Absolutely beautiful! So cool that you can get so far out in the middle of nowhere. But with that comes risks. A bit of an adventure for sure! So glad you are able to do all the fixing. Thank you Mark for all the rescue and the hospitality you offered!
I tend to not want to modify OE equipment but the coil spring conversion seems like a prudent modification. We have a late model 4 Runner with coils but I added air bags for towing which worked for our application. To be clear our air bags are used with the coils.
Yes, I know the conventional wisdom says to convert to coils, but I have been trying to keep it factory and simple. I like the auto leveling with the trailer and various loads. I'm not looking for hard-core wheeling. I will see how these new bags do on my next trip. If I have a failure again, coils it is.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin I run 80 series rear coils in the back of my Sequoia after a bag blew just like yours. If it did it once, it'll do it again. To address the tongue weight issue as the 80 coils are pretty soft, I run Firestone bags inside the coils. Best of both worlds- super comfy ride on road and when lightly loaded off road, and the weight carrying capacity of some stiff coils.
Scary out there crawling under the car by yourself. Glad nothing bad happened and you are on your way. Years ago I dropped my Ford Expedition in a creek bed and punched a hole in the air suspension line which caused the back end to sag and drag. I limped into Ridgecrest, Ca and a mechanic fixed (temp) by sliding a section of plastic tubing over the hole then used two hose clamps to crimp the ends of the tubing enough to allow air into the line and into the suspension. Nice trick.
It wasn't scary at the time, but looking back at the video, things look sketchy. The truck was on jack stands, with the floor jack still helping, but it was also sand, so not very stable. On the second trip out, Mark brought wood to put the jack and stands on and stabilize things better.
If you’re near Moab, call Rory Irish trail Mater. He is the king of backcountry fixes, and has all the connections to get you lined up with a service location locally.
I would say it is definitely time to throw some coils in there. Not a Toyota guy, but I do know there’s some platform sharing going on with the GX series and the rest of the Toyota lineup., you could probably find a compatible swap and used parts. My jeep WK2 has been having a few issues with its air suspension, and when it fails, I am going to do the coil spring conversion.
Wow, what a trip. So awesome you had help from the group and the abilities to fix it. I'm sure it is back to normal now 👍. So will you carry spare airbags? All the drone and photography was awesome. Safe travels
Thanks Jonnie! I won't carry spares, as it is a major job and needed the extra items that Mark provided. It's not an easy trail fix. If they fail again, I will probably convert to coil springs.
I just clicked your profile. Loving the content. Thanks for commenting on my video, Sorry we have been traveling so I haven't been watching my YT comments. LMK if you have any questions regarding your upcoming Oregon Trail trip.
I can see additions to your kit. cell booster, exhaust jack. Don't know if you have it, but AAA Premier is a great thing to have when traveling. Great towing benefits as well as other benefits. Glad you got things resolved.
Once again stunning scenery! Beautiful photography! Oops! You're not supposed to break stuff like that out in the middle of nowhere. 😁 Glad you made it home with no further issues. Thank you to Moab Mark for getting you what you needed!
Nice video, good time until airbag failures. I’m headed out there later this week from Colorado. Can’t decide between Dome Plateau or Gemini Bridges area, where it looks like you were. When were you out there? We went out the week before Easter and weather was not good. We just pack up the LX and load up the roof top carrier. It seems that trailers and Moab area are more of a challenge than these old bones are prepared for. Good thing that you could get help from Mark at least. I guess trail breakdowns are a question of when, not if….
How many miles on your GX? Mine is a 2008 with only 72k miles. Wondering if it’s mileage or age that caused your air suspension to blow. Or do you think it was the stress put on them by overlanding?
My GX has just over 200K. I don't think age is a factor, as I believe the previous owner had them replaced a few years ago. Part of the issue is that the rear shocks are aftermarket and may be a bit longer than stock. This allows more extension travel, allowing the airbags to extend out of the axle perch and get out of alignment. I think the factory shocks are the limit to down travel of the axle. Limit straps might be on the list to do, but the aftermarket airbags have a retainer that keeps them in the lower mount, where the factory bags do not. I will see how they perform going forward.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin Thats a good thing-you were pretty calm under fire, and it was great that guy was able to help you out- It's always good to have a good ending.
