2011 bottoming out under load - Firestone Ride Rite?

Hi all -

Two summers ago I put 33" tires on my 2011 Tacoma and installed Bilstein Ready Lift struts and shocks. 2.5 lift on the front, 0 on the back.

Since then I've added an ARE canopy and a hitch style bike rack. This, along with my 50lb e-mtn bike loaded and some gear, is giving the truck some serious sag and is also now bottoming out.

The shop that installed the shocks suggested adding the Firestone Ride Rite air bags. Cost is about $900 installed.

Is this the best option?

Thanks!
Jason

 

It is one option. I used that setup for quite a while when I had stock suspension due to having heavy loads for camping trips and light loads normally. Air bags let you adjust for that. If your setup mostly maintains a heavier load and your load doesn't vary much, you might consider upgrading the springs to a set designed for the extra constant weight.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I expect the heavier load will not vary much, so a non-adjustable option will probably be fine.

Other than the adjustability party, what are the advantages to springs over the air bags? Cost?

 

Bags are cheaper and simpler to install. And are adjustable to compensate for weight changes.

Springs cost more both to buy and install. If you have them made for a specific weight range, when you are not carrying that weight it won't ride very well.

That's really what @TenBeers said, but your reply led me to think you might have misunderstood.

If you're going heavy all the time, springs are the way. If it's off and on, bags.

 

Ah, got it. Thank you for the clarification.

 

^Yeah, what he said

Air bags are typically cheaper than springs and allow for adjusting, they don't lift the vehicle at all, but they don't ride as smooth as good springs designed for the load. Not bad, though. Springs cost more, and most are going to give you a slight lift in the rear (1.5" or more), so you may have to level the front to match. But it will ride better, IMO.

 

Great info, thanks guys.