Airbags?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

clemsondds

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2018
Posts
118
Reaction score
58
Location
NC
Good thread! I'm towing a boat so can't use a normal weight distribution setup like you travel trailer guys use. Looking at the air lift 1000 system. Does this system boost your payload capacity? Or is the only function to reduce squat?
 

dfw62

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2023
Posts
44
Reaction score
44
Location
MA and FL
Good thread! I'm towing a boat so can't use a normal weight distribution setup like you travel trailer guys use. Looking at the air lift 1000 system. Does this system boost your payload capacity? Or is the only function to reduce squat?
The Air Lift 1000 system does not increase your payload rating. It does a great job at reducing squat and firming up the rear when towing.
 

Caljae1

FRF Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 21, 2019
Posts
37
Reaction score
15
Location
Braselton, GA
Just got back from towing my 8 1/2' x 20' trailer with a 3000lb car inside (400 mile round trip). Total weight is around 6500lbs.
I'm using a Equalizer WD hitch with this setup and the airbags when I took this picture were at 20psi.
Took some measurements and had 1/2" of squat in the rear with 30psi in the airbags.
Towed amazingly, not sway or seesawing, plenty of power to get going.
Averaged 9.8mpg
View attachment 421982
Quick random install question. Did you have to remove your rear coils to get the raptor specific bottom spacer installed? My kit just arrived with an instruction sheet that’s completely different than the video on the website. The appeal of this kit was the relative ease of install, pulling the coils would not be a quick job for me….
 

j1nino

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Posts
21
Reaction score
19
Location
Long Island
No need to remove the coil, just jack the truck up to the point the tire is just off the ground. You can squeeze the spacer and the airbag in between the coils.
 

gto19

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2017
Posts
141
Reaction score
28
I just bought this kit . Where are you guys installing the air valves. I’m going to use one for each air bag

Thanks
 

dfw62

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2023
Posts
44
Reaction score
44
Location
MA and FL
I just bought this kit . Where are you guys installing the air valves. I’m going to use one for each air bag

Thanks
I use a single fill valve for both bags. Made up a simple little bracket that I located to the left of the left rear tow hook. Held in place with existing bolt. Since I want both bags to be at equal pressure saw no need for two fill valves. If two fill valves are desired this could be duplicated on the right side.
 

Attachments

  • Raptor Air bag Fill.jpg
    Raptor Air bag Fill.jpg
    102.6 KB · Views: 34

scsponger31

Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2020
Posts
45
Reaction score
20
Location
Boise/Socal
Bringing this thread back up. I just upgraded to a 24'. Truck is my DD and I off road on pretty regular basis. With that said, I have been considering using it to tow my track car, rather than my wife's QX80, but would love input from anyone that has gone offroad with the airlift installed. Is the performance noticeably worse?
 

mleaky

Active Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2024
Posts
57
Reaction score
95
Location
Arizona
Thinking about doing this to alleviate the rear end squat when towing, but really don't want to ruin the off road articulation. Years and years ago I had the firestone bags on my Tacoma. They worked great for towing, but rode really rough with 5psi in the bags, off road was like a wooden wagon.

Has anyone with the AL 1000 bags tried running them with the schrader valves removed so the bags offer no resistance? Might be a way to have both load support and near factory articulation.
 

MORK

Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2023
Posts
27
Reaction score
14
Location
colorado
Thinking about doing this to alleviate the rear end squat when towing, but really don't want to ruin the off road articulation. Years and years ago I had the firestone bags on my Tacoma. They worked great for towing, but rode really rough with 5psi in the bags, off road was like a wooden wagon.

Has anyone with the AL 1000 bags tried running them with the schrader valves removed so the bags offer no resistance? Might be a way to have both load support and near factory articulation.
So I ran mine open valved and also at 0 psi - didn’t effect ride at all then. However… one of the bags completely failed on me. It developed a leak at the upper area where the fitting inserts into the bag. Don’t know if it was a fault of not running enough psi in it or a manufacturing defect, but it was frustrating enough that I don’t want to waste money or time installing a new set even though they did improve the towing squat and feel.

My initial thought is that with 0 psi, the bag can move around too much and stress the upper fitting rather than being compressed against the coils and stable.
 
Top