I am seriously considering getting an Air-Lift coil spring system for my 2nd gen 4Runner. I have read a lot about them and think I'd get some good use out of them. Can anyone share the experiences with me about them?
What I want out of them most of all is a little rear lift, like an inch or so, and further sag prevention whenever there is load in the back, or in the backseats as the case is with a few of my friends! lol I am also looking forward to some improvement to handling and better ride as advertised.

 

I've got an air lift system on my truck, and just today I learnd that I love it. Unfortunately I just bought the truck less than two months ago, and it came with the truck. So I don't know what brand it is. I can say this however: I had a slight a$$ sage myself. And I just decided to try it today. 30psi lifted the rear 1". Now it sit just how I like it. And the ride itself, is quite an improvement. I'm not sure how much lift you can get out of them, but at 50psi I had exactly 2" of lift. It's sweeeet

 

***

Are there anymore thoughts about the Air-Lift?

 

I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about. Do you mean something like what's shown on this page?

http://www.accessconnect.com/air_lift.htm

I considered air bags as a temporary lift method for when I have a heavy load in or on the back of my truck. (Like times when I have a bunch of scuba tanks in the bed or my dirtbike hanging off the rear receiver.) The advantage IMO was that I could build the suspension for the bulk of my driving which doesn't involve carrying heavy loads. Driving around all the time with overly stiff springs in back or hard air bags with no load doesn't sound good to me. My lift strategy for clearing 33's on my truck includes a 1" BL, BJ spacers (with the TBs cranked down a bit), and 1" lift springs (Alcan) in the rear. I still might add something like the "Ride Control" listed on the page linked for the reasons I mentioned.

I don't think an "air-lift" is very functional when compared to other lift methods if you need a lift to clear bigger tires, etc. and still want good driving characteristics. Air lifts IME are designed for temporary leveling of a vehicle when carrying loads.

 

From what I understand at a moderately low PSI such as 30-50 PSI the Air-Lift gives about .5-1 inch without the suspension being overtly hard. The full 100 psi gives about 2 inches of lift but is very hard. I'm just looking for a little extra "lift" (I use the term 'lift' very loosely) in the back, nothing serious just a little to get some of the rear sag.
Also at 30-50 PSI handling, steering, and cornering is improved.

Does anyone have any testimonials from using the Air-Lift system?

 

works well in my 3rd gen runner run about 7lbs

 

Travis,

What can you tell me about your experience with it?

 

I have coils in the rear, and I put some airlift airbags inside them. I can vary the back end up and down about 3-4inches just by airing these up and down. works great for leveling out, and better ride. cheap too.

 

same as ls1steve said. after about 2 years one of them poped.but the replacment bags were only like 50$ a pair. (just bags). so if you got the money and time to do it ,it would be worth it i think

 

hey where did you find those at 50/pair if i might ask? one of mine is popped right now, articulated it too much on the trail when air'd way down and pinched an edge between the coils

 

don't want to hijack or anything but i was wondering just how articulation is with the airbags in the rear?

 

you tell me

 

I ahve the air lift system in my 4runner along with a nice set of air shocks. Needless to say, short of ripping the class 3 hitch off of my truck it will handle any tounge load I want to place on her without sagging.

I was pulling around a 24' double axle with a good 400lb tongue load and zero ass sag when I aired up the air ride system.

The air ride system I have is the one you can get out of performance parts and honestly I dont like the ride that they provide. They are stiff as hell compared to good ole air shocks.

 

seems like a lot of positve endorsements, i would like to see some pics of the bags on your guys rigs, this has got me interested now