Heavy duty suspension systems are a key component of being able to tow large trailers or haul massive amounts of cargo safely and with full control. Springs which are designed to facilitate this kind of driving while fully loaded are able to maintain their height under the mass of whatever is being moved. This keeps a truck level and helps the entire suspension system perform at its best without sacrificing any control while cornering or braking. Unfortunately, in order to exhibit this characteristic, heavy springs must be extremely stiff, which makes the vehicle subject to a harsher, bouncier ride when not under load.
From left to right, a visual explanation of the benefits of an air-lift suspension system.
Air springs have been used in place of coil and leaf springs for decades as a way to control ride height and vehicle comfort dynamically. Air springs are essentially bags filled with air which are inflated or deflated by a compressor, depending on the desired setting. Air springs provide all of the performance benefits of coil springs with the added bonus of being able to keep a vehicle level no matter how much of a load it is carrying. Many air suspension systems include a feature which automatically levels the vehicle, or which controls ride height based on the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.
Many people think that adding air suspension to their pickup truck would be an expensive endeavor, requiring them to remove their current shocks and springs and do a full conversion. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. In fact, the Air Lift company makes several different inexpensive kits which allow air bags to be added alongside the stock suspension in order to provide extra lift only when needed.
There are a few different options available from Air Lift. Their basic system is designed to be mounted inside a vehicle’s coil springs, and it can be inflated from an optional control panel inside the passenger compartment in order to let drivers fine tune the ride height and comfort level while they are driving. When a load begins to compress the suspension, it is possible to dial in enough extra support to handle an additional 1000 lbs of cargo. Their mid-tier system attaches to a truck’s leaf springs, and can deal with an extra 2000 lbs. Finally, their LoadLifter 5000 is a professional-grade system which is rated up to 5000 lbs of load support.
The biggest fear most people have with air bags is that they will leak, reducing their effectiveness and possibly causing a catastrophic failure at highway speeds. Air springs are made of a very tough rubber, or sometimes polyurethane material which is extremely difficult to tear. The most frequent cause of leaking when it comes to air suspensions is dry rot caused by an air bag staying in the same semi-deflated position for months at a time. Air suspensions are as safe as any steel system.
Load-leveling air springs can be a definite advantage when it comes to towing and/or hauling with your Tundra. However, keep in mind that even though these springs give you increased load capacity, the frame and size of your pickup still imposes definite physical limits which must be respected in order to maintain safety. Avoid overloading your Tundra, no matter how confident you feel after installing an Air Lift kit.
Popularity: 3%
Is this like the old air shocks from the 70’s?