Airbags, add-a-leaf, or?

I have a 2.5” OME kit with heavy coils and heavy leafs (I forget the pn’s). The truck sits level when empty, but I’m sagging about 1.5” in the rear with a loaded bed, rtt, and a little weight on the cab rack. Maybe a total of 650#. Should I bag the rear? Another couple of overloads? Add a leaf? Some combo of these?

 

AAL works great for a lot of members, my self included

 

Can you get 1.5” out of it? How’s the ride when empty?

 

I have some never installed pro comp AAL’s for my 85 4Runner that I never installed (went w 63” chevys instead)

 

@Blackout14 may have solution.

 

Springs if the load is permanent, airbags if it’s not. Strings will give you a shit ride if unloaded, but take the load far better than any other option out there. Bags a better when the load changes a lot as you can change the pressure. If you off-road a lot and use full articulation then you’ll need floating airbags as fixed ones will usually rip. Shock style Bump stops are an option, but again not for a permanent load.

 

That’s what I’m thinking. The load isn’t permanent, and I’ll have my rtt off some of the time also. On that note, I wouldn’t mind an inch of rake. So maybe a small aal with bags...

 

So I’m thinking I’ll go airbags with daystar cradles so I don’t limit travel. Does anyone know how that setup should be executed on a lifted truck? I.e., how to mount the bags to compensate for the added height over stock?

 

Link?

 

Google is going to be your friend here....
Type
How to install day star air bags tacoma

 

Best I could find
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/chuxs-2013-beach-buggy-build.339950/page-126#post-17305302

 

Anyone else?

 

That’s what I found too. A long thread. Got several pages in but no details.

 

This is every time @wheel spinner mentions air bags
https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/6734640/?q=Air+bags&t=post&o=date&c[user][0]=107741

 

I'm in SF and have some new in box firestone airbags I'm not going to use.

 

I just used Sumo Springs since load wasn't permanent. So far so good...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sumo-springs-for-lifted-applications.459775/

 

So airbags with cradles is in my opinion the perfects setup. Install is pretty straight forward except you don’t bolt the bags to the bottom plate, instead you bolt the cradle there. Also there are brackets that go between the bottom plate and the axle to support the plate. Those need to be extended if your lifted. Say stock leaf pack are 2” thick and your current leaf pack is 3.5” thick you will need to weld 1.5” onto the support.

 

@Chux had pictures from the day we did his setup. I can’t find them atm but maybe he still has them

 

What details you looking for?

 

Wheelspinner is right- I have a Dakar AAL, Firestone air shocks and Daystar cradles. Even without the cradles being used, the inner part of the lower air shock mount is designed to rest on the axle, but floats above it if you have modified or exchanged your stock springs for thicker ones.



Im planning on extending these to rest on the axle too.

As far as ride, the rear was very comfortable empty or loaded with just the Dakar AAL and the overload leaf intact. I change the bedload weight alot (Platform bed, lots of water and provisions, RTT, 21’ travel trailer, fuel cans, and a rockhounding wife and kid), so my butt was sagging a bit. Firestone air shocks along with Daystar cradles were the answer for me, but they ride kinda hard over bumps, even with air when not loaded, and ride very nice when loaded.