Poly air bags

Chris, I posted the other thread about the airbags, and my reasons for thinking along those lines was to level up the car when I have the CT on.
I wasn't too interested in lifting the back higher than normal, I think you would have to go to different springs for that. IMHO

Also, I was thinking Boss airbags, not Polyairs.

Dave

Chris

I've had Poly Air bags in a few cars. Most recently a GU Patrol. The Air bags lifted the back of Patrol considerably...maybe inch and half or more, never actually measured it...and I thoroughly recommend them.

As long as you don't 'overweight' the tow ball, the Poly Air bags will level the ride nicely and stop any bottoming out.

I've just bought a new (2nd hand) 100series and that has bags in it already. If it didn't, it would be one of the 1st things I would consider putting in.

I having nothing to do with the Poly Air bag Company in any way. In fact I hear others are just a good.

Good luck.

Airbags are never very successful on a leaf sprung vehicle unless it is a street queen and only ever used on the bitumen.
They limit suspension travel, can give a choppy ride and will as the spring moves back in compression twist the bag sideways between the top and bottom mounts, much better off to change the springs to suit the load you are carrying.
An extra leaf in the 3rd from the top position, cold reset of your existing spring leaves to match the new leaf and refitting with genuine Toyota rubbers is the best, most durable and cheapest solution I found after owning and using four troopies over 25 years.

Chris,
I bought a set of the Boss airbags for the leaf sprung 78/79series.

Did some measurements, which confirm what others say above about suspension travel:
On compression, you'll lose at least 70mm. The standard bump stop is 100mm long. The airbags will compress down to 170mm.
When extended, the airbags will stretch to the full length of the factory shocks. But my Old Man Emu shocks have an extra 40mm, so I'll lose that.

But the bags are twin bellows - look very strong and the quality of the bags looks very good. I have no doubt that they will prop up a sagging rear end, and maybe stop some of the sway when you've got a load on board, and make life easier for the leaf springs.

I'll go ahead and fit them and see how they go, but I'm not keen on limiting the articulation. For the heavy loads on the desert tripsl, I think they'll be OK.

Has any body had any experience with the AirLift 1000 air bags from the U.S.?

I read a lot about limiting suspension travel in leaf sprung rear ends, I assume the same would apply for springs? What is the minimum air pressure you can put in the bags? I am thinking that if you really need all your available wheel travel and not have it limited by the air bags, could you not simply deflate them?

Comments?

I tried Polyairs a few years back on the Hilux Sprayrig, apart from getting holed regularly, they bottomed out something awful.
Cured by getting uprated rear springs at not much cost difference
to polyairs fitted. Go to a spring manufacturer, not Toyota or
the 4WD Candy Stores......oldbaz.