Rear shock coil airbags and 4x4 off road capabilities??

[mdags1978 Find all posts View Profile Close mdags1978]

Hi guru's,

Myself and the misses have a stock Prado 150 GXL (2011), couple of young kids and just upgraded to a Jayco Swan Outback (2012). I'm not a hardcore 4x4 guy but love to take the family to places like the Flinders Ranges (with the camper) and when with just the boys, Border Track, Loveday 4x4, etc for a bit of camping.

What I've noticed when I've got the Swan hitched and the boot loaded with the usual camping and kid stuff is there is a fair bit of sag at the rear. I've been told that rear coil air bags will fix this issue and allow me to adjust the amount of lift via a standard quality air compressor.

Questions i have and hoping anyone can assist with are;

1. Has anyone installed Firestone or Pedders (Polyair??) coil air bags to their setup and if so,
2. When unhitched from the camper and wanting to do some 4x4'ing, has anyone noticed any articulation degredation at the read?

Longer term i'm planning to add a OME upgrade when i install a suitable bull bar BUT that's a few years away and ideally hoping to fix the sag and improve safety when towing without hindering off-road capabilities.

Any thoughts/opinions/advice would be appreciated.


Note - I've added a couple of pics of rear travel...car really amazes me and i don't want to loose the standard capabilities by adding the air bags.

Thx

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

I've got TJM suspension and had the Poly air bags fitted. I leave the bags with about 10 psi in them when empty You need to inflate the air bags prior to loading the vehicle. When we arrive at our camp site I let some of the air out of the bags and havent noticed any issue with travel. When time comes to pack up and leave I reinflate the air bags prior to loading all the gear in the back, what pressure you inflate your bags with depends on what your carrying or towing. I've got a 18" boat and there is no need to inflate the bags as there isnt a heap of tow ball weight as it has dual axles. You may find that given you have a single axle you may need to inflate a bit more depending on your tow ball weight.

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

Also be aware, if/when you do upgrade the suspension, and decide to increase lift, and you will , you will need new airbags as they are different between lift and non lift...

I Am looking at airbags too, but also lift down the track, so I need to consider this, confirmed today by Opposite Lock Gosford."

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[mdags1978 Find all posts View Profile Close mdags1978]

Brilliant - thats the feedback i was looking for - thanks heaps Fabes.
BTW - do you find much ride difference in the city since you've installed the TJM suspension?

[mdags1978 Find all posts View Profile Close mdags1978]

THanks MD Simpson - definitely understand different bags are required for differnet suspension....and yes, i agree...i'll be upgrading the suspension the future (not for a few years though - when the little monkeys get a few years older, i wanna do a Aussie trek for a few months)

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

I've got Airbag Man bags installed WITH an OME 30mm lift and haven't had any articulation issues.

Trev

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

Has anyone installed the Kevlar protective covers over their airbags?

[Trevc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Trevc]

Yeah I had them installed by UV4x4 in when I had the suspension upgrade - can't remember the brand but they're blue

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Also be aware, if/when you do upgrade the suspension, and decide to increase lift, and you will , you will need new airbags as they are different between lift and non lift...

I Am looking at airbags too, but also lift down the track, so I need to consider this, confirmed today by Opposite Lock Gosford."

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Actually all you need to do is buy a spacer that fits under the airbag to suit the longer coil, as far as I am aware they don't make a longer bag to suit the lift.
This is what I did when I had them on my previous Patrol.
You do need to be aware of how the airlines are installed, the only drama I had was after I removed the rear sway bar to get more articulation and pulled an airline out
I have airbags fitted to my current Prado and as suggested you need to add the air prior to loading. I installed them to level the car out whilst towing a dual axle caravan (2 ton) and found that I only needed about 16psi, as long as you are careful when loading the back of the Prado and the front of the camper you shouldn't need much more.
You also need to be aware that with a very small capacity, 16 psi is easily achieved with about 20 pumps of a bike pump, you will need to be very careful using a compressor to inflate.
Hope that helps

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

For the 120 Superior Engineering list 2 different codes for the Firestone coil rite bags, I would suspect they are different lenghts but it seems hard to find any specs for them and they don't list 150 on there site ???
Prado 120 2 inch lift (rear) Air Bags Product #4710
Prado 120 no lift (rear) Air Bags Product #4709

Regards Adam

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I use coil-rite airbags for when I tow my Coromal Silhouette. The towbar weight is over 200kg, , I was shocked when I measured it.

Sits pretty level with 28PSI in the airbags and I sometimes leave it at 28PSI when we get to the camp spot and un-hitch. Makes for a pretty rough ride but still handles fine off-road.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Krypto,

You need to delete part of your post.

P.M. sent

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

Actually all you need to do is buy a spacer that fits under the airbag to suit the longer coil, as far as I am aware they don't make a longer bag to suit the lift.
This is what I did when I had them on my previous Patrol.
You do need to be aware of how the airlines are installed, the only drama I had was after I removed the rear sway bar to get more articulation and pulled an airline out
I have airbags fitted to my current Prado and as suggested you need to add the air prior to loading. I installed them to level the car out whilst towing a dual axle caravan (2 ton) and found that I only needed about 16psi, as long as you are careful when loading the back of the Prado and the front of the camper you shouldn't need much more.
You also need to be aware that with a very small capacity, 16 psi is easily achieved with about 20 pumps of a bike pump, you will need to be very careful using a compressor to inflate.
Hope that helps

Hey Kev. I am interested in any photos if you can. I need airbags now, but don't want to have to throw them out in 6-12 months when I do the suspension..



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[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

alternatively fit new springs now, if the car has sagged a bit all-round. Typically King or dobinson springs are around the 20% firmer and are under $200 a pair. Why wait? You don`t have to go up in height and its the Shocks that is the expensive bit.

[mdags1978 Find all posts View Profile Close mdags1978]

I use coil-rite airbags for when I tow my Coromal Silhouette. The towbar weight is nearly 300kg (yes I know the towbar limit is 250kg for the Prado), I was shocked when I measured it.

Sits pretty level with 28PSI in the airbags and I sometimes leave it at 28PSI when we get to the camp spot and un-hitch. Makes for a pretty rough ride but still handles fine off-road.

Thanks Krypto - appreciate the feedback....300Kg's is a lot of weight on the ball plus (i'm assuming) all the stuff in the boot. If air bags can level your beastie, i should be alright as the Jayco allegedly is around the 120Kg mark. Thanks again.