Rory is Trail Mater... check it out... offroad recovery specialists and trail repair with a welder. If you know what part is broken they'll bring out a new one and trail install if at all possible
I know I will get flack but it has to be said. You have an over loaded or near over loaded rig. It appears you have no lockers. Stock air bags and not to mention STREET tires. I haveno mercy for you.
I disagree. It's not anywhere near overloaded. I removed rear seats and added a drawer system. Most of that was still empty. The tongue weight is only 200 pounds. There is nothing but the rack in the roof. It's not much over stock weight. I have kept track over weight removed and weight added. I don't disagree about the tires, but they were near new when I bought it, and I decided to wear them out rather than throw them away. They have performed surprisingly well. No lockers, true. But I'm not trying to wheel hardcore. I have rockcrawled in the past, and that's not where my interest lies anymore.
Haha. I knew someone would mention tires. They were practically new when I bought the GX and rather than spend a bunch to replace them with ATs, I decided to wear them out first. They do surprisingly well. I haven't done any real technical wheeling, so they have been good enough, for now.
For those of us that can get out there- Thanks for bringing us along- this is magnificent
@vicc6744 You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it. More adventures coming.
Absolutely beautiful! So cool that you can get so far out in the middle of nowhere. But with that comes risks. A bit of an adventure for sure! So glad you are able to do all the fixing. Thank you Mark for all the rescue and the hospitality you offered!
Thanks Patty. It certainly was an adventure.
Sure is awesome that the off-road groups and people are willing to go above and beyond for each other.🥰
It is awesome.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". Life Is About The Journey, Not The Destination.Phuken Airbags... give me coils !
*beautiful Lexus GX470 and camper* ❤
Thank you!
I tend to not want to modify OE equipment but the coil spring conversion seems like a prudent modification. We have a late model 4 Runner with coils but I added air bags for towing which worked for our application. To be clear our air bags are used with the coils.
@@143jkrd I am considering going that route.
This is why I had changed to coils with an Old Man Emu 2 inch lift shocks and springs and never get in situation like this. Safe drive home Tim.
Yes, I know the conventional wisdom says to convert to coils, but I have been trying to keep it factory and simple. I like the auto leveling with the trailer and various loads. I'm not looking for hard-core wheeling. I will see how these new bags do on my next trip. If I have a failure again, coils it is.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin I run 80 series rear coils in the back of my Sequoia after a bag blew just like yours. If it did it once, it'll do it again. To address the tongue weight issue as the 80 coils are pretty soft, I run Firestone bags inside the coils. Best of both worlds- super comfy ride on road and when lightly loaded off road, and the weight carrying capacity of some stiff coils.
Since a high lift can't be used, an exhaust jack might be a good addition to you kit
Scary out there crawling under the car by yourself. Glad nothing bad happened and you are on your way. Years ago I dropped my Ford Expedition in a creek bed and punched a hole in the air suspension line which caused the back end to sag and drag. I limped into Ridgecrest, Ca and a mechanic fixed (temp) by sliding a section of plastic tubing over the hole then used two hose clamps to crimp the ends of the tubing enough to allow air into the line and into the suspension. Nice trick.
It wasn't scary at the time, but looking back at the video, things look sketchy. The truck was on jack stands, with the floor jack still helping, but it was also sand, so not very stable. On the second trip out, Mark brought wood to put the jack and stands on and stabilize things better.
Jeep grand Cherokee, and some of the Dodge pickups also I’ll have the same issues with air suspension.
If you’re near Moab, call Rory Irish trail Mater. He is the king of backcountry fixes, and has all the connections to get you lined up with a service location locally.
I would say it is definitely time to throw some coils in there. Not a Toyota guy, but I do know there’s some platform sharing going on with the GX series and the rest of the Toyota lineup., you could probably find a compatible swap and used parts. My jeep WK2 has been having a few issues with its air suspension, and when it fails, I am going to do the coil spring conversion.
