Firestone bags and Daystar cradles for offroading and towing

Just installed a Firestone ride rite kit with Daystar cradles to help out with the weight on the back of my 2015. I also using OME Dakars and a 1" block. I was looking to use Icon air bumps to help with the bump stops always hitting but a buddy recommended this set up and it rides like a champ! I'm running 20psi unloaded and 80psi when I have the truck loaded. No sag and levelled out. I installed on board air compressor and tank for tire quick fills and now with the bags, train horn coming soon.

 

Geeze, that's a nice setup there.

 

Nice truck, what wheels are those?

 

Sweet set up, I've been looking into air bags myself. Do they act as bump stops as well?

 

Yes they do, here is my setup. You have to be careful, it's a just air.

 

Nice! You're saying I can't beat down my truck on wash board roads with air bags installed?

 

What lift/height to you have going on in the front man?

 

Few questions:

• What are you carrying in that shell? I am surprised to find you are hitting the bumpstops enough to want to change. I have the CS047R springs, with a DCLB, campershell, 4 person RTT, 20 gal water, 10gal fuel, fridge, 2nd battery, firewood, and camping gear/food for 4 people for 4 days, and yes I did hit the bumpstops, but not that often. I've found the overload springs on the dakars can really hold weight, albeit they get stiff quick. I've also hauled a car trailer with well over 1000 lbs of tongue weight and it still held the weight with ~1.5" till the bumpstop would have touched.
• with 20psi unloaded, you don't find that too stiff? That will give several hundred pounds of carrying capacity.
• at 80psi, that should be giving you about 2000 pounds of force PER wheel ???!! as a pair with 100psi they are rated at 5000lbs...
• Do you think your springs are really sagging or something? dakars with a block should really have the back end up high? Trying to figure out how this is different from my truck. Perhaps a hub to fender measurement on the back of yours, with 0psi in the bags, would be useful to me.

Admittedly, I don't have airbags, but I am interested. Most others I've seen run just a few psi with a completely unloaded (no shell or anything), and only up to about 40psi when loaded just to take up the small amount of extra sag caused by the weight. I am about to add a full high clearance rear bumper, swingout, cans/ high lift and a bunch of other weight.

In the end, I guess all trucks are different, and you adjust air pressure to suit. That is the great thing about adjust-ability right?

 

I ended up pulling them off and using a heavier duty leaf pack. Wash board roads felt horrible. But it was good for every day driving that's about it. I've actually sold the truck about a year ago, and moved into a 3rd gen. Sorry if I'm of no help now lol

 

Procomp la Paz

 

I have Dakars plus AAL with air bags and cradles. It's a great setup for my uses. I rarely need to air up the bags, but it's nice to have them when I do.

This thread might help you.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/official-firestone-riderite-lift-thread.279865/

 

Who has cut their bump stops as opposed to removing them all together when putting this kit on? I want to remove, and in no fear of sounding like a newb, I'll ask. Can I loosen the ubolts that hold the leafs to the axle without clamping leafs or anything else. Just loosen them enough to slid the bump stop out completely and then tighten right back up. Also when doing this where should the jack point be?

 

Jack from under the axle. Put jack stands under there too. With the weight of the truck on the springs, they won't go anywhere. No need to use clamps.

 

PigPen coming through with the valuable information as always. Thanks. Now to find a bracket to extend to match up with the axle. If it's not one thing it's another!

 

After my new leaf packs were installed, I had a friend weld a piece of scrap steel to extend the bracket. He set a rectangle of scrap on the axle, flush against the bracket, tacked it in place, and ran a couple beads along the edges. Once it cooled, we rattle canned some black primer on it. Easy peasy.