Firestone Ride-Rite vs Speedbumps (19 OR)

Hey all, a while ago I installed FS ride-rites on my 2019 TRD Off-road with stock suspension. They've been great considering the load I tow and no real issues under normal driving circumstances.

However once the rear goes over a speed bump it's extremely harsh. I've tried all different psi levels (5,10,15 etc) with an empty bed and still get an insane jolt. Is this the struts/suspension "topping" out? Any alternatives to installing a lift with higher/longer travel?

Thanks!

 

I have Ride Rites on my 2010 double cab 4x4 and I had them on my 2005, as well.
They are to supplement the stock springs to prevent bottoming-out and level the ride... They have been perfect for me in doing just that: 10-15 psi empty and 20-35 psi loaded.

I don't know what you mean by "chaos"...?

You say you are empty? Yes, if you are over 15 psi empty, you will be pretty stiff bouncing over bumps... so drop the air to soften the ride!

The airbags are to increase the stiffness of the suspension and level the truck for heavy loads and to prevent bottoming out.

 

What I mean is if I do anything other than crawl over a speed bump, I get a huge jolt like you just hit the frame on something. Sends anything in my bed flying etc. This occurs even at 5psi.

 

Yes, even 5 psi can cause what u describe. On my tundra I added the daystar cradles and the space they take up preloads the bags some. I typically run about 1-2 lbs, and still some of the big hits....

I have also seen people use a vacum pump if you are worried about too low of minimum pressure in the bags. Take all the air out and put in some negative pressure

 

I should of mentioned I have the cradles as well. But that's an interesting idea @ negative pressure.

 

For sure with cradles try it, i would do the vacum pump but the tundra always has weight in the bed ontop of the 38 gallon tank!!

 

Hmmm... at 5-10 psi, I would think your leaf springs would be doing most of the work? I don't sense the airbags doing anything until I am over 10 psi? How was driving over speed bumps before you installed them?

 

It was fine. This happened;

• While bags were bolted top and bottom
• Lower bolts removed
• With cradles installed (lower free obviously)

 

I had the ride rites installed with daysyar cradles at stock height for a while and it was as you suggested very harsh and would bottom out easily over bumps. Once I lifted 2.5” it’s been a dream and all of those issues are gone. If you’re thinking about lifting. Stick with the ride rites.

The cradles take up a lot of space limiting the up travel of the suspension causing it to bottom out much much sooner at stock height. If you’re not gonna lift id suggest removing the cradles and installing as normal attaching them to the axle should help with bottoming out

 

Like the above poster said.
I'm all stock but the whole system bottoms out over any good bump. I don't want to lift but might have to in order to get the best ride.

 

I had airbags and cradles in my 2016 and it did the same thing.
I installed the Roadmaster Active Suspension on my new 2020 and it is so much better.
No harsh impacts and it actually improves the handling when empty and loaded.

 

How quickly can you adjust the load? As you know the air bags can be quick if you have air handy.
Could you still offroad with those?

 

They take about 15 min to adjust, but I have mine set at 35% and just leave them alone. Thats the nice part about them is you don't have to keep adjusting them.
I tow a 1500lb teardrop plus other stuff and they do great, unlike airbags they really help control the rear suspension.
I go on plenty of fire roads and easy trails and never had a problem, my truck is my only transportation so I'm not going to thrash it off road anyway.

 

I don't find my Ride Rites to be any more harsh than stock. I keep 10lbs in them. I like them a lot.

Speedbumps are designed to be harsh.

 

Is your truck lifted? Sounds like on stock suspension they bottom out. They are designed to be harsh but this is like hitting a speedbump at 30mph in a red wagon.

The roadmaster active suspension looks interesting, I honestly didn't even know they existed. Thanks!

 

The side benefit of the Roadmaster system is the improvement in handling with no negative impact on ride comfort.

 

From what i have seen, it is definitely an issue with insufficient up travel (with air bags and the daystar cradle). Installing them without the cradles will definitely help.

Ironically, you can actually get a less jarring ride by running a bit higher pressure (I have found), as it increases spring rate but gives more up travel.

I intend to build a new mount to get the cradles lower (or take the cradles out and run bags only), but i havent gotten around to it yet.
Something like this, but for us 3rd gen I think it needs to go lower
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lip-daystar-cradle-bump-stop-sold-out.638686/

 

No. My truck is not lifted. However, it has a cap on it and a few things usually in the back to the tune of around 100 extra lbs. So there's some weight there requiring more than the minimum 5PSI as recommended.
So maybe that, and the air bags at that specific PSI, must work well together.
I'm satisfied with the Ride-Rites.

 

I've never had a useful truck - that rode like a car.

This Tacoma was quite a disappointment when I put any sort of load in the bed, it was on the bumpstops all of the time. Needs to be rated as a 1/4 ton truck..... Riderites fixed the "collapsed springs at any load situation". They work better than a heavy fixed rate leaf pack in my opinion - some adjustment is better than none.