Wow, what a trip. So awesome you had help from the group and the abilities to fix it. I'm sure it is back to normal now 👍. So will you carry spare airbags? All the drone and photography was awesome. Safe travels
Thanks Jonnie! I won't carry spares, as it is a major job and needed the extra items that Mark provided. It's not an easy trail fix. If they fail again, I will probably convert to coil springs.
I just clicked your profile. Loving the content. Thanks for commenting on my video, Sorry we have been traveling so I haven't been watching my YT comments. LMK if you have any questions regarding your upcoming Oregon Trail trip.
I can see additions to your kit. cell booster, exhaust jack. Don't know if you have it, but AAA Premier is a great thing to have when traveling. Great towing benefits as well as other benefits. Glad you got things resolved.
Once again stunning scenery! Beautiful photography! Oops! You're not supposed to break stuff like that out in the middle of nowhere. 😁 Glad you made it home with no further issues. Thank you to Moab Mark for getting you what you needed!
Thanks again!
That is stunning country side.
It is!
Nice video, good time until airbag failures. I’m headed out there later this week from Colorado. Can’t decide between Dome Plateau or Gemini Bridges area, where it looks like you were. When were you out there? We went out the week before Easter and weather was not good. We just pack up the LX and load up the roof top carrier. It seems that trailers and Moab area are more of a challenge than these old bones are prepared for. Good thing that you could get help from Mark at least. I guess trail breakdowns are a question of when, not if….
Thanks! I was out there in mid-October. The weather was great then. Mark was an incredible help, and is now a good friend.
Mark FTW!!!
He's a righteous dude!
Time to coil conver that 470. What a nightmare.
I may, but not yet. Will see how these bags do.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin Maybe have a couple of spares along.
Too bad about the airbag, better call Rory, Moab Motorsports*-)
Now I know who he is
How many miles on your GX? Mine is a 2008 with only 72k miles. Wondering if it’s mileage or age that caused your air suspension to blow. Or do you think it was the stress put on them by overlanding?
My GX has just over 200K. I don't think age is a factor, as I believe the previous owner had them replaced a few years ago. Part of the issue is that the rear shocks are aftermarket and may be a bit longer than stock. This allows more extension travel, allowing the airbags to extend out of the axle perch and get out of alignment. I think the factory shocks are the limit to down travel of the axle. Limit straps might be on the list to do, but the aftermarket airbags have a retainer that keeps them in the lower mount, where the factory bags do not. I will see how they perform going forward.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin great explanation. Thank you.
HOLY COW so??Did you make it home?
I was able to head home 6 days after the bags failed. No issues since.
@@timaugustine-dirt_trippin Thats a good thing-you were pretty calm under fire, and it was great that guy was able to help you out- It's always good to have a good ending.
So was that the one it had since new?
I think they had been replaced by the previous owner a couple years ago.
Your bump stops look worn
They were destroyed after riding on them for 10 miles offroad. I have new ones now.
Call Rory
Who's Rory?
I would have come out if I could.
@@joeyholden234 I know you would!
Rory is Trail Mater... check it out... offroad recovery specialists and trail repair with a welder. If you know what part is broken they'll bring out a new one and trail install if at all possible
Is this type of failure common? How often should these be changed?
I know I will get flack but it has to be said. You have an over loaded or near over loaded rig. It appears you have no lockers. Stock air bags and not to mention STREET tires. I haveno mercy for you.
Oh I forgot, No Limit straps!
I disagree. It's not anywhere near overloaded. I removed rear seats and added a drawer system. Most of that was still empty. The tongue weight is only 200 pounds. There is nothing but the rack in the roof. It's not much over stock weight. I have kept track over weight removed and weight added. I don't disagree about the tires, but they were near new when I bought it, and I decided to wear them out rather than throw them away. They have performed surprisingly well. No lockers, true. But I'm not trying to wheel hardcore. I have rockcrawled in the past, and that's not where my interest lies anymore.
@@TwoXJS the lack of limit on extension travel is probably why the airbags blew. The shocks are slightly longer than factory.
My guy, invest in some better tires for your rig.
Haha. I knew someone would mention tires. They were practically new when I bought the GX and rather than spend a bunch to replace them with ATs, I decided to wear them out first. They do surprisingly well. I haven't done any real technical wheeling, so they have been good enough, for now.