Everything You Need to Know about Air Suspension for Trucks

What Is Air Suspension?

Air suspension is one of the most critical developments in trucking, but what exactly is it? In Layman’s terms, air suspension is pneumatically-assisted suspension—however, there are a couple of different styles to discuss.

Towing Air Suspension

First, let’s talk towing and hauling. Towing-centric suspension, like add-on airbag systems, is the most common form of air suspension, especially on pickups. These systems consist of durable rubber air bladders that work alongside your pickup’s other suspension components. 

These bladders, or “airbags,” are installed between your pickup’s frame and rear axle. When inflated, the airbags stiffen up and support your pickup’s rear suspension, increasing rear ride height, reducing spring sag, and improving overall stability.

Depending on the kit, towing airbags can add hundreds to thousands of pounds of load-leveling assistance, keeping your trailer stable and level.

Full-Replacement Air Suspension

Then, we have full-replacement air suspension, often installed for aesthetic purposes on lowered and significantly lifted applications. These systems typically replace your pickup’s coil and leaf springs with air bladders, allowing you to raise and lower your pickup with air pressure. These systems usually require custom fab work and are commonly seen on show trucks—think about any massive SEMA build or body-dragging dually you’ve ever seen. 

While aesthetically pleasing, full-replacement air suspension systems don’t offer much benefit in real-world use.

What Does Air Suspension Do?

As previously mentioned, air suspension is used for two primary purposes—load-leveling assistance while towing or ride-height adjustment on a show-truck build. Whether installed alongside your pickup’s existing suspension or replacing the coils and leaf springs, air suspension acts as a spring beneath your pickup, supporting the body over the axles.

What Are the Components of an Air Suspension System?

While some air suspension kits are more complex than others, each features the same basic components. These include: 

• Airbags: Airbags, also known as air bladders, are thick, durable rubber bags installed between your pickup’s frame and axle. These components are filled with air via a Schrader valve or an onboard air tank/compressor, providing load-leveling assistance or ride-height adjustment. 

• Air Lines: Air lines supply air from the air tank/compressor or an externally mounted Schrader valve to the airbags. These durable lines are traditionally manufactured from thick nylon tubing for maximum durability. 

• Airbag Mounts/Cradle: These components are used to secure the airbags to your vehicle’s chassis. Typically, airbag mounts and cradles are manufactured from heavy-duty steel for maximum strength and durability. They often feature a simple, bolt-on design that’s specific to your application, eliminating the need to cut or drill into your pickup’s frame. 

Alternatively, several airbag kits include air compressors and air tanks that mount aboard your pickup. When wired into the electrical system and plumbed into the airbags, these components allow you to inflate or deflate airbags with the push of a button. They also don’t rely on an outside air source, making you less reliant on gas station air pumps on long hauls. 

Airbag systems with onboard air add several components to the above list, including: 

• Compressor: This product uses an electric motor to draw in external air, which it then compresses under vacuum to reduce its volume. 

• Air Tank: Pressurized air is then stored in the air tank until you increase the pressure inside your airbags.

• Pressure Gauge: The pressure gauge may be manual or digital. In either case, it monitors the air pressure in your bags, allowing you to verify that the PSI matches your load without ever leaving your pickup’s cab.  

• Air Management System: While not included with all onboard air systems, air management systems feature a standalone computer that monitors the pressure in your vehicle’s airbags compared to the load on the hitch or in the bed. They’re typically load-leveling and auto-adjusting, making towing and hauling a breeze.

How Much Does Air Suspension Cost?

Like most auto parts, the cost of air suspension systems varies widely depending on the type of system, brand, and whether it includes a compressor and air tank. Entry-level air suspension systems, like Firestone Coil Rite air bags, can be had for under $200.

Mid-tier, towing-specific air suspension setups can triple that price tag, and that’s without an air tank, compressor, and management system. Adding these luxuries with a comprehensive kit, like the Air Lift LoadController, can add another $300 to the bill. 

Lastly, complete airbag kits that replace the coil springs can easily cost thousands of dollars. Fortunately, those systems are typically reserved for show trucks and specialized applications.

Is Air Suspension Reliable?

Air suspension can be relatively reliable, though it’s generally considered less reliable and more expensive to repair than conventional coil springs and dampers. Air suspension systems have far more parts that could fail, like air lines, air bags, compressors, tanks, and fittings. If you’re running a management system, you’ll also have to worry about the reliability of electrical components. 

