First Gen tundra airbags and airbag spacers (articulation)

[Huckleberry]

Hello!! First timer here. I recently bought a Four Wheel camper to go on the back of my 2003 tundra access cab. The camper is a 1996 hawk model. At first my truck sagged beyond belief even with the blue sumo springs, which worked great for my previous set up. So after debating the black 2500# sumo springs, archive garage leaf springs, and Firestone airbags I finally made a decision and went with the airbags paired with day star cradles. On my first outing I experienced airbag failure due to improper instal after that I decided to add a skyjacker add a leaf from firstgenoffroad to help support the weight of failure ever happened again and to add a little lift. The skyjacker add a leaf claims 2 inch lift. After that to gain the lift and support the load I was running pretty high psi in the airbags close to 60psi. Next step I added two inch spacers underneath the cradles which in turn allowed me to run 20 to 30psi to support the load. Now finally to my question.


Does having the

 

[Huckleberry]

Sorry my phone glitched and posted before I finished.


Does adding the spacers to the airbags reduce up travel of your rear suspension?

Would it be better to run the airbags at a higher psi with no spacer?

 

[JHanson]

Welcome!

My answer would depend on whether or not you intend to leave the camper on all the time. If so, there's no substitute for a properly specced leaf spring pack in terms of both support and articulation.

If you're removing the camper between trips, then air bags represent the best compromise. However, they certainly don't help compliance, and I'd expect adding spacers would reduce it even more.

I'm surprised you're having this much trouble with an add-a-leaf and air bags installed. Sixty psi is a lot of pressure. If you're certain you received the correct air bags, I'd be very tempted to look at a new spring pack, even if you're going to remove the camper between trips. You could get one specced so you'd only need 20 or so psi in the air bags, so that with the camper off and the air bags deflated you'd retain a decent ride.

 

[Huckleberry]

Welcome!

My answer would depend on whether or not you intend to leave the camper on all the time. If so, there's no substitute for a properly specced leaf spring pack in terms of both support and articulation.

If you're removing the camper between trips, then air bags represent the best compromise. However, they certainly don't help compliance, and I'd expect adding spacers would reduce it even more.

I'm surprised you're having this much trouble with an add-a-leaf and air bags installed. Sixty psi is a lot of pressure. If you're certain you received the correct air bags, I'd be very tempted to look at a new spring pack, even if you're going to remove the camper between trips. You could get one specced so you'd only need 20 or so psi in the air bags, so that with the camper off and the air bags deflated you'd retain a decent ride.

Yes, the camper stays on 99% of the time. Originally I didn’t go with the new leaf pack in order to save money but after buying sumo springs, air bags, an add a leaf, and airbag spacers , I’ve probably spent more than the leaf pack.

Do you think at this point it would make sense to remove the airbag spacers until I purchase a new leaf pack or upgrade to a 3/4 ton.

I don’t take many technical 4wd trials but I spend a lot of time on dirt roads that sometimes require a bit of flex.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Huckleberry,welcome to the cult.

I also have a 1st gen Tundra AC cab 2002. It has the TRD options.
I installed air bags and run them at about 25/30# left and
about 20# right. My camper is on the truck100% of the time.

The air pressure I use keeps the truck level and hasn't been an issue.

I don't understand why you had a bag blow out

Several members have 1st gen Tundras with Hawks.
I have a ATC Bobcat only a little bit lighter then the Hawk.
We have driven over 35K with this combo.

If you go to a spring helper have you searched SuperSprings?

Frank

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Hi Huckleberry,

Welcome to WTW! I can’t add anything meaningful to the suspension conversation, but I can help you with issues when your phone posts for you. You do have the ability to edit a post. There is a faint “Edit” along the bottom of the box around your comment. Click on it and fix or add as needed. If you have any problems, feel free to send any of us on the site team a message. We can figure it out together.

 

[Huckleberry]

Huckleberry,welcome to the cult.

I also have a 1st gen Tundra AC cab 2002. It has the TRD options.
I installed air bags and run them at about 25/30# left and
about 20# right. My camper is on the truck100% of the time.

The air pressure I use keeps the truck level and hasn't been an issue.

I don't understand why you had a bag blow out

Several members have 1st gen Tundras with Hawks.
I have a ATC Bobcat only a little bit lighter then the Hawk.
We have driven over 35K with this combo.

If you go to a spring helper have you searched SuperSprings?

Frank

Hey Frank,

Do you have any lift on the rear or does that 25/30# just keep you at factory ride height?

