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Airbags or AAL??

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by MAXTacoma, Feb 19, 2010.

  1. Feb 19, 2010 at 7:23 AM
    #1
    MAXTacoma

    MAXTacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So my truck suffers from the typical sagging rear end because of the weak rear suspension. It bottoms out all the time with just me in the truck. When I pull the boat or have any weight in the rear it sits on the bump stops the whole time. Is there any advantage of airbags vs. AAL? Price? Reliability? Performance? Will either of these solve my problem? I tow the boat about once a weekend in the summer and haul firewood in the fall. I need something that is going to be durable. Whats the best?
     
  2. Feb 19, 2010 at 7:28 AM
    #2
    CAMZTRD

    CAMZTRD Well-Known Member

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    steve
    hampton, va
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC TRD Off-Road 4x4
    billy 5100's @ 2.5 w/ 1/4 spacers, toytec aal, LR UCA's, revotec headlights,revotec taillights, lamin-x fogs, color matched grille and rear bumper, undercover, bed-extender, black nerf bars, scan gaugeII , afe drop in, 50 series flowmaster, 6000k bi-xenon hids, more to come.......
    air bags are pricey but work great.., aal will help with towing also for alot less money...
     
  3. Feb 19, 2010 at 7:30 AM
    #3
    Paul's TRD

    Paul's TRD I'm Not Your F***ing Brother

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    good question, cuz, I was wondering the same thing if I do the aal with a lift kit will it give it more strength and prevent it from bottoming out or sagging too much.
     
  4. Feb 19, 2010 at 7:31 AM
    #4
    CAMZTRD

    CAMZTRD Well-Known Member

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    steve
    hampton, va
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC TRD Off-Road 4x4
    billy 5100's @ 2.5 w/ 1/4 spacers, toytec aal, LR UCA's, revotec headlights,revotec taillights, lamin-x fogs, color matched grille and rear bumper, undercover, bed-extender, black nerf bars, scan gaugeII , afe drop in, 50 series flowmaster, 6000k bi-xenon hids, more to come.......
    i tow a 5500lb trailer with the toytec 2"aal and it does fine..i never bottom out.
     
  5. Feb 19, 2010 at 7:41 AM
    #5
    MAXTacoma

    MAXTacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    If i just did the rear 2"AAL w/o the front lift would that make the truck sit level or would the back sit higher than the front? When you tow your trailer do it bottom out?
     
  6. Feb 19, 2010 at 8:04 AM
    #6
    CAMZTRD

    CAMZTRD Well-Known Member

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    steve
    hampton, va
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC TRD Off-Road 4x4
    billy 5100's @ 2.5 w/ 1/4 spacers, toytec aal, LR UCA's, revotec headlights,revotec taillights, lamin-x fogs, color matched grille and rear bumper, undercover, bed-extender, black nerf bars, scan gaugeII , afe drop in, 50 series flowmaster, 6000k bi-xenon hids, more to come.......
    well your truck sits 1" higher in the rear from the factory...so if you add 2" more...its going to be far from level.....and no it does not bottom out when towing
     
  7. Feb 19, 2010 at 8:20 AM
    #7
    MAXTacoma

    MAXTacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well I really dont want to do a whole lift. Is there any other AAL is just stronger?
     
  8. Feb 19, 2010 at 8:25 AM
    #8
    Fortech

    Fortech Well-Known Member

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    Bilstein 5100's, rear TSB, Firestone bags
    I have a pair of Firestone air bags in my 2005 Tacoma, and had an AAL in my '98 Tacoma. In my opinion the air bags are better for 90% of normal use and are no more expensive.

    Air bag kit costs apx. $250 or so if you can install yourself very easily. If you get an AAL kit most will have to go to a local garage and pay ~2 hrs labor on top of the cost of two new leafs, u bolts and other misc hardware. I don't really see the difference in price here?

    Air bags can be inflated and deflated according to the weight of your load. You can always level the truck the way you want it regardless of weight, even from left to right if you have the bags on separate air chucks.

    I haul my snowmobile all winter and haul maybe 20-25 loads of firewood, and on occasion my sport-bike, throughout the summer. I have had the bags now for three years without a hitch. Rear droop is not limited by the bags if you off road, rather the shocks will extend to full length before the bags.

    I just made a similar post an hour ago regarding how happy I am with the bags. Install took maybe 2 hours by myself with just normal wrenches and hand tools. Best money spent of the truck IMHO.

    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/76215-got-snowmobile-tacoma.html
     
  9. Feb 19, 2010 at 8:35 AM
    #9
    MAXTacoma

    MAXTacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the information. I think I'm more leaning towards the airbags now than the AAL. I really just want the back to stock sagging, I dont want a lift necessarily. How hard is it to install? I know you said it took about 2 hours with some wrenches but was there anything difficuilt or just time consuming? What brand bags did you buy?
     

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