Small Rear End Lift?

[DeanM2]

I have a 2023 BigHorn with a Bilstein Strut (front) level-lift. After about a year, the rear end has gone down about an inch. And I am now doing rare carrying of cargo in the rear. Don't do any off-roading. I am very happy with the ride of the current suspension, BUT, on rare occasion (unloaded truck bed) on the freeway I will find a section of road that causes the rear end to bounce a bit. Every time I go throught that section of road, it will bounce. While annoying, that is rare, so I don't want to increase the bounciness of the rear suspension for most driving.

So I would like to accomplish 2 things. 1) Raise the rear-end up an inch or so to level the truck for the 99% of the time when I am not carrying anything in the bed. And do it in a way that does not screw-up the generally nice ride I have now. And 2) be able to temporarily put a thousand pounds or so in the bed without sagging several inches.

I am thinking that I can add Spacers under the rear springs to level the vehicle. And I'm thinking that I can add something like Air Lift air bags inside the rear springs to handle the occasional heavy load. Does that sound correct? Can I use the air bags to also level the truck (without using the Spacers) without damaging the ride quality? Or should I put in Spacers to level the ride AND air bags, and keep no air in the air bags until I am carrying a load? Your thoughts on Spacer and Air Bag companies is appreciated.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I have a 2023 BigHorn with a Bilstein Strut (front) level-lift. After about a year, the rear end has gone down about an inch. And I am now doing rare carrying of cargo in the rear. Don't do any off-roading. I am very happy with the ride of the current suspension, BUT, on rare occasion (unloaded truck bed) on the freeway I will find a section of road that causes the rear end to bounce a bit. Every time I go throught that section of road, it will bounce. While annoying, that is rare, so I don't want to increase the bounciness of the rear suspension for most driving.

So I would like to accomplish 2 things. 1) Raise the rear-end up an inch or so to level the truck for the 99% of the time when I am not carrying anything in the bed. And do it in a way that does not screw-up the generally nice ride I have now. And 2) be able to temporarily put a thousand pounds or so in the bed without sagging several inches.

I am thinking that I can add Spacers under the rear springs to level the vehicle. And I thinking that I can add something like Air Lift air bags inside the rear springs to handle the occasional heavy load. Does that sound correct? Can I use the air bags to also level the truck (without using the Spacers) without damaging the ride quality? Or should I put in Spacers to level the ride AND air bags, and keep no air in the air bags until I am carrying a load? Your thoughts on Spacer and Air Bag companies is appreciated.

Only way you can use airbags to lift the rear is if you do a complete airbag set up that replaces your coil springs.

You can install lift springs and Bilstien shocks designed for lifted suspension. Ride quality won't suffer much if any.

I have a 1" spacer on my rear coil. Still seems to ride okay, but will probably be replacing with taller coil springs next year to get rid of the spacer.

 

[H2OMAN]

Getcha one of these kits. Fix ya right up. https://www.amazon.com/Air-Lift-608...8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[Ready Go]

1" spacer will work..Airlift bags will be helpful to fill when towing.

A really easy fix that can have same as OEM ride-quality would be to swap your rear springs for the ORP/ORG springs which are 1" lift springs compared to your OEM Bighorn springs.

I did this on the Front of my 2024 Laramie when I put Eibach struts on...1" ORP spring on Eibach strut on Clip #2 (0.6" lift) to get 1.6" level lift on my Larry. The ORP was exactly 1" as expected...and ride was still almost OEM...the Eibachs are stiffer valved than OEM struts.

Check the Part Number on your current springs and use this chart to cross-reference to the ORP springs (sorry, the yellow highlights were for my springs).....

