Alright guys, so here is the deal. My dad is sending me some money for Christmas, and I need to use it to beef up my rear suspension because of how often I pull a trailer. I had 3 options until I talked to him.

The first option that I had was a set of helper springs. However, he doesn't want me doing those because he had a set on his old Grand Wagoneer, and it rode terrible after that.

My new first option is a lift kit from 4x4parts.com. It is the set of adjustable height Bilsteins for the front, and AAL and new shocks for the rear. This kit runs about $400, but I also get some lift out of it, which I have been looking for. https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/deluxe-suspension-package-p-5857.html

The second option that I have is a set of Airbags. I haven't looked at specific kits yet, but I know that we run anywhere from $200-$300. I think this would probably be the better option for towing really large loads, but I don't ever really carry anything that big. I have also heard that they can sometimes hinder you off road, along with having poor performance and sometimes the bag does not reseat like it is supposed to.

Sorry for the novel, but I am looking to people here to share their personal experiences with each kit. So what do I go with, the AAL rear or Airbags, and why? Thanks

do yourself a favor and get the airbags. i wish o would have home that route from the beginning on the xterra.

your daily ride quality will not be affected its a simple install and then you would already have a compressor if you ever wanted to run lockers in the future.

I did bags on my avalanch rhe and its by far the way to go if towing is your concern.

and also take a look at the range roverrear suspension. its lightly sprung with a airbag system. and for as much as some people want to say they got soft on their offload ability every real review out there says otherwise.

granted they use a more sophisticated control system and link the cross bags but the idea is silk the same. a soft spring will articulate better.

Honestly, you need to take a look through the Hellwig Product Line.

http://www.hellwigproducts.com/products/load-control/

Their Helper Springs are some of the best available and one reason is because they are adjustable for you to adjust your own place between ride comfort / load support. They also carry about everything else you might want if you happen to decide on something else.


Another good option is Timbren:

http://www.timbren.com/index.htm

thanks for the links pops. i thought about my dad having his tightned down too much when he told me that it made it ride terrible. i may give the helper springs a try and if i dont like them then i will go for the lift. i dont really think that i want the air bags though. however, i am still open to other opinions

you can get a custom set of springs made from Alcan. you can get whatever amount of lift you want and however much weight over stock as you want. It will run you about $250 per spring + shipping.

Ryan I would prob go with the 4x4 kit you are looking at and if you still need additional help get some hellwig 550 helpers. Oh yea dont forget about installing some pinion shims.

If all you are looking to do is to stop the sag when the trailer is pulled, then the air bag kit is the way to go. If you also want to lift the truck, there are several options to choose from. Look at what PRG Products has to offer, they have a better add a leaf kit than the one offered at 4X4 products.

i think that im going to go with the air bag set up and just stay non-lifted for now since i still commute almost 100 miles a day. i eventually would like to get one of those pop-up campers with the atv deck on the front, so i think that the air bags will be good for that

Are you going to wheel this truck, if so I would think long and hard about the bags. A big portion of the rover crowd remove the bags if they wheel and just go with a taller coil spring. The bags have a much higher failure rate.

But if you are not going to take it uot in the woods, then bags are a great option.

For wheeling and towing, alcans or deaver is the way to go, full replacement, or minipack.

i wheel it some, and now that i think about it i do remember that the rovers had problems. maybe i will just try out the helper springs first