Airlift Air Bags, my ordeal

[oly884]

As many of you know, I've got a Four Wheel Camper (http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&board=98.0) sitting on the back of my truck.

While for a camper it's light at 550 lbs. it is by no means light for the Tacoma's rear suspension. In fact, the rear suspension on the Tacoma sucks, well sucked.

I purchased some air bags from Air Lift (http://www.airliftcompany.com/indexAL.htm) so that when the camper was off the truck, I could still maintain the stock ride. It wasn't more than a month into having the camper on the truck that BOOM! One of the air bags blew up. I wasn't a happy camper, literally and figuratively.

So, I ended up buying a new bag at the tone of $100 shipped. Well, I got the bag in, and not 3 weeks later, BOOM!

Ok, so by this point I was tempted to take some 3.5" 00 buckshot to these things. So, I was determined to find the problem.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/DSC_0647Small.jpg

As stated, that hook would bend up, just over time, causing the bag to move forward and snapping off the top.

So, I contacted Airlift about this, well they sent me another bag, free of charge and were very very helpful. I installed the bag, but it was about a month and a half later that I noticed the exact same thing happening. So I was done, they tried their best, but it just wasn't working for me.

I ended up removing the airbags and contacting Deaver spring (http://www.deaverspring.com/) and having them make me some custom springs to handle the weight of the camper. Well, the springs are on, and they are very nice. However, they are still a bit too light duty for what I need, so I'm going to be getting another set probably this summer to handle the camper weight better.

By no means am I saying to stay away from Airlift, they are a great company and have great customer service. Their product just didn't work for me. I was willing to sacrifice the ride without the camper on to have a much more permanent solution to my suspension issues.

If you have any Q's feel free to comment here or contact me.

[oly884]

Oh, and here is a link to the installation instructions if you need to get a better idea of how they are installed.

http://airlift.r-catalog.com/ImgVD/AIL/MN-461_59537.pdf

[bamachem]

you know, a small gusset on that bracket and it would be immensely stronger.

do you have a pair you can ship to me? i'll weld them up w/ some scrap i have here and get them back if you want to give them another shot.

[oly884]

you know, a small gusset on that bracket and it would be immensely stronger.

do you have a pair you can ship to me? i'll weld them up w/ some scrap i have here and get them back if you want to give them another shot.


Hmmm, I might have to take you up on that offer.

I know you're busy, but if you could maybe draw a picture of what you're talking about it would be a great help.

Thanks!

[bamachem]

bend the "hook" back down to it's normal position, then weld in a small rectangular piece of 1/4" thick steel, about 1/2" tall and turned vertically, down each side of the hook to stiffen it up. it will make it a TON stronger than it is now.

if the bottom plate is removable, just send them w/o the rest and it will save on shipping.

http://4rnr.net/DSC_0647Small.jpg

[oly884]

Hmmm, i see what you're saying now.

Only thing is, there's a u-bolt on the spring that goes right there.

Here's a pic from the installation manual that might make it more clear:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/airbag.jpg

Something like that could work so long as there was still room for the u-bolt.

Thanks, Andy.

[bamachem]

hmmm....

i tell you what, find some pics of what one looks like non-bent, then one of a bag installed, non-bent, and i'll see what i can come up with.

[oly884]

The pictures I have attached are bent like that from the factory.

I don't know if this picture will help out in explaining what happens:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/oly884/airbag1.jpg

[bamachem]

ahhh... so THIS would be the solution then... (copied over the original image]. just weld in a piece of flat stock or bar stock to prevent it from bending upward, but leave enough room to snake a u-bolt thru there.

http://4rnr.net/DSC_0647Small.jpg

[oly884]

haha, only problem is that's plastic right below the air bag.

I really appreciate your help with this! However, if it's just too hard to figure out, I've got someone willing to buy them off of me, and he knows all about the issues I have had with them too.

The problem I've been running into are the same ones that you're having, I just don't know how to make it a permanent fix. I've got to run to class now, then work but I'll be back on around 6 ish.

[bamachem]

weld a wedge to the u-bolt then that will brace the "hook"

[oly884]

Andy, that sounds like it could work!

You want me to send the lower mounts to you?

[bamachem]

yeah. my addy is in the moderator lounge. i'll take care of ya. just make sure that they're bent back to OEM position. i won't know where to bend them back to once they get here. after you read this, go ahead and delete it and all this other clutter if you want to clean up your thread.

[oly884]

Great, I'll make an attempt to get that off next week.