Single or Progressive AAL for camper shell?

I pretty much don't have suspension when I'm unloaded, lol. But majority of the time I am. It took about 5 years for my Deaver's to start sagging. But really it's not from what you'd expect. My Driver side looks great, but i'm starting to lean when loaded to the passenger side. It appears to be from the torque twist over time, probably from trying to move my heavy truck and heavy trailers. I've known some other people have the same thing. I reached out to Deaver to ask if I could swap side to side (being that they are listed as side specific) and they said absolutely no reason not to. Haven't done it yet, and might not, honestly. It doesn't bother me and still handles fine.

 

We had a truck with a camper come in like yours on factory springs. It was on the bump stops.

"Just do the oil change and kick it out"

Oooooooooooooooooooookaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

We've seen them come in with bags, but without on board air to maintain pressure, they just fail and collapse as well.

People used to have more than just money invested into their vehicles, now its just spread out the payments, cant afford to fix it anyway.

 

One trip with one of these and OEM suspension would be irreversibly damaged. As far as air bags go, I often recommend not adding the extra expense and complication of on board air with bag control. A nice bicycle pump is all you need, and way less places for air to leak. And I only recommend bags to people who will take their campers off frequently. Otherwise I definitely suggest leaf springs. OBA is more important with these campers for airing up the E load tires, but for most, they can do that at home or the gas station as they'll never be far from pavement.

 

Been years of offroading frequently, gear in the back all the time, roof top tent, and my dakar mediums havent sagged since the initial “settling down” after the install

I feel like it’s not even so much about the money because I got my dakar mediums for 500 bucks AAL is to be 150. The price difference isn’t that huge it’s more about the time and hassle of getting springs installed twice.

also you can do this in reverse OP, get full leaf pack like dakar mediums and AAL if they sag or your needs change, then you’d have dakar HD’s.


This september (the front has been lifted since the original pic so keep that in mind)

A week after install in 2021, truck pointed down slope and the front end was sagging and needed a lift too so it looks i had some sweet rake back then lol

point is, no significant sag since installing the dakar mediums and using the shit outta them


And just for fun, here’s my stock leaf springs after 6 mo with the shell

 

I haven’t seen this before but it looks like a really nice way to maintain whatever equipment you have and improve both loaded and unloaded ride quality. I’m gonna check this out as a way to maybe reduce some unloaded bed bounce.

 

But lots of people don't check their pressures is my point. No one cares anymore, OBA is for the lazy bones who the let the bags go flat.

When I had a truck with air I would go by rear ride height on a walk around. I didnt learn about the bike inflator till much later in my life, the 12v was a pain but I still did it.

 

Its an awesome system. It transfers weight to the frame and only does so when being loaded. I have nothing but positive things to say about RAS - it just works. Sometimes the most simple solution is indeed the best one.

 

Could you explain what you mean by "It transfers weight to the frame"?

 

Looks like they are on sale for $459 with a discount code of tacomaras

https://activesuspension.com/products/toyota-tacoma-2005-2021?variant=39608364597456

Here is a TW write up

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/roadmaster-active-suspension.174747/

 

Like so:


My understanding is that airbags are to save your leaf springs from unnecessary abuse when you’re towing heavy or hauling a really heavy load, but they’re not intended for daily use to support a shell

 

No no, i was referencing the RAS they were talking about. And it was kinda sarcastic. All sprung weight is on the frame.

In looking at the design, RAS seems to try to keep your leaf springs from flattening (elongating the distance between the axle and the rear leaf spring mount).

 

By transfer weight to the frame, I mean its resisting the flex of the leaf springs, and its hooked onto the end of the leaf, right where the frame rail connects, to do that. So yeah, the sprung weight is already on the frame, but its transferring the load that was directly on the leaf, to the frame. The frame is still taking the same amount of weight in theory, but its taking it from different directions once the RAS is on.

 

Ahh sorry ive just been skimming