank my coilovers up in the front, as they are still at the out of the box height. Just a random thought thrown in there, haha.

Oh I just got done looking through your build thread as well... I'm really digging your garage remodel. Was your garage floor sealed prior to doing that paint, or did you need to etch it before hand? How is it holding up?
 
When I thought of this question I dropped a line to air lift and this was their response:

"Hello David,

If you have a lift spring in your application, the stock kit will not work. If you can provide us with the inside diameter and height of the coil spring at ride height we should be able to find a bag that will work for you."

Obviously it will work since others have it already... Might be worthwhile to get the right size though.
 
Antman said:
?? You don't need them at all, in fact you don't need to remove the coils.

*Put the frame on jack stands- rear wheels off.

*Jack up one side of the rear axle extending the opposite spring.

*Take the cap off the airbag's nipple and kneel on the bag to squeeze all the air out. While compressed, put the cap back on the airbag.

*Squeeze the airbag into the coil, get it into position and pull the cap off again.

*Magic- the bag will resume it's original shape inside the coil.

*Hook up the airlines.

**Done.
Click to expand...

So in the directions it says to cut that bump stop looking cone on the inside of the coil.... Do i still do that?
 
chrisdowling84 said:
So in the directions it says to cut that bump stop looking cone on the inside of the coil.... Do i still do that?
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Ah crap. I forgot about that part. Yeah you gotta cut them so the springs gotta come out or it'll be a royal PITA to cut the stop. Sorry.

I actually took my springs out both times, but realized it was easy to squeeze the bags in there the way I described. That method still makes it easier even with the springs out though.
 
Antman said:
Ah crap. I forgot about that part. Yeah you gotta cut them so the springs gotta come out or it'll be a royal PITA to cut the stop. Sorry.

I actually took my springs out both times, but realized it was easy to squeeze the bags in there the way I described. That method still makes it easier even with the springs out though.
Click to expand...

thanks for the help! got everything wrapped up today... now if i could just locate the random rattle i have in the front end when i go over bumps
 
Antman said:
Ah crap. I forgot about that part. Yeah you gotta cut them so the springs gotta come out or it'll be a royal PITA to cut the stop. Sorry.

I actually took my springs out both times, but realized it was easy to squeeze the bags in there the way I described. That method still makes it easier even with the springs out though.
Click to expand...

I've heard you can just cut away pieces of the jounce without having to pull the springs. The important part is don't cut away chunks larger than the gaps between the spring. Anyone have luck with this method? I'm going to attempt install of the airlift this weekend.
 
FlyNavy said:
I've heard you can just cut away pieces of the jounce without having to pull the springs. The important part is don't cut away chunks larger than the gaps between the spring. Anyone have luck with this method? I'm going to attempt install of the airlift this weekend.
Click to expand...

It's so ridiculously easy to take the factory rear springs off and put them back on that I honestly would not waste my time trying to slice and dice the bump stops in order to avoid removing the springs. But if you're set on doing it this way, I would probably go to Home Depot and grab myself a fine tooth hacksaw blade and just saw through with it slowly by hand. The blade alone w/o the handle should be easy enough to maneuver around in there between the spring coils :)
 
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