Air Bags or not

I have a 2017 Tundra TRD SR5 4whl dr. Just bought a 34' Imagine travel trailer it's light weight is 7295lbs and hitch weight is 795lbs. It came with a weight distribution, sway bar bar and chain assembly. When I hook it up my truck stills sags a couple of inches. Would I be better off doing away with this and and going to air bags for the extra lift help?

 

Dont ditch the WD hitch. You can add air bags or maybe timbrens or sumo springs to level it back out, but you wanna keep the hitch for sure.

 

Not a fan of air bags. You will eventually run into issues with leaks and could be a very expensive repair. Had a Tahoe with air bags that were nothing but a money pit and headache, replacing motor, air lines and bags....there are a lot of people that love them though. To each their own but I would go with the stiffer spring set up and avoid any unnecessary mechanical options that will fail.

 

I’m using Timbrens, this is the clearance I have unhitched. When loaded, they ride on them and there’s no porpoising. I also use a Blue Ox 1000lb WDH. I checked with a level on the side of my Diamondback and the bubble is 0 all packed.

When not on trips, I remove the Timbren spacers, I need those as I have 1.5” shackles on the back. Some people on stock rear suspension complain when they hit the Timbrens over bumps/potholes (not towing) but I have extra clearance.

 

We are looking at TT's now and will be buying soon. Will the stiffer springs give me a harsher stiffer ride for the 90% of the time we will not be pulling our TT?

 

@JoshuaA ,I've never heard of timbrens..how do you like them, and why do you remove them?

 

Yes, adding leaf springs makes them stiffer and you'll feel it as ride comfort is more a function of the rear suspension. I would not get them for occasional TT towing, but I would if I was under constant load such as having a permanent topper and if I was always carrying machinery or heavy tools in my bed.

 

I only remove the puck spacers when at home to gain frame clearance, the Timbrens are still on, takes about 5min or 10min if you jack each side independently.



If your rear suspension isn't lifted, say with shackles giving me an extra 1.5", when you hit a pothole or speed bump, it's a pretty noticeable thud on the Timbren. That's what I experience at the campground driving around after I unhook the trailer and I leave the spacers on during our trip. Take a look at your stock pylon bumpstops and the clearance to the frame, it's significant.

If I wasn't lifted, I probably wouldn't use Timbrens.

 

@JoshuaA ..I am not lifted, the issue I'm having is when we load up the bed for camping etc..the bed drops, I was thinking getting bags..?!?

 

I think I would probably go Firestone Airbags on a non-lifted rear, the non-towing PSI isn't that noticeable from what I understand. I just went the cheaper route and not needing to deal with inflatables. The great thing about FA's is you can adjust the pressure no matter what you tow or haul, they just are in constant contact.

 

Check out Road Master Active Suspension. It was fairly easy to install in a little over an hour. I found the cornering and driving comfort better. Dips and bumps are smoother. Will complete my first tow with RAS installed late next month. Had airbags and TRD sway bar on my last Tundra. The setup was okay, but not as nice as my current RAS which is also less expensive.

 

Timbren (I used the spacers to match the height of the shoe it goes on) vs stock bumpstop:



I just removed the spacers and have 3” of clearance before it hits the frame, you can kind of see the shoe it’s on:

 

I see it prevents one side of the leaf from bending. Any chance of warping? When I’m loaded and towing there’s quite a bit of flex on the leaf flattening it out.

 

be interesting to hear your thoughts. i tow a lot and routinely haul a lot. i love my firestone air bags with daystar cradles, but def be interested in something better if it's there

 

I've got the Firestone airbags and love them for towing. Non towing psi is recommended 5psi, I run mine around 8-10, a little stiff ride, but not bad at all. Highly recommend

 

I prefer Air bags, but they don't like cold temps.
Add the on board compressor if you live in colder climates.

 

Any reviews on this product w towing and w/out

 

My rear airbag mounts with daystar cradles. I pull them up out of the away with a vacuum pump so they do not interfere with factory ride. I'm still using factory bumstops shaved 1 inch with 1 inch ICON addaleafs

 

-Tuff country AAL for 1.5 lift.
-Sumo springs for loads and towing.

I have the sumos set up with 1.5" HDPE spacers under them. Unloaded they ride about 1/2" off the frame. I never notice them under normal driving. Loaded or towing the frame is on them and compressing.

When towing I have an equalizer WDH. Even with the sumos it still returns my front to nearly stock measurements.

 

The first tow was excellent! It was about 100 miles (mostly interstate) with an elevation change of about 3,000 feet (lower). First of all, the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS) empty (no tow) smooths bumps in the road and helps with sway control. When hooked up to the travel trailer (TT), the fender height is within 1/4" all around with zero difference at two wheels. The TT is about 6,400 pounds loaded. I use the Equalizer weight distribution hitch with sway control. Very nice and very easy all around. I'm pleased with the RAS...much more so than airbags and TRD sway bar that were on my 2008. My advice is to keep reading reviews and do you homework. My setup works for me, but it may not work as well with a heavier load...
Also, I ordered the RAS directly from the manufacturer in NC. Do it around a holiday and you will get at least 10% off MSRP. They were very helpful and wanted to make sure that I understood how to install the system. I was encouraged to call them if I ran into any trouble.

 

I have a 2019 that I want to put a 3inch level and the front and firestone ride rite airbags in the rear. Do I still need a 1 inch block in the rear?

 

Don't use blocks lift the front 2 to 2 1/4 inches only

 

Wheelers off road has a rear leaf enhancement pack. Will give you about 3/4 to 1 inch of lift and a huge ride quality difference. Talk to Steven hell steer you right. Then you can go 2 3/4 or 3 in the front.

 

I’ve had firestone in my last 3 pickups. Awesome for hauling heavy but you will completely lose your ride. Rough as hell with em. I’ve tried 5 psi increments when empty and it doesn’t matter. I had the wireless controller with my compressor which is awesome if you are constantly hooking and unhooking trailers. I’m currently looking for a new way either than bags for my new tundra

 

How’s the ride height at the rear with RAS when running empty?

 

RAS are nice when loaded, but they made my trucks rear, look really jacked up like redneck air shocks when unloaded. I replaced the RAS with Air-Lift.

 

With RAS, the rear of my truck is about a half-inch higher. Looks factory. Rides well.

 

What did you decide to go with? I was thinking maybe Sumo Springs for occasional towing but when I'm not towing I drive a lot of washboard roads and don't want to shatter my teeth with a rough ride. I know guys with Tacomas who have installed Sumo Springs say it really stiffened up the rear suspension when not towing.

 

Just me thinking I am going to try old school air shocks for my towing needs. I had an old el camino back in the day and they worked great.