What do I do to lift my saggy rear. ;)

My $0.02...

A new leaf pack is the best way.
AAL is an acceptable route.
Airbags are not recommended from what you've shared. They are to correct highly fluctuating loads (heavy loads or towing) and do stiffen the ride when empty.

 

I'll answer for him... they aren't. I have both and they work well for how I use my truck.

With that being said I do not think air-bags are the correct solution for OP because he's mainly concerned with leveling at light(ish) loads.

Airbags are a great solution if you hang 400 lbs off the hitch or put 800 lbs in the bad on occasion but otherwise typically stock/light.

 

I was curious because I have that setup on my truck now and had bags on my gen 2. I love the bags they let me tow a heavy trailer but then air down to softer when but towing. I usually keep 17 on the driver's side and 13 on passenger, I do have a canopy though.

 

I too have a camper shell (and typically >80 lbs in the bed) which is my 'empty'. When empty I let them down to 5 psi. I don't use the airbags to level when empty, the AAL does that. When glamping I have 300 lbs in the back and 400 lbs tongue weight on the hitch.. that's when I typically go up to ~22 lbs.

 

I added Sumo's, do the trick until I can afford a full upgrade.

 

Now that's funny.
Fat ass and tiny top? Your buddy should post pics here on TW.

 

There are three primary approaches to gaining a higher ride height.

1) adding a block

pros: stock ride quality retained
cons: increased axle wrap

2) increasing the stiffness of your leaf springs

pros: load capacity increases
cons: unloaded ride quality decreases

2) replacing your leaf springs with those with a bigger arch

pros: stock ride quality retained
cons: none

 

Has anyone replaced their leaf springs without adding extended travel rear shocks? I have seen conflicting information on whether or not it is necessary. I swapped out the OEM's for some Fox 2.0 smooth bodies in the rear. I actually lost nearly .25" in the back with the Fox 2.0's. I add ~ 300lbs. with my bed rack fully loaded so I'd really like to swap out the entire pack if I can get away with it on these shocks.

 

Deaver

 

It’s all subjective, so I have the opposite opinion. I bought an ‘Ironman Stage2’ kit that came with complete leaf packs for the rear but I sold them on Craigslist and bought single-leaf AAL’s and airbags instead.
I’ve replaced quite a few complete leaf packs on past trucks and IMO they always ride too stiff-like unless they’re under an increased, 24/7 load.
My truck’s weight is pretty much stock so the AAL’s I bought gave me a constant lift to match the front end and I still have a reasonably plush ride. The airbags allow me to air-up and tow my trailers as-if I had full, increased-load leaf packs installed.
For me it’s the best of both worlds.

 

I went with the no-cut 3 leaf AAL from Headstrong (you don’t cut the factory shackle off the existing leaves with this AAL) and it gave me 1” of lift over factory height AFTER adding my camper shell (it’s a little over 1.5” of lift without the shell - that’s with the overload leaves removed). I also lifted the front 1”, so I essentially maintained the factory rake but with my shell on, and I’m just sitting an inch higher all around (which was my goal). I regularly load my bed with about 400 lbs. of gear for my work and the rear will sag down about 1”, so I just sit level at that point.

The ride quality remained unchanged from factory. If there’s a difference, it’s minute. The constant weight of the camper shell I think cancelled out any added stiffness from the AAL. I installed everything last October (so about 8 months ago) and I haven’t seen/felt any change in ride quality or lift height since.

Sitting unloaded with 265/75/16s…

 

"...and that's when the fight started..."

 

tell me more about these?

 

I have had them on for several years and I really like them. I go camping with a RTT and a bed full of stuff and she doesn’t squat. Also these are adjustable so you can set them up for your particular situation.