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Hitch a caravan to a dual cab and the back goes down, the front comes up, and the headlights point at the trees. Airbags fix that picture in about a minute with a tyre pump. That convenience is why they sell, and it's also why they get misused.
An airbag kit is a good tool for one job. Here's what that job is.
How load assist airbags work
On a leaf-sprung ute, an airbag sits between the chassis rail and the axle or spring on each side. Empty, it runs at low pressure and does almost nothing. Add air and it pushes up on the chassis, taking some of the load off the springs and bringing the rear back up to level.
On a coil-sprung rear, such as the Navara NP300, the bag sits inside the coil and works the same way.
When airbags are the right choice
Airbags suit a load that changes. If your ute is empty during the week and carries a camper, a boat on the towball or a tray of gear on weekends, heavy springs would ride hard five days out of seven. Airbags let you keep comfortable springs and add support only when the weight goes on.
They also help with:
- Levelling the vehicle when towing, which puts weight back on the front wheels for steering and braking.
- Correcting a lean when a load sits heavier on one side, because each bag can be set to its own pressure.
- Stopping the rear from bottoming on its bump stops over dips.
When they're the wrong choice
A ute that is always heavy
If the canopy, drawers and water tank never come off, the springs are permanently overloaded. Fit springs rated for that weight and use airbags, if at all, for what goes on top.
Getting around weight limits
Airbags don't change your GVM, your axle limits or your towball rating. A ute that sits level can still be overweight. If you're near the limits, weigh the vehicle. A GVM upgrade is a separate, engineered modification.
Propping up a heavy towball load
Springs spread their load along the chassis at two mounting points each. An airbag pushes up at one point. With a very heavy load hanging off the back of a dual cab and the bags pumped hard to hold it level, a lot of force goes through one section of chassis rail. Bent chassis on dual cabs nearly always involve too much weight behind the rear axle, and high airbag pressure is often part of the story. Keep towball weights within the rating and use the least pressure that levels the vehicle.
Setting the pressure
- Never run the bags empty. Keep the minimum pressure the kit specifies, even with no load, or the bag can fold and chafe.
- Load the vehicle first, then add air until it sits level. Stop there.
- Let the pressure back down when the load comes off, or the ride will be harsh and the rear will skip on corrugations.
- Recheck pressures off-road. A bag at full extension can be damaged if it's also at high pressure.
What we stock
Our airbag kits are from All Terrain Industries and are made for each vehicle. They use double bellow bags rated at 1,150kg each, pressure tested to over 600 psi, with a recommended working range of 5 to 160 psi. Each kit comes with the brackets, air line, fittings and valves, and carries a 5 year warranty.
There are kits for the 2015-on Hilux, the PX Ranger and BT-50, the Next Gen Ranger and Amarok, the 2020-on D-Max and BT-50, the Triton, the Navara NP300, the 70 Series Landcruiser and the RAM 1500.
Check the suspension height in the title. Most kits suit standard height to a 2-inch lift, and some vehicles have a second kit for taller lifts.
Airbags or heavier springs?
| Airbags | Heavier springs | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A load that comes and goes | A load that's always there |
| Ride when empty | Unchanged | Firmer |
| Adjustable | Yes, side to side as well | No |
| Raises legal payload | No | No |
| Upkeep | Check pressures | None |
If you're only trying to raise the rear to match a front lift, look at extended shackles, lift blocks or new springs.
Common questions
Do airbags increase towing capacity?
No. They level the vehicle under load. Your towing capacity, towball rating and GVM stay as the manufacturer set them.
Can I fit them myself?
Vehicle-specific kits bolt on with hand tools in a few hours. Route the air lines away from the exhaust and anything that moves.
Should the two bags be joined or separate?
Separate lines let you set each side on its own and stop air shifting from one bag to the other when the vehicle leans in a corner.
Do airbags work with a lift kit?
Yes, as long as the kit matches your suspension height. The range each one suits is in the product title.