 

[DeanM2]

Getcha one of these kits. Fix ya right up. https://www.amazon.com/Air-Lift-60818HD-1000HD/dp/B07BKXP1BW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2GLF6DZILE1LS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T7zFvL2gwR9utXQRnAmD4hF8fBhfYs5cM1waXPZbzwRx9QPZGUweKlCZh7DqSZKiSKlru5v_K91AO01tsw5k3LPLLmDqcd71F3xHBFo4SEkBjw3MeQl15fhlRRRpHEYVip--TiYFoOhGrJmTUUikrWogPwrFH5SxRoHBsgSkcm1zyMzlZl70tlZ9F33qD6MGtzEMxiuSvrEeOk6MFei8n97pXUOAkbW9mJlATpL8zYGiKY5MYSF90e-S_KvG2ycJmW5yGme9axTX-3G0pP6b_pUxDmBGPwPXlZT-Yl7g6o4.SLqd-sQrNtDzZhbLbtWXrvJB0kFlNVRU7CCA1AXlM_8&dib_tag=se&keywords=airlift+1000hd+ram+1500&qid=1734762590&sprefix=airlift+1000,aps,198&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

That is the kit I was looking at. BUT, if you leave the bags at the minimum 5 PSI, do they affect the ride? And if you keep them at something like 10 PSI will it keep the back end up about an inch without affecting the ride?

 

[Ready Go]

I have Airlift bags in my back coils..I keep them at 3-5 psi and can't really tell you there are even there normally. I've juiced them to 10 lbs and don't believe they really lifted the truck at all, just kept it from squatting.
I think if you want a constant, static 1" lift, I'd just spacers or ORP coils.

 

[H2OMAN]

I have Airlift bags in my back coils..I keep them at 3-5 psi and can't really tell you there are even there normally. I've juiced them to 10 lbs and don't believe they really lifted the truck at all, just kept it from squatting.
I think if you want a constant, static 1" lift, I'd just spacers or ORP coils.

You're supposed to go to 20psi for towing and hauling. 5psi is for normal use.

 

[Ready Go]

You're supposed to go to 20psi for towing and hauling. 5psi is for normal use.

Yep, I'm just saying for daily driving you'd stay at 5 psi normally, but if DeanM2 is trying to use Airlift Coil Bags to get 1" lift, that's gonna take maximum psi and not really work.
Airlift Coil Bags are great for taking up squat, but not for full-time lift.
The Coils replacement Bags could do that..I just prefer lift coils and airbags for closest to OEM ride quality.
Many ways to go about it..I think DeanM2 is looking for something similar to what I've done..could be wrong though

 

[Ready Go]

I'll have to try pumping the bags to max 35 psi and see what happens sometime..I suspect they'll lift the truck a bit, but become very tipsy.

 

[DeanM2]

Yep, I'm just saying for daily driving you'd stay at 5 psi normally, but if DeanM2 is trying to use Airlift Coil Bags to get 1" lift, that's gonna take maximum psi and not really work.
Airlift Coil Bags are great for taking up squat, but not for full-time lift.
The Coils replacement Bags could do that..I just prefer lift coils and airbags for closest to OEM ride quality.
Many ways to go about it..I think DeanM2 is looking for something similar to what I've done..could be wrong though

From what I have read elsewhere, the Air Lift Coil Bags that fit inside the coil spring do not actually "lift" the truck, they just keep it from sagging. Rather than expanding lengthwise, the air bags expand in diameter. They then squish the air bag out between the coils, and this keeps the coils from compressing. As a result, for a load, you need to add air to them BEFORE you add the load, or the coil springs would already be compressed and the air bags would not be able to properly squish between them to prevent the coils from compressing.

In my case, since my coils are already compressed by about an inch, I was thinking that I would raise the back end of my truck up to (or slightly above) the height I want, and then put some air into the bags. In that way, the air bags would help prevent the coils from compressing, and I would retain the 1 inch of lift.

 

[Gren71]

Could always look at cargomaxx springs. The set i have (in my signature) gave me 1 1/4 in of lift and ride amazing. No bags or other stuff necessary. And it will squat less when hauling and handling cornering better.

 

[Ready Go]

Hmmm, I love this forum..I've got some things to consider..good points

 

[PurpleRT]

Ill add to the confusion.. Bilstein also has offers a B12 spring… 1.5” inch lift and is a progressive spring which will lift and not take away from the ride quality when loaded or unloaded. IIRC gave me about a 1.5 in the rear unloaded and about a 1” lift or so with my usual jobox and tote/cooler I carry.


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