Front lift + airbags or add-a-leaf to raise rear - thoughts

[Jaynelson]

I've been thinking about doing a small lift and some new tires on my truck, but really wanting to go about it in the right way that accomplishes all my goals. The popular kits (Revtek, etc), seem to be ~2.5" front lift and 1.5 rear give or take.

Now, the only problem I see with this is that this "levels" the truck with 0 load. The 06 DC has pretty soft rear suspension, and with my sled and deck in the back, or 3 dirtbikes, or the boat hooked up, etc I predict it will be riding very "nose-up" with a leveling kit....which I think looks really gay.

What I'm thinking, is to install just the 2.5" front kit, and then do a set of airbags in the back. Since you have to run the bags with a little pressure all the time, the back usually ends up a little higher as such. From there, I can adjust to keep it level with different loads.

Has anyone done it this way? If so, any down sides I'm missing? Could also do add-a-leaf for the same outcome, but I think the ride quality unloaded would take a bigger hit that way.

[dartbrandx]

I recently installed the front bilsteins on their highest setting giving my front end a 2.5" boost (I think it's 2.5") can't remember. More importantly, I installed airbags in the rear. Best thing I did next to the front bilsteins. This gives me the ability to level, lower or raise the *** end of the truck at will. I run with the rear with alittle sag. Looks good to me. I do however tow and load the truck way over what the oem springs could ever handle. The airbags easily give me the ability to lift the rear end when it's really loaded down so I'm not shining my headlights in everyone's eyes.

In my opinion airbags are the way to go!

just my opinion,
steve-

[highlevel]

I am running this setup on my 06 DC. I only set the Bilsteins to midway (1.3" supposedly) because that is what I was comfortable doing during my install (yes, there is a story). I have the airbags in the rear with on-board air so that I can raise and lower as needed. I carry a lot of weight in the truck. I have a shell, rack, bed slide, and tools. I have them set to 80 lbs. and the ride level is just about right for me. If you are doing different things and carrying different load sizes then I would think the airbags would work well for you.

I am going to do the AAL as well because I want to get another 1" of lift in the front by adjusting my Bilsteins to the top notch and I think if I do that without the AAL I will be nose high. Since I am always loaded (HAHA, not that way) the AALs seem like a good thing for me to do. If I don't get what I am after that way I may even get a set of heavy duty springs for the back end even though my ride would stiffen when empty. The fact is there will always be at least 500 lbs of load even with no tools in the back.

Don't know what the AALs would be like by themselves????

[reese917]

I also have the exact setup described on my 2001 access cab.

2.5" Daystar up front and Firestone airbags in rear.

I think it is perfect, with the minimum recommended pressure in the airbags (10psi) I think I am perfectly level. The airbags do a good job of stiffening the rear end and keeping it level when I have a load or pull my trailer.

I did get my front spacers a week before the airbags and there is no way I could have left it like that because I also would hate to have a sagging rear end from two people sitting on my tailgate.

-Reese

[Jaynelson]

Hey guys, thanks for all the insight....it sounded like a good way to go, but it's always nice to hear someone's done it with good results.

The firestone bags seem to be popular....did anyone do the install themselves? If so, did you mount them between the leaf packs and the frame or between the axle and the frame?

Highlevel - I had AAL's in a 98 Tacoma, and it definetly roughed up the ride a bit, but also set level bigger load no prob. That truck had stock front susp. tho, and so it kinda road/looked like a shackled up chevelle haha

- Jason

[reese917]

I installed my airbags myself. They go between the frame and the leaf springs.

Pretty straightforward install, only tedious part was being careful when drilling around the brake lines on the driver-side frame.

The only problem I ever had was one of the long bolts that hold the airbags to the leaf springs broke. It wasn't a big deal since they still couldn't have gone anywhere. I only noticed because I heard the bolt rattling. I replaced with stronger grade 8 hardware and no problem since.

-Reese

[dartbrandx]

Originally Posted by highlevel

I am running this setup on my 06 DC. I only set the Bilsteins to midway (1.3" supposedly) because that is what I was comfortable doing during my install (yes, there is a story). I have the airbags in the rear with on-board air so that I can raise and lower as needed. I carry a lot of weight in the truck. I have a shell, rack, bed slide, and tools. I have them set to 80 lbs. and the ride level is just about right for me. If you are doing different things and carrying different load sizes then I would think the airbags would work well for you.

I am going to do the AAL as well because I want to get another 1" of lift in the front by adjusting my Bilsteins to the top notch and I think if I do that without the AAL I will be nose high. Since I am always loaded (HAHA, not that way) the AALs seem like a good thing for me to do. If I don't get what I am after that way I may even get a set of heavy duty springs for the back end even though my ride would stiffen when empty. The fact is there will always be at least 500 lbs of load even with no tools in the back.

Don't know what the AALs would be like by themselves????

Hey Greenville!

Tell me about your on board air setup. I've got everything, I'm just looking for pictures and ideas.

