Air bags Vs Sumo

Ok, question. I know air bags are better because of adjustability, I had them on my 2nd gen and loved them. Only issue I had was I needed a friend to help me install them. I am not comfortable doing it myself.

Sumo springs seems easy and I could do that myself.

I don't tow very much, I want airbags or sumo springs just for when I have heavy loads in the bed. I am leaning toward sumos cause I can do it easily and don't really have heavy loads a lot, just for hauling occasional dirt, rubbish, bricks, camping etc.

what do you guys think? Am I missing anything?

 

TBQH, I don’t know why you want to install these things. If contraptions like air bags and sumo springs made sense for every day pickup stuff, they would be a factory standard feature. You aren’t taking your pickup outside its comfort by hauling dirt, rubbish, or camping gear.

 

I looked at those, read reviews until I was blue in the face, and ultimately gambled on the third option. Roadmaster active suspension.

Pros-

• easy to install. Like super easy
• Adjustable. Can change the spring rate from non-tow to heavy tow/haul and anywhere in between.
• No messing with stock bumps or ubolts

Cons-

• Adjustability is a bit of a misnomer. You need a solid 20 minutes and be comfortable with jacking the rear tires off the ground to adjust.
• If you get lazy like me and leave it in heavy tow mode, the rear will be stiff when unloaded. Naturally. Also, the unloaded truck in heavy mode raises up an inch or so, stink-bug stance.

Overall- I've been running mine since 2017, even kept them when I traded trucks and reinstalled. I still like them.

 

I installed sumos the other day as I'll be adding a pop up shell and have about 500 lbs at all times in the bed. I liked the simplicity of them and the concept, which I admit may just be good marketing.

 

I ran sumos (612-40s) for a couple years due to cap and weight. They firm up the back nicely especially with the softer OR suspension would wallow a bit. Now I have Deaver stage 2s and the sumo springs are extended bump stops to keep from bottoming out Eibach shocks. The sumos worked well for me until I upgraded leaf packs and continue to serve a function.

 

My 2nd gen would bottom out with a few hundred pounds of weight in the bed. This 3rd gen seems much stiffer but I was being proactive and considering options.

 

The airbag kits arent much more work than new bumpstops these days. No drilling needed.

i went with airbags cause ill go between no load and heavily loaded down on any weekend (ditrbike, firewood, misc junk, hungry wife, dog, tools, trailer). It works great for what I need.

Also I cant see spending 300+ bucks for a chunk of rubber.

 

I went with sumos because greater reliability / can’t fail. Bags are certainly better for towing and adjustment. Sumos can be found cheap occasionally. I think I bought mine for around $100 warehouse deals on Amazon.

 

Airbags: Adjustable which is nice. They limit downward wheel travel, droop, and you do not have any bump stops (the bags are not to be used as bump stops).
Sumo: No limit to droop. Easy to install. Kinda one big bumpstop.
Roadmaster: Not "popular". Adjustable, does not limit droop, and keeps factory bump stops.

 

Airbags are substantially more difficult to install. Sumos are installed loosening the spring bolts, slip in the spring, and tighten. No need even jack the truck.