Air bags or Sumo springs?

Truck is leveled with 5100s and unloaded rides and looks as expected. Headed to Baja in a couple of hours with all the heavy gear forward-gas can are empty.
I had Firestone bags on my Tundra and they worked awesome for a decade until I sold it. Looking at the Amazon reviews all I see is bubbles from leaky fittings and would like some input from the braintrust. Bags or Sumos? Thanks!

 

I have no experience with Sumo Springs, but I like the adjustability of air bags. I've put them on my last 2 Tacomas. The ability to adjust for loads that vary significantly is what works in my case. If I was constantly carrying a moderately heavy load, Sumos might work to keep from bottoming out. But in that case, I'd likely look for a leaf pack designed for my "normal" load.

 

If you don't care about ride quality, care more about durability, and want to save a buck go with sumos... but I cannot recommend them in good faith. Personally I tried them for towing (worked great with a trailer attached) but the ride was so awful without an enormous amount of weight back there all the time that I removed them and instead upgraded my entire leaf pack to meet my needs. They really seem to screw with dampening too. Most notably if you do any washboard road driving (even on poor highway roads) it will buck and kick you in your ass when they engage over larger bumps. Some people seem to love them but I see them as a Band-Aid to a larger problem.

Imo if you don't want to look like you're sagging loaded up and stay stock, ditch the leveling kit. A truck used as a truck should have a forward rake unloaded

If you really need extra support and want to keep the front height I would consider an add-a-leaf.

 

I tried sumo springs for carrying a constant 700lb load and they were bouncy. They work fine for occasional heavy loads only. I needed up with add-a-leafs and am happy with the result.

 

By adding leafs it keeps the same stance but is stiffer? Isn’t it harsher unloaded? I’ll prolly just go back to bags and hope the quality is still there.

 

It would give you a 1.5" rake again unloaded (a little less if you've got the 6ft bed) if you're currently dead level. The ride wouldn't be harsh. I have 600 constant load pack on with nothing but a mid rise ARE cap and I wouldn't consider my ride harsh, but it's stiffer than stock empty.

 

do they not make air shocks for the tacoma? that would be my choice.

 

Air bags FTW. I love the ability to load up 1/2 or 3/4 yard of gravel and not bottom out the rear suspension. For the other 90% of the time, put 10psi in, and enjoy the plush ride. I added 5100's and bumped the front up .8" and now the truck sits level all the time.

 

Exactly my plan.

 

Looking to add air bags to my 2022. Just curious, how did you lift the front .8? Thanks.

 

the disadvantage of air bags, in my experience, is constantly having to check and adjust the pressure. Some can also be damaged if you put your truck on a lift. I tow a travel trailer and the Sumo Springs work well for me, and they do not make contact with the frame when not towing, so I have not experienced a bouncy ride when not towing.

 

ive got the blue sumos and theyre perfect for me, not harsh at all. They didnt change my unloaded ride bc they dont ride on the frame until theres some weight in the back. Aint gotta fool with adjusting the air, either.

 

I’m very happy with my Firestone airbags, I put 1000-1200lbs on my truck at least once a week

 

I have been happy with my bags and cradles. It was one of the first things I did to compensate for the soft TRD OR suspension. I have since then added a small lift and kept the bags. The ability to adjust for loads is a great advantage.

 

AAL’s are pretty harsh without weight and will give a lift. Replace my AAL with a full pack because it was so bad. Felt like it was an old wagon with zero suspension. But I hardly ever have any weight in the bed.

 

this is what i want but there are none that fit a tacoma. any body out there know if a mod can be done to install this type of air shock/

$79 Monroe Max-Air MA834 Air Adjustable Air Shock Absorber Pack of 2 for Chevrolet Silverado 1500

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-MA834...gid=pla-451653400017&ref=&adgrpid=69090714864

 

This is why I think it's good to keep some rake. I don't really understand why everyone wants to level. /rant

Anyway, I'm still on stock suspension and with my shell anytime I add anything to the bed I start to get droopy. I hate that and it doesn't drive great either.

I was going to do a temporary AAL until I can get my 5100s and new leaf pack installed but instead added Sumo Springs. Contrary to some of the above posters, I think they are actually quite good. They were simply outstanding with my bed loaded and/or with a trailer. With it mostly empty and just the shell it still rides great. They aren't overly obvious driving around town but speed bumps and such I "think" I can feel them dampen the hit and there seems to be less bounce compared to just the stock shocks. To be honest, I don't really notice or think about them. For the price, they were a great solution.

 

^ This is what I'm curious about. Do people who actually have a good experience with sumos live in places with exceptional road conditions? Driving PA roads a lot made them intolerable. Parts of Pittsburgh are worse than most fire roads I've been on in other states. They were installed properly with the appropriate amount of gap but the average pot hole around here will cause a fair amount of suspension travel.

 

Do you have a link to the air bags?

 

Sumo springs?? Seems way too overpriced for what they are.

Would this be the Air Bag kit?

https://amzn.to/3O82uJj

Anyone have experience with these?