Need advice to eliminate the squat when towing!

[carguy4471]

To answer a couple questions.

Yes, if you run airlift bags you CAN lift your truck by the frame. It's right in the user manual.

The above would also indicate that you can both lift the truck and offroad without tearing them.

Additional perches are generally not necessary on airlift kits. All mounts/brackets etc. are included with their kits.

FWIW after having put in a few hundred airlift kits I have yet to see one with fitment issues. Or shipping damage for that matter.

I should have a set of Airlift bags going into a 24 Tacoma this week. If I can get out to the shop while the tech is working on it I'll get some photos. Either way, the results will be up on the forum for everyone to glean from.

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[carguy4471]

Reference photo. This is my new 25 Tacoma OR with a 4K camper, approx. 400lb tongue weight. I'm using a weight distribution hitch. I have approx 1.5" of rear sag and no lift to the front. The hitch puts the weight back down on the front so it doesn't lift. I could (and did while adjusting) dial out all rear sag but then I wound up with a drop to the front suspension which is no good.

 

[Bigt]

I installed the Airlift Kit, even with 5psi the min. The ride with no load was bad, super bouncy. I think the issue was the shock was topping out.

 

[Gurvy522]

Watched a YouTube video on this. So it appears to replace the lower bracket/mount of the air bag? Any downsides to running these with air bags?

My only thought is potential "jounce" like effects if the bags only intermittently make contact, basically the bags "slapping" the cradle. My fear is that could be caused by those crappy highways with concrete expansion joints....

At $40-50, it's worth a shot on the cradles. Figure if they end up sucking on the highway, they shouldn't be a huge pain to remove.

Based on the feedback provided in this thread, going with the AirLift bags + WirelessOne + AirLift-branded cradles. I just ordered all of the parts off Amazon - was a bit surprised that they stocked everything.

 

[carguy4471]

The cradles are bolted on at both ends, they do not come disconnected during operation. With the airlift kit I wouldn't even call them cradles, they are really vehicle specific mounting brackets.

 

[carguy4471]

I installed the Airlift Kit, even with 5psi the min. The ride with no load was bad, super bouncy. I think the issue was the shock was topping out.

Try a tad less. As long as there is some pressure in there you should be ok. Just don't run them at zero.

You should almost not be able to tell they are there.

 

[Gurvy522]

The cradles are bolted on at both ends, they do not come disconnected during operation. With the airlift kit I wouldn't even call them cradles, they are really vehicle specific mounting brackets.

What do you mean "bolted on both ends" - point of the cradle(s) is to essentially eliminate the normally attached connection between the bottom of the bag and the axle bracket.

Rather than bolting the bag to the axle bracket, you bolt the cradle to it instead, and the bag "floats" in the cradle, so that your axle/suspension can fully articulate.

 

[carguy4471]

What do you mean "bolted on both ends" - point of the cradle(s) is to essentially eliminate the normally attached connection between the bottom of the bag and the axle bracket.

Rather than bolting the bag to the axle bracket, you bolt the cradle to it instead, and the bag "floats" in the cradle, so that your axle/suspension can fully articulate.

This appears to be more of a bump stop bag application rather that a load lifting application. In my years of installing bags for the use case of towing I've never seen anyone want the bag to become disconnected. I like the concept in theory but then you'd have to have a way to mount the cradle to the vehicle specific bracket made by airlift. It does seem like a recipe for noise but I could be way off. I may have to look into this some.

 

[Mtnbikes]

This appears to be more of a bump stop bag application rather that a load lifting application. In my years of installing bags for the use case of towing I've never seen anyone want the bag to become disconnected. I like the concept in theory but then you'd have to have a way to mount the cradle to the vehicle specific bracket made by airlift. It does seem like a recipe for noise but I could be way off. I may have to look into this some.

I think what the question is getting at is will you have full use of your suspension system with the bags mounted top and bottom? I had this same question earlier too. However, I see the point of a lower cradle to offset this. I will include a link to rough country’s explanation. I too would be concerned about “slap” with a lower cradle mount.

 

[carguy4471]

I think what the question is getting at is will you have full use of your suspension system with the bags mounted top and bottom? I had this same question earlier too. However, I see the point of a lower cradle to offset this. I will include a link to rough country’s explanation. I too would be concerned about “slap” with a lower cradle mount.

I see it now. Makes some sense. Airlift kits, in the manual, state that you can lift your truck from the frame. This would indicate you can safely offroad as well seeing as your axle can hang safely. I guess in the case of severe offroad use there may be some limitations. For most I think the fact that your axle can hang should be sufficient. Take that with a grain of salt, I don't get off road often.

 

[Gurvy522]

I see it now. Makes some sense. Airlift kits, in the manual, state that you can lift your truck from the frame. This would indicate you can safely offroad as well seeing as your axle can hang safely. I guess in the case of severe offroad use there may be some limitations. For most I think the fact that your axle can hang should be sufficient. Take that with a grain of salt, I don't get off road often.

I think it's probably more important for people that are running aftermarket extended/long travel suspension, especially with a lift. That's when you're more like to experience a ripped bag, especially if you're wheeling.

You only have 2 options in that [lifted] case if you want to run bags :

1. Spacers
2. Cradles

With spacers, you're 100% limiting the range of travel. That's why a lot of off-roaders are running cradles with their bags.

I think even on certain trucks, they come standard with the kit. I was reading that the F150 Raptor Airlift kit comes with cradles, and they have to get used, due to the factory long-travel suspension.

https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/88414

 

[carguy4471]

I think it's probably more important for people that are running aftermarket extended/long travel suspension, especially with a lift. That's when you're more like to experience a ripped bag, especially if you're wheeling.

This makes perfect sense. In some cases airlift can spec a kit with a longer bag, not sure if they can do this with any kit but they have on a couple of occasions for me. I could see cradles being useful for the serious off roaders.

 

[Bcphoto3]

I have tried the Timbren bump stops. They actually work pretty well for towing, but they make the day to day drive harsher. You could also go with stiffer/beefier coils, which honestly might be your best bet. This is one of the reasons I have not yet pulled the trigger on the new Tacoma. Waiting to gather more data on owners’ towing experience.

Just spent the past month towing a TetonX Hybrid (about 3500#). Towed great.. MPG sucked, around 10-12 MPG. BUT the back end sagged like crazy.. Was not expecting this much sag.. Now looking at airbags or stiffer springs. Not sure which.. The TrailHunter already has a pretty stiff ride and someone said their ride improved without loading with stiffer Dobison springs.. But the price has also jumped 10% in past month since I have been looking at them.. we put 4000 miles on trailer pulling from UT to TN..

 

[carguy4471]

Just spent the past month towing a TetonX Hybrid (about 3500#). Towed great.. MPG sucked, around 10-12 MPG. BUT the back end sagged like crazy.. Was not expecting this much sag.. Now looking at airbags or stiffer springs. Not sure which.. The TrailHunter already has a pretty stiff ride and someone said their ride improved without loading with stiffer Dobison springs.. But the price has also jumped 10% in past month since I have been looking at them.. we put 4000 miles on trailer pulling from UT to TN..

Weight distribution hitch or Airlift bags. If you are able to use the hitch I recommend it as it retains proper front end weight distribution. Bags are also a great solution. You could go extra and do both.

Any questions on them just ask. Some may have been answered already but happy to help with any questions.

A 6k (or even 4k) Fastway E2 trunion bar would be perfect for you.

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