My new tacoma has many uses, the main one being a family camping trail rig. It wont see the wheeling my 92 saw, but oh well. I installed a 1.75" level kit and its perfect, but the hitch would sag too far with a bed full of gear and tounge weight, so it was airbag time. I thought about AAL, but dont want the extra ride height or spring rate all the time, OEM ride is great..

I looked into the Air Ride and Firestone bags. The Air Ride bags mount aft of the axle, and this really discouraged me, I didnt want an odd shape being forced into my springs. The firestone kit is a little overkill, but shouldnt limit travel.. havent tested this yet.

So I orderd the kit from Summit $242 to the door, and it showed up yesterday. The brackets and air bags are very very nice, the hardware SUCKS!!! It is bad for taiwan standards. Half way thru the install I said screw it and bought some new stuff, not all the hardware is new, but I will change it all out eventually.

The kit went on very smoothly, the hardest thing being trimming the bump stops.. .other than the POS hardware. The only fitment issue is at the brake line, but I will bend the mount a little in the next few days and feel safer.

Here you can see the "assemebled" kit and the bag.



The bag at static height



The bad fully compressed



Trimmed bump stop (In reality I should have removed them, espically with the PITA the driver side one was with the fuel tank there)



In place, starting to bolt up



Fully bolted up



Air line



10psi



50psi



0psi



40psi



50psi



Area that may need some clearancing, by the brake line..



Some height measurments

0psi 15.5" to the bottom of my hitch 36" to the wheelwell
10psi 17" to the bottom of my hitch 37" to the wheelwell
20psi 17.75" to the bottom of my hitch 37.75" to the wheelwell
40 psi 18.5" to the bottom of my hitch 38" to the wheelwell
50psi 19" to the bottom of my hitch 38.5" to the wheelwell

So it does what I want, brings the hitch up and keeps me level. My rear is bone stock otherwise...

On a side note, 50psi with and empty bed (about 2.5" lift) has a nice vibration at 5mph.

I also plan to have a line made with screw-on valves to use on the trail, this will allow load leveling and wheel travel. It will move air from one bag to the other as one side compresses.

Its about 50lbs per psi of leveling capibilities. So at 1000 lbs thats only 20psi, so they should never be worked too hard.

 

Thanks for this great pics and step by step. I just ordered the same airbags and was going to have the shop install them, but after seeing them and the install I know that I can do it myself and save a couple hundo!!! Thanks!

 

did the kit comes with individual shrader valve for air fill? if so, where did you place them and how did you set it up?

 

you guys might want to send ah64ID a PM or email. He traded his truck a few years ago. He does check in periodically.

 

I need to do this on the Tundra so I can get a little more tongue weight when I tow the Runner on the trailer. Too far forward and the Tundra sags and too far back and the trailer sways.

 

I have the same set up on my 05 Taco, I got them for towing my 4runner & they work great. I can confirm that the hardware is junk, I replaced all of it before I even started the install. I do have individual shcedar valves & ran them into the bed pockets

 

Holy batman. This thread is ancient.

 

Gotta do something about them Mexican Made Leaves