Firestone bags or Air lift Bags?

Going ahead and buying some bags so need to know what everyones opinions are on either set. Up's and down's or what not. Cant really find any differences so thats why im asking

 

anyone>?

 

Good question. I am going to trade in a sweet '06 Sienna for a Tacoma. Debating 2WD vs 4WD. Of course, 4WD expected to be harsher ride. Air lift may be an excellent way to tame that. No heavy loads expected as wife and I just wish to haul bikes to different trails. I ask along with you......... anyone?

 

Beware bag rot.

I'd re-arch the spring, add a leaf and be done with it.

 

im way new to Toyotas.. so I may be way off with this.. however we run airbags on the farms here , but its for heavy hauling.. you put 15horses in one trailer with a one ton, they sure up the sag.. or haul a tractor from one field to another.. ive never noticed it making the ride better as like in a semi truck.. again I add this disclaimer, I don't know tacos like most here and we may be talking 2 diff things.. but I can say I drive a heavy rig every day for a living and we have 3 one tons with air and the ride only gets better with a lot of weight...hope this helps..

 

I had Firestone air bags on my Dodge Dakota for over 8 years and they worked great. I plan on putting a set on my new Tacoma.

 

I have a set on mine, work really well and it does improve the ride. I carry an 1100 lb camper on the back of mine and added a set of Hellwig overload spirngs in addition to the air bags. My thoughts were the air bags will level the truck while the Hellwigs will manage the load, probably only need one or the other but I did both anyway.

Even with the camper and my stuff I am still under max payload and only add 30 lbs of air to the Firestones to level it back, I find it annoying when a typical truck with a moderate load flashes me with his now out-of-aim headlights. Most trucks sag more than I like even carrying half their rated capacity, this is probably due to the fact most people use trucks as cars and rarely carry anything more than a bicycle or bag or groceries.

If you are planning on hauling anything close to half the payload capacity or more you will be glad you have them. Good luck.

 

I put Firestone airbags on and love them so far. Makes it easy to level out the truck no matter what you are pulling our hauling, without too much ride sacrifice. Although I don't mind the truck to ride like a truck. You can also get rid of some of the taco lean by having the drivers side inflate a few pound more.

 

so all this said is there any difference between the two setups? the air lift is 100$ cheaper so wondering if the firestones are worth the extra money

 

I have run the Airlift setup for a couple of years. No problems. I chose them because I keep my bump-stops. 30# is perfect when pulling the popup with the quad in the bed. Love the adjustability.
Installation manuals are available online for both.

 

I have just ordered the following to add to my 2013 DCSB Sport 4X4:

1. CVT Mt. Shasta roof top tent (125#)
2. Leer 100XQ topper/shell/cap w/ Thule racks (250#?)
3. ATC bedslide (150#)

So there's 525# with no cargo in the bed. Perhaps that isn't enough to sag the rear at all...I don't know, but I suspect that it will. I normally carry a 4' action packer in the bed that contains about 100# and my stock truck rides level.

I have looked briefly at airbags, but I'm not really in love with the concept. It seems as if leaf spring modifications would be a much more permanent and fitting route to take. No?

 

I recently just purchased the firestone bags and installed them with the daystar craddle and absolutely love them. I was in the same boat as you but with this daystar craddle I can do whatever I want. I have put the truck on a lift by the frame with 15 psi and i did some mild offroading and the bags are flawless. You can air up anytime you want for load or air down to do whatever with. For $309 shipped from Amazon how could you go wrong? Great setup so far

 

I have had my Firestones for about a year and don't have any complaints. They were fairly easy to install. I towed with them for a total of a thousand miles so far and they did great.

 

So would airbags be better or equivalent to a weight distribution hitch? I'm pretty ignorant about the two.

TB

 

No. The airbags simply lift your rear end to level the truck. They can add some carrying capacity as they will share some of the load.

A weight dist. hitch will mechanically transfer weight from the rear of the truck to the front distributing the weight over both axles rather than just the rear. It will also help to level the truck as not all the weight is on the rear axel any longer. You do need to be aware that when a weight distribution hitch is hooked up, it's under a lot of tension and you need to be careful with it. It's not dangerous if connected correctly. But there is potential for disaster. Much like a winch line under tension.

If you're going to get a weight distribution hitch you should get one that also limits sway. I HIGHLY suggest the Equalizer brand w/d, anti sway hitch. It's expensive but works very well and is STOUT.

 

Yes, Jefes Taco is correct. Air Bags cannot replace a WD hitch. I use the air bags primarily for my truck camper as the factory springs, even though I am well under payload capacity, are not up to the task and it drops too much.

I use a Blue Ox WD hitch, it too is very stout and, in my opinion, easier to use than the Equalizer brand. The Blue Ox has anti sway built in.

Good luck

 

So for the required trailer, you would actually use both? My trailer is only a 14' TT and not very heavy, so I don't think I need a WD hitch, but the airbags to level the truck / trailer only a couple of inches.

I'll keep this in mind should I upgrade my trailer to a heavier unit.

Thanks!!!

TB

 

So do the Air Lift bolt right in just like the Firestone Ride Rite?

 

2013 DCSB 4X4 V-6 with Firestones. I tow an Airstream and have the equalizer hitch, but the Firestones smooth out the bumps, especially the concrete joints on so many highways.