More Leafs or Airbags

Has anyone here added leafs or stiffer leafs to reduce sagging and then switched to air bags or the other way around? Any reviews?

My truck's outside work (I work nights) with maybe 600 lbs of gear in it plus my fat arse (265lbs or so) and the rear end is sagging all to crap, similar to when I have two dirt bikes in the bed.

I hear leafs make it pretty bouncy all the time when unloaded whereas the airbags allow you to adjust when needed, but I wanted to get some thoughts from people who've done both airbags and stiffer leafs to see if there was a clear preference.

 

Got a 2011 4x4 trd and i didnt bother with the dealer 4 leaf pack upgrade. I put FireStone Ride Rite Airbags on. Also the DayStar Cradles. No pics ,but you can do a search on here under firestone ride rite install. might answer some questions you may have. Just get the ones for your model truck. No drilling .Just bolt on. they say you need too maintain a min. 5lbs air at all times Except when up on a lift for work, they need to be empty. A bicycle pump works fine.Hauled a trailer with one and a half rick of green fire wood at 15 lbs trk sat level. Doesnt take much air to do the job. Got mine from AutoAnyThing.I put the cradles on .....Basicly the airbag will free float. Factory ride with no load but bags 5-8 lbs. Carrying a load add some air . When putting it in the shop on lift you dont need to empty the bags anymore Also if you go off road at all the air bags would limit suspension travel,cradles allow full factory travel. Kinda the best of both worlds,loaded or empty.

 

Ride comfort?

 

Ride comfort.... I think it rides like when I bought it. Factory ride. With out the cradles, some people say it rides stiffer.( search firestone ride rite install.. lots of info ) Cradles allow bags to free float......giving normal suspension travel (full range of suspension travel as from factory).

 

I did the TSB springs first in my 2006 DC/SB and eventually had to go to Firestone RideRites. The bags will get your ride height back, you will sacrifice a small amount of ride comfort, losing some body roll, and lose some suspension articulation in you're off road.

There is a new airbag out there made by Airride that has an internal snubber, therefore you can run 0 PSI. Firestones require you to run a minimum of 5 PSI. Personally I didn't mind the ride and I rarely had to put more than 5 PSI in them, only once I went to 15 PSI on a heavy haul. I was pleasantly pleased with the ride of my 2013 DC/LB without airbags when I got it. If my springs sag on my 2014 I definitely would consider RideRites again.

I can tell you that the quality of the RideRites is very good and they are durable.