Polyairs/coilrites

Paul,
I doubt whether anybody has actually used BOTH systems to be able to give you a direct comparison.
I use Polyairs and they are good at what they do......BUT.....they WILL NOT provide you with any additional lift above what your vehicle normally sits at.
What they are designed to do is to stop a certain amount of sag in your existing (or beefed up) suspension at those times when you load the back up with heaps of gear &/or a trailer or caravan.
I have seen the CoilRites in a shop and they look very similar to the polyairs, and I doubt whether there'd be much difference between them.
I know a bloke who uses Firestone air bellows in his dual cab ute and he seems to be able carry relatively huge loads (I saw him with a full pallet of garden edging blocks on it) and it sat almost at normal level. These bellows are the next level up from the more usual Polyairs or CoilRites.
Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers,

Hi Pauly.

I have used both Polyairs and Coilrites. The Polyairs in my GQ 3l petrol and the Coilrites in my current GU 4.8l petrol.
I haven't found any major difference in operation. Both are great when I put extreme loads in the load bay and want to stop the rear sagging. Last week I carried over 300kg in the back and had the Coilrites pumped up to 26psi. Still ended up with a minor sag though. I had pumped the bags up before I went to pick up the load but was not able to add a bit more air when I put the 300+kg in as there was no compressor available. It takes a few uses to understand the correct pressure to run them at but sometimes I still don't get it perfectly right.
Without the air bags I would have had severe rear end sag and little steering and braking effect on the front wheels, quite dangerous.
Remember to let the bags down again (3 - 5psi minimum) after removing all of the weight in the back otherwise you will get a very FIRM ride.
Overall I am very happy with the Coilrites and the Polyairs were also good on the GQ.
The reason I purchased the Coilrites were:
1. I read an article on them and they sounded O.K.
2. They were easy to fit to the GU without having to remove the rear coils.

Use the air bags as intended and you will not be unhappy.

Bit off topic but someone mentioned it. Koni shocks are best adjusted off the truck
I think. Remove em then you will find a small hole in the top cover(tube).
Poke a small screwdriver down there & force out a rubber bush about 12mm thick & remove it.
You can then compress them fully home & while holding them compressed turn the bottom tube, not sure now whether left or right, & you will feel a few clicks.
You can find the lowest, softest setting then maybe notch it up carefully one or two
according to your needs or the condition of the shock.
Too far & its as hard as a rock. Pull it out & reinsert the bush & your away.

Hi Captain (WA)

I agree with Rohan K.

3 - 5 PSI does not appear to have much effect on the ride.
Some pressure is kept in the bags to keep their shape and stop them getting pinched in the springs.

G'day,
Can you guys tell me whether you fitted them yourselves or you got a dealer to fit them for you.i trying to figure it out wether theya are easy enough to install myself.
Any comment would be appreciated
Thanks
Don

Hi Rolande & Don

Tried to post a reply a while ago but I think I fluffed it up. So if there are two sorta similar replies I apologise.

Purchased my Coilrites from Toolern Engineering, Ph: 03 9746 1484.
Price was $355.30 inc delivery & GST in August 2002.
Model number was CR-4129
The Aussie importer is Airbag Man, Ph: 07 3889 6556.

Took me about 3 hours to fit as I didn't have a hoist or ramps and I was pretty pernickity about where I ran the airlines. I also made a simple stainless steel angle bracket to hold both of the airline fittings so that they were mounted together rather than the normal way of fitting them at each end of the rear bumper.
Installation is pretty simple and theer is no need to remove the rear coils, just jack each side up in turn to get maximum extension of the spring.
I am also 60+ and not so agile under the truck as I used to be.

Do it in one hour? Maybe with a hoist and everything ready and know what you are doing! Maybe then! But gee! Ya gotta stop for a cuppa every now and again and smell the roses! No! I am not retired but this crawling round on a cold driveway with dirt from under the truck falling on you ain't the fun it yoosda be!

The major difference between Polyair/Coil Rites, besides the colour of the bag. Polyair have been in Aust. longer than Coil Rites, I think. The air valves with polyair are a clamp & coil rites are have a screw fitting, the hose on polyair is more flexible than coil rites. But i would like to see a comparison with the same vehicle, with the same suspension fitted with either brand in the same situation to see which is better. The price difference is minimal between the two.