Air bags for trucks and SUVs
Load-assist air bags keep a truck or SUV level when it is carrying a rack, a roof top tent, a loaded bed or a trailer. Air up for the trip, let it back down for the daily drive.
Added weight makes a rig squat
Every piece of an overland build adds weight, and most of it lands over the rear axle. A roof rack and a hard-shell tent, a bed rack with gear on top, a steel bumper, a fridge, water, fuel and a couple of passengers can add several hundred pounds before the trip even starts. The factory springs were sized for a much lighter truck, so the rear compresses and the vehicle sits nose-up.
That squat is more than a look. The headlights aim into oncoming drivers, the front end gets light so steering and braking feel vague, and the rear has less travel left before it hits the bump stops on a rough road. On a trail, the loaded rig bottoms out and leans more in off-camber sections.
How air bags carry the weight
A load-assist air bag is a heavy rubber air spring that works alongside your existing springs. When the truck is loaded, you add air and the bag pushes back against the weight, bringing the vehicle back to a level ride height. When the load comes off, you let air out and the truck rides close to how it did from the factory.
Back to ride height
The rear comes back up, so the headlights aim where they should, the front tires keep their grip and the suspension has its travel back.
Set it for each trip
More air for a loaded camping trip or a trailer, less for an empty daily drive. Springs are one rate all the time; air bags change with the load.
Less sway and bottoming
A firmer rear keeps a top-heavy rig from wallowing in corners and crosswinds, and it stops the rear from slamming into the bump stops over dips.
Not a payload increase
Air bags help the truck carry weight level and stable. They do not raise the manufacturer’s payload or towing ratings, so the numbers on your door jamb sticker still apply.
Builds that benefit from air bags
If your truck sits noticeably lower in back once it is loaded, air bags are usually the simplest fix. These are the most common reasons we install them.
Roof top tents
A tent can weigh well over 100 pounds before anyone climbs in. See roof top tents.
Towing and hauling
Tongue weight from a camper or trailer, or a heavy load in the bed, pushes the rear down the same way.
Leaf springs, coils and lifted trucks
Leaf-spring trucks. On most pickups, including the Tacoma and full-size half-ton and heavy-duty trucks, the bag mounts between the axle and the frame with brackets built for that truck.
Coil-spring rigs. On vehicles with rear coils, like the 4Runner, Wrangler, Gladiator and Ram 1500, the bag either sits inside the coil spring or mounts alongside it.
Lifted vehicles. A lift changes the distance the bag has to fill, so a lifted truck often needs a kit or spacer made for that lift height. Tell us about your lift and we will match the kit to it. If a truck sags even when it is empty, the springs themselves may be tired, and we will tell you if new springs make more sense than bags.
Airing up: valves or an onboard compressor
The simplest setup runs an air line from each bag to a fill valve, usually at the rear bumper, and you air up with any compressor or at a gas station. Running the two sides on separate lines lets you balance a load that sits heavier on one side. For people who adjust often, we install an onboard compressor with an in-cab or phone control, so the bags air up and down from the driver’s seat.
Either way, keep the bags at the maker’s minimum pressure even when the truck is empty. A bag run with no air can fold and rub, and that is what wears them out early.
Air Lift air bags and compressors
We install Air Lift, a company that has been building air suspension since 1949. Their load-support line covers everything from half-ton trucks and SUVs to heavy-duty pickups, with the LoadLifter 5000 series for leaf-spring trucks and Air Lift 1000 and RideControl kits for lighter loads and coil-spring vehicles. Air Lift backs its air springs with a limited lifetime warranty.
For onboard air, we install Air Lift’s compressor systems, including WirelessAir, which lets you air the bags up or down from a remote or your phone without getting out of the truck.
Price comes down to the kit for your vehicle, whether it needs spacers or brackets for a lift, and whether you add a compressor. A kit with fill valves is the quicker job; a compressor adds wiring and mounting time. We quote your vehicle before ordering, and once parts arrive most installs are in a bay within about a week. Drop off Monday to Friday between 9 and 4, and ask about an early or late handoff.
Air bag FAQ
What brand of air bags do you install?
Air Lift. We install their LoadLifter, Air Lift 1000 and RideControl kits, matched to your vehicle, and their onboard compressor systems like WirelessAir. Air Lift air springs carry a limited lifetime warranty.
Do air bags increase my payload?
No. Air bags let the truck carry weight level and stable, but they do not change the manufacturer’s payload or towing ratings. Add up passengers, gear, racks and tents and keep the total under the number on your door jamb sticker.
Will air bags make my truck ride rough?
Not when they are set correctly. With the load off, drop the bags to the maker’s minimum pressure and the truck rides close to stock. You only run higher pressure when the weight is on.
Can I put air bags on a lifted truck?
Usually, yes. Many kits have versions or spacers for common lift heights. We match the kit to your lift so the bag has the right range of travel.
Do I need an onboard compressor?
No. Fill valves at the bumper work with any tire compressor. An onboard compressor is a convenience if you change the load often or want to adjust from the cab, and we can install one with the bags or add it later.
Air bags or heavier springs?
Heavier springs are the better answer when a truck is loaded all the time, like a full-time camper build. Air bags are better when the load comes and goes, because you can let them down for the daily drive.
What customers say
5.0 from 46 Google reviews
Zach went above and beyond for me. I Had him install readyair bags on my F350 and even though he ran into an issue that wasn’t his fault that made the install take longer, he honored his original estimate and gave me a military discount on top of that. Stand up guys here. Professional and easy to work with! Highly recommend
Zach did an excellent job replacing my Jeeps ball joints. Very satisfied with the joints he suggested and the work that was done.
Zach did some suspension work on my truck and it came out great, he was quick and the price was fair. Will definitely be back for more work in the future.
I had a great experience at Off Camber 4x4 as Zach is a true professional and pleasure to work with. He went above and beyond getting all hardware snugged up even though it wasn’t in the estimate - with being a late request made when I dropped off the truck. Additionally, Off Camber’s shop not only provided the most reasonable price out of the four estimates I received, they were the ONLY shop that recommended a follow up inspection for the type of service I had done. They installed a leveling kit, control arms, rear shocks, dual exhaust system, and a trailer receiver along with including the complementary inspection at 500 miles to make sure everything was still tight.
I had some Rubicon takeoff springs installed on my Wrangler JL Sport 2 door. It was awesome to watch Zach work. He took time to torque everything properly and still completed the job in a very timely fashion. It was a great experience!
Zach did a great job on the lift install for my sequoia. Highly recommend!
I recently had a set of Fox 2.0 shocks installed on my daughter's Jeep at Off-Camber 4x4 Garage and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the Zach and Team was knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. They took the time to explain the different shock options, ensuring we chose the best setup for her needs. The installation was done quickly and with great attention to detail. The Jeep now handles better than ever—smoother on the road and more capable off it.
Zack made a great recommendation on the Old Man Emu overland suspension for my 2021 Ford Ranger. Also on the installation. Truck rides and handles great.
Level out your loaded rig
Air Lift air bag installs in Windsor, CO, for trucks and SUVs that carry racks, tents and trailers across Northern Colorado.