Rear Air Suspension on or off?

[LSUMBA]

When you start the T4R, RAS is automatically on. If you do not have anything loaded in the truck & if you are not towing anything, is there any benefit to turning RAS off using the button on the center console? Should you always ride with RAS on? What situations would merit turing RAS off?

Additionally, what exactly happens when you turn RAS off? Does it simply stiffen the rear suspension?

 

[iFORCE]

RAS raises or lowers your car. On startup and acceleration it'll automatically default to the proper setting depending on the load. you can not drive with RAS on high/low setting.

 

[JosephD05]

RAS raises or lowers your car. On startup and acceleration it'll automatically default to the proper setting depending on the load. you can not drive with RAS on high/low setting.

Actually, you can drive with the setting on HIGH up to 19mph, basically for off roading and fording. I believe the LOW setting for lower speeds than that.

 

[Koz]

The low setting is good for is loading and washing the vehicle. I also use it when backing up to hook up a trailer. The high setting is great for off-roading and going through high water. I also use it when backing up a trailer over a low driveway or low camping areas. I think it reverts back the auto leveling setting at approx 22mph. What is really sweet is when you add weight, the rear auto levels and the air bags provide the same ride quality as when empty.

I did a little research on the OEM system and I couldn't believe that Toyota even uses an air drier to take moisture out of the system.

Koz

 

[LSUMBA]

Maybe I wasn't very clear with my first post. I am not so much concerned with the different settings (hi, mid, low) of the RAS, as much as I want to know what happens when you press the RAS OFF button in the center console (the button located next to the height control button). What benefit does driving with the RAS switched off do you & what happens when you turn it off? Does it mean that the suspension stiffens & does not compensate for any sagging?

 

[iFORCE]

I know that if I turned RAS off when the car is off, it'll stay at the setting I last set it at. I haven't tried turning it off and then driving with it off... I'm not sure if it'll turn itself back on. If it does, with RAS off, it won't raise or lower due to load.

 

[rx900]

actually it does turn back on. I've tried turning it off, but after driving over like 30 mph, the "off" light went away.

Btw, i have a question to 4Runners with air suspension. I don't have that on my 4Runner, but was wondering if you guys also have the "Height Control: Hi, N, Lo" in the tach??

(Photo from My GX470)

 

[snap315]

Maybe I wasn't very clear with my first post. I am not so much concerned with the different settings (hi, mid, low) of the RAS, as much as I want to know what happens when you press the RAS OFF button in the center console (the button located next to the height control button). What benefit does driving with the RAS switched off do you & what happens when you turn it off? Does it mean that the suspension stiffens & does not compensate for any sagging?

To answer your question...

I my knowledge, there is NO benefit to driving with the RAS off.

The only thing is that you vehicle won't compensate for any heavy load you put inside you T4R.

I don't know WHY you won't want to keep it on. It doesn't "cost" anything, (gas, power, performance, etc.).

 

[Koz]

Since the system also operates when the vehicle is turned off, the off-switch option was added so the system can be turned off and not drain the battery, when the vehicle is not used for an extended period.

Koz