Fortunately, most air suspension systems for trucks are add-ons to existing suspension components rather than replacements. For example, if an air line or bag blows out on a set of towing airbags, as long as you aren’t towing a hefty load, you’ll be able to make it home with minimal trouble.

Is Air Suspension Good for Off-Roading?

While air suspension may be suitable for towing and heavy hauling, it’s not intended for use on off-road builds. Air suspension tends to be stiff and limit travel, making it the exact opposite of what most off-road vehicles need for competent trail performance. This being said, some manufacturers produce long-travel air bags that significantly increase the travel of air suspension systems, making them far more compatible with off-road vehicles.

Best Air Suspension

If you’ve made it this far and you’re questioning which air suspension system to order for your pickup, you’re in luck. In the following section, we’re listing our top air suspension systems.

Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bag Kit

The Firestone Ride-Rite air bag kit is a premium air bag system engineered for towing and hauling assistance. This kit includes everything necessary to install Firestone’s Ride-Rite airbags on your pickup, including brackets, air lines, all the required fittings, and hardware.

While this kit doesn’t include an onboard air supply or management system, it offers full side-to-side adjustment to ensure a perfectly level and even load. Adjustment is quick and easy with the included Schrader valves, allowing quick pressure adjustments with an external compressor. These kits offer between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds of load-leveling assistance, ensuring maximum stability and minimum sag. 

Features: 

• Rear-to-front leveling capability

• Increases stability while maximizing load capacity

• 3,000–5,000 lbs. of load-leveling capacity per set

• Can be adjusted for changing loads

• Individual inflation valves for side-to-side adjustment

• Installs between the frame and suspension

• Improves steering control and braking effectiveness

• Levels headlight beams and reduces tire wear

• Reduces suspension fatigue and sagging

• Reduces the chance of bottoming out

• USA-made

Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Bag Kit

The Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate air bag kit is a rugged, durable air suspension system geared toward towing and hauling heavy loads. Like the Firestone Ride-Rite kit, the Air Lift LoadLifter doesn’t feature an onboard compressor or management system. However, it includes airbags, lines, brackets, and all necessary hardware for a straightforward installation on your pickup.

This product features manual adjustability with the included Schrader valves. Just install the valves in an easily accessible location, like the fender wells or the rear bumper, and inflate the bags with a conventional compressor and tire pump, providing up to 5,000 pounds of load-leveling support. 

Features: 

• Fits 1/2, 3/4, and 1-ton trucks and vans with leaf springs

• 5,000 lbs. of load-leveling capacity

• Features an internal jounce bouncer

• Available with stainless steel or plastic air lines

• Includes roll plates, mounting brackets, and hardware

• Easy installation

• Limited lifetime warranty

Firestone RED Label Air Bag Suspension Kits

Firestone RED Label air bag suspension kits are a premium, commercial-grade airbag system engineered exclusively for heavy-duty ¾ and 1-ton pickup trucks. Each kit includes everything necessary to install Firestone RED Label airbags, including all mounts, air lines, and fittings. Each kit is rated up to 7500 pounds per pair, leveling even the heaviest trailers.

RED Label airbags utilize commercial-grade bellows for maximum strength. Each airbag is pressure-tested before leaving the factory, ensuring leak-free operation and reliable service out of the box. 

Features: 

• Levels rear-to-front

• Stabilizes and maximizes your load capacity

• Each air spring is pressure tested before leaving the factory

• RED Label springs use commercial-grade bellows

• Made using high-strength steel components

• Mounts between the frame and suspension

• Rated up to 7500 lbs. per pair

• USA-made

Air Lift 1000 Air Bag Kits

The Air Lift 1000 air bag kit is a simple, easy-to-install system engineered for coil-sprung rear suspension systems. These kits include small airbags installed within your vehicle’s rear coil springs. When inflated, this system adds up to 1,000 pounds of load-leveling assistance—ideal for light loads and half-ton applications. 

Air Lift 1000 air bag kits include everything necessary for installation, including airbags, air lines, fittings, and valves. They can be installed front or rear, whether your pickup needs a little help with a snow plow or your SUV needs a bit of load-leveling assistance for a travel trailer. 

Features: 

• Provide up to 1,000 lbs. of leveling capacity

• Specifically designed for coil-sprung vehicles

• Reduce bottoming out when towing or hauling heavy loads

• Helps to balance uneven loads, increasing traction and stability

• Installs inside the existing coil spring

• Available for front and rear applications

• Limited lifetime warranty