On a side note, my brother in law was born and raised out in Greenville!!

thanks,
steve-

[highlevel]

Originally Posted by dartbrandx

Hey Greenville!

Tell me about your on board air setup. I've got everything, I'm just looking for pictures and ideas.

On a side note, my brother in law was born and raised out in Greenville!!

thanks,
steve-

Hey Steve,

OK, sorry about the hijack jaynelson...

I went with Air Lift because I have been using their stuff for about 8 years. In the past I installed the little air ride control compressor. This time I installed the quick shot with the dual gauge so that I could control each side independently and have a compressor with a tank. I can't tell you how many times I have needed air and not had it available.

I mounted the tank and compressor under the truck on the passenger side frame rail. The gauges I mounted in the center console beneath the ash tray (that took many hours). I did not like the connection for the air hose that came with the unit so I connected a regular NPT air fitting so I could hook up any air hose that I have. I used a little angle bracket and installed that under the back bumper.

[Jaynelson]

^ No worries man, not a thread jack at all....interesting read.

My "old" 05 4Runner Ltd V8 had the factory rear air suspension with on-board compressor and auto leveling.....it was definetly the slickest of all setups. I would love to do on-board air in my Tundy but don't wanna spend the time + money to rig it up. Would be the best of all worlds tho....

[dartbrandx]

Thanks for the picts. I've got to just get some time (stop procrastinating) and just install it. I'm thinking about mounting my compressor under the hood. I've got an air tank similiar to yours that I'll mount under the frame rail. I've got a very similiar gauge setup like you've got inside your cab. I'm still trying to find a decent place to mount mine. My 2002 is designed alittle differently than yours. Yours looks very nice!

thanks again,
steve-

ps, going up to Canyon Dam for the 4th. It's an easy ride out to butt lake in the rhinos from there. Hot as hell though!

[highlevel]

Originally Posted by dartbrandx

Thanks for the picts. I've got to just get some time (stop procrastinating) and just install it. I'm thinking about mounting my compressor under the hood. I've got an air tank similiar to yours that I'll mount under the frame rail. I've got a very similiar gauge setup like you've got inside your cab. I'm still trying to find a decent place to mount mine. My 2002 is designed alittle differently than yours. Yours looks very nice!

thanks again,
steve-

ps, going up to Canyon Dam for the 4th. It's an easy ride out to butt lake in the rhinos from there. Hot as hell though!

Thank you. I spent a lot of time trying to get it to work in that location. Wires, air lines and getting those switches in there was a challenge. I did not like the standard gauge mount and I wanted it to look clean. I put my trailer brake in the location where I had the gauges set up in my last truck. All in all it came out looking pretty decent.

I tried and tried to find a location that I liked under the hood for the compressor. Since all the places that I liked were sheet metal in there I decided against it. It probably would have been fine... but... Now I have to figure out a way to run the air intake for the compressor up higher. I have it going up by the bed but not very high. Don't want water going in there.

PS. It will be hot up here on the fourth I am sure. We have had a really mild June which has been nice but the heat kicked in the past three days. I really like it up here!


Jay,

Air lift has a wireless setup now... you might want to check in to that. Pretty spendy but a huge install time saver. I was thinking about that route but supposedly it did not work with on board air, so they said. I am sure I could have modified it but I ended up with wires and lines. You could always install the bags now and do the compressor later. The bags are about $200.00 I think.

[dartbrandx]

Thanks.

I've already got the bags installed. It's a pain in the *** though to fill them at the valves at the rear license plate.

[1 2 NV]

i just got my front end lift last earlier this week. i want to put it on but since im piecing my lift together i have to order the rear blocks/u bolts still. i already have the air bags on the rear. when i get them filled up i get about 3-4 inches of lift out of them. i only fill them up when i plan on towing my boat. heck, i cant even hook up my boat to the truck without them being at minimum of 50psi.

[highlevel]

Originally Posted by dartbrandx

Thanks.

I've already got the bags installed. It's a pain in the *** though to fill them at the valves at the rear license plate.

Yeah I hear you loud and clear on that one. I had my air bags installed for over a month before I got the compressor system installed. It was the middle of winter when I did several of my installs. Lucky enough for me I had some friends with a large garage that asked me to take care of their place for a couple of days. I got to do the majority of the under body install work done in there. After that though there was a bunch of fine tuning and additional work to be done by laying on a moving pad on a plastic sled in front of my place . I had two air leaks around the tank. I also installed my Pop & Lock and some additional wiring for my shell during that time. The plastic sled worked amazingly well on the ice/snow... just like a creeper.

[04SRS4x4]

I went with the Daystar 2.5'' leveling kit with an AAL in the back. The truck really does not ride much different vs stock. The rear sits about an 1'' and 3/4 higher then the front. I really dont pull anything other then my lawn trailer and mower which is probably around 1300-1500 pounds and it barely drops the rear. Air bags do sound nice if you are pulling heavier loads to keep the rear up.

Jt