TRD Pro + airbags = SUPER harsh ride.

Got ahold of a used TRD Pro a couple years back and one issue has always bothered me; while great off road it is absolutely BRUTAL when just driving around and hitting minor bumps.

Digging threw forums they all suggested one of the following:

Lower PSI in airbags (tested, mild/no difference)
Lower PSI in tires (lowered, very minor difference)
Put 300 pounds of concrete in the back (Did 400 pounds, helped some but not worth the weight)
Assume the person has never driven an unloaded truck before (this is my 5th)

As none of that helped, I tried to go a little more technical and look at what I actually have:

I have the upgraded Canadian leaf springs.
I have airbag suspension
Looks like they had a camper on previously as electrical is ran to the top of the bed railing + bed stiffeners.

All of this seems to suggest to me that he had the rear end setup to hold a LOT of weight.

So, I dove in even further and am now under the impression that what I'm running into is some type of 'internal' bump stomp INSIDE the airbags and that this makes your truck bottom out insanely easily (the 'harshness' that I'm feeling)

I'm going to pull them off later today... if this doesn't work I'll take it to some friends to investigate but with a newborn I just don't have the time to chase all this down.

Any other ideas to check for are welcome.

 

It seems you already have this figured out. You can continue to try and chase other ideas, but the reality of it is you have leaf springs for heavy loads, and without a heavy load you're going to have a rough ride.

 

To add to this, if you're running heavy springs with no weight, then you'll be seeing a substantial lift amount and probably at the extended limit if your shocks.

 

Amazing input. I'll add it under the forum member input area.

Truck is level.

 

This^ is the main culprit, I agree. I suspect you may have E-Rated tires too explaining the minor relief when lowering PSI. What PSI did you lower to?

What about your front end? Do you have that set-up for extra load too? (Heavy load springs?) - The front has a big influence on how the suspension feels...

 

'What about your front end? Do you have that set-up for extra load too? (Heavy load springs?) - The front has a big influence on how the suspension feels...'

Assuming you're referring to the coil overs, they are stock and perfectly fine. That is with a heavy bumper+winch.

You will literally roll over a 1/2 inch bump in the road, barely feel it with the front tires but you're going to feel it in your spine with the back.
So much so you SLOW down for bumps unless offroad. Why I have such a hard time believing its just the leaf springs since it was still brutal with over 300lbs in the back.

Tires are BFGoodrich baja champions all-terrains.

I'll pull the air bags and if its still a problem I'll swap out the leaf springs with some one's wrecked OEM hand me downs.

Part of me was just hoping some one would have some other areas to check like hangers or flipped u bolts etc. I'm likely over thinking it at this point.

 

You are 100% overthinking at this point. Take the rear leafs back to OEM and ditch the airbags and you will be just like everyone else.

 

I think he said he bought it this way. So he probably won't have the extra oem parts.

 

Confirmed my theory of doing the airbags FIRST.

 

I'm pulling off the airbags on my 23' Off Road due to the harsh ride over uneven pavement. I'm putting on Active Suspension.

 

Does yours have daystar cradles also?

Please let us know if that resolves it. Theres so many trucks running bags that don't have issues, so I wonder if the combination of daystars that causes it or maybe improper install? They aren't exactly complicated, but then again people fuck up simple shit all the time so... never know.

 

I believe so.

 

Leafs look pretty flat. Might be riding the bump stops. Where are you located? Want to sell the airbag setup?

 

I had the same setup. ride was terrible unless i had 300+ pounds in the bed.

I switched to ICON leafs set at stage 1 with archive garage bumpstops, and ride is SIGNIFICANTLY better, and i got about 1" of lift.

 

It looks like your leaf springs are completely shot, or was that picture taken with 1000 pounds of cargo in the bed? You might actually try airing them up higher so you actually have some suspension travel, as it appears you have zero up travel currently.

 

^That^ above is a terrific observation. Good catch.

I agree, something is quite probably off with the geometry and suspension travel.

And, perhaps this is an optical illusion, but that leaf spring bolt looks wonky to me.

 

the rear bolt that appears wonky is likely the Daystar cradle bolt, not u bolt.

 

I agree, those springs look weak. I thought it was odd that the truck was level with upgraded springs, this would explain why. My guess is once the bags are removed the rear might sag a touch if its not already on the bump stops.

 

looks like firestone airsprings, which do not have internal bumpstops.
and as that setup eliminates the stock bumpstops but decreases uptravel significantly, you are basically bottoming out the airsprings constantly which is terrible for ride and longevity of the airsprings.
more pressure will gain you some more uptravel which could help

 

it's the airbags. if you dont need them, remove them.

i know several people with airbags for towing (all different types of trucks) and they all confirm that airbags, when not towing, make the ride quality trash.