And my bag blowout came from improper instal of my daystar airbag cradle. Which was 100% my fault.

I have not looked into super springs but I will now

Thank you,
Jason

 

[Huckleberry]

Hi Huckleberry,

Welcome to WTW! I can’t add anything meaningful to the suspension conversation, but I can help you with issues when your phone posts for you. You do have the ability to edit a post. There is a faint “Edit” along the bottom of the box around your comment. Click on it and fix or add as needed. If you have any problems, feel free to send any of us on the site team a message. We can figure it out together.

Awesome! Thank you very much for the info! What a great site!

 

[JHanson]

Yes, the camper stays on 99% of the time. Originally I didn’t go with the new leaf pack in order to save money but after buying sumo springs, air bags, an add a leaf, and airbag spacers , I’ve probably spent more than the leaf pack.

Do you think at this point it would make sense to remove the airbag spacers until I purchase a new leaf pack or upgrade to a 3/4 ton.

I don’t take many technical 4wd trials but I spend a lot of time on dirt roads that sometimes require a bit of flex.

Yes. Give up and buy an F350.

I've been down that road of "saving money." I'd leave the spacers on for now to improve the ride, and seriously consider a new set of springs given that the camper is essentially permanent. You'll be much happier. I've often thought (and written) that the ideal setup for a permanently mounted camper would be a set of springs that exactly leveled the truck with the camper empty—as you might drive it around town or on day excursions—with a set of air bags to fine-tune the attitude when you load up with water, food, etc. for a long trip.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Jason,the air bags take the truck up to the non camper height.

The truck is level. I like the ride.
Frank

 

[Taku]

I agree with JHanson - although on our 05 Tundra with a full time ATC Ocelot on it we have just used Air bags and a Hellwig sway bar for 102K miles with no issues. And we have taken it some fairly rough 4x4 roads, but I drive slowly and at times use a spotter for exact placement of wheels. That being said, when we get our new Tundra, we plan on putting a leaf spring package on (which I had added to an older Toyo HiLux and that did add 2" to the lift and worked great - the rancher we sold that truck too is still driving it). We generally run 40 - 50 lbs when loaded in the airbags. Truck still comes in about #200 to #300 over GVW when we are loaded up.

 

[Huckleberry]

Thank you everyone for your responses. It’s great to hear everyone’s opinion. I looked under the truck and the airbag spacers with the daystar cradles were really not giving the airbags much room. I ended up removing the spaces and putting a little more air in the bags and I’m much happier with it.

Now I’m toying with idea of adding a valve to the line so when off road and articulating the air can flow from bag to bag... but we’ll see.

In other news I found a good deal on a 02 7.3 f350 so as long as it passes smog it will be mine this weekend. It may be the new camping truck four doors is much better for our family of four

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

<snip>
In other news I found a good deal on a 02 7.3 f350 so as long as it passes smog it will be mine this weekend. It may be the new camping truck four doors is much better for our family of four

That is good news, and is a very good engine. I sometimes I wish I would have kept mine. If it has an automatic transmission, you might consider adding a trans temp gauge to monitor temps. If you find that you’re running close to upper limits, an oversized trans cooler from a 6.0L is a way to keep things happy.

 

[Beach]

Installed super springs on my 06 Access Cab to carry my Hawk around full time for 3 years. While that worked OK, if I had to do it over(build up a 1/2 ton truck) I would replace the entire spring pack. By the way, the camper is now full time on a F250 which is the best set up of all(except maybe a F350). First time you need full braking power on a steep down hill grade, you'll be grateful for the bigger braking system.

 

[Huckleberry]

That is good news, and is a very good engine. I sometimes I wish I would have kept mine. If it has an automatic transmission, you might consider adding a trans temp gauge to monitor temps. If you find that you’re running close to upper limits, an oversized trans cooler from a 6.0L is a way to keep things happy.

Thank you! That’s good info! I’m definitely new to the diesel world and there is A LOT to learn.

 

[Huckleberry]

Installed super springs on my 06 Access Cab to carry my Hawk around full time for 3 years. While that worked OK, if I had to do it over(build up a 1/2 ton truck) I would replace the entire spring pack. By the way, the camper is now full time on a F250 which is the best set up of all(except maybe a F350). First time you need full braking power on a steep down hill grade, you'll be grateful for the bigger braking system.

It seems having the camper on a 1/2 ton pickup is doable and it seems a lot of people have zero issues with it. Myself, I will feel much more comfortable for a truck meant to carry that kind of weight.

Not to change subjects but did you do any suspension modifications on your f250 for the camper?