After much grief with Sumosprings I finally purchased firestone air bags. Need advice on controller

Just posted this to /towing to see if anyone had any input. Most of the info on that forum is good, but specific for the gen 1 & 2 trucks.

Wanted to see what 3rd gen had to say about it.

Hey guys. I have a 2016 TRD Sport that I purchased Sumosprings for last year. They work great if I'm towing my heaviest boat and have 5 people in the truck with their coolers and I just filled up full of fuel. Unloaded they are harsh and uncomfortable. I use my truck as a daily driver and tow my boat across town to the wharf 2-5 times a week with the occasional 120 mile trip (each way) to my parent's summer house. Power isn't the issue. The truck pulls just fine (65mph), revs a bit high but that's fine.

I just bought firestone airbags for the rear end and plan on putting them on in the next few weeks.

What I'm looking for are a few options that I haven't thought of, or advice for or against a product.

I want to control the bags independently so I don't run into any balance issues.

• Manual control is the easiest, but I'd need to lug out a bike pump and make sure the schrader valves are in a place I can reach with the pump.

• The next step up is mounting an air tank in my bed and using that to manually inflate the bags. Stops me from needing a pump every single time.

• Next up from there is getting an onboard compressor like the AirLift 25804 kit. This allows me to see pressure and fill both bags at once. This isn't my ideal but I could settle.

• The top of my budget is the AirLift 72000. Independent inflation, onboard compressor, wireless control. Should I just bite the bullet and do it right the first time?

Or... Should i just buy a bigger truck...

 

I would return airbags, and get the newer updated Sumo springs that are designed for 3rd gens 612 series 4". I'm guessing you have 610 series which are 5" tall, that ride on frame all the time. I have had airbags, and they just became a pain in the ass, unless you go with onboard system. I never had a balance problem, just leak problems after time.

Sell old your Sumo springs here, or Craigslist.

 

I am sending my sumos back to the factory to get the 612 version, but I need to replace my Ubolts whenever they come off. $90 for OEM replacements isn't worth replacing twice. I'll wait until the 612s come back and I'll decide whether or not I'll install the airbags. I just hate how harsh the sumosprings are when I hit bumps in the road. Maybe the 4" vs 5" will help that, who knows!

 

Sumo is letting you swap the old ones for the new?

i might go that route.

 

Contact them and ask about the 610 vs 612. They are charging me $150 for the new "springs", then crediting me $150 when the old ones arrive.

 

Wheelers have U-Bolts for $30 for full set, and Suspension connection is $32 a full set. I'm sure rest of the companies have them at or around the same price. Napa and other auto parts stores carry them, also If you feel you need to change them.

 

I just measured mine and ordered a set. I think they are 1/2"-20, 2-1/2" wide, 6-3/4" long.

Bought them off of AutoandTruckSprings.com. Going to send my sumos back without removing them from the axle so I can keep my U bolts on.

If i like the 612 length I'll keep the sumos on and sell/return the airbags. If not I'll be trying the airbags out.

 

Sounds like you have it handled. It's great Sumo is going to take care of you. I have a set of U-Bolts here if you need me to check measurements.

 

If you wouldn't mind confirming the size that would be excellent. I had to do it under my truck in a dirt parking lot (in a bad mood...) so I'm not 100% I got the correct numbers.

 

Ok, 1/2"-20, 2-1/2", 6-1/2" inside dimensions. These are off a 18 Sport.

So, you should be good with the set you ordered,