Excellent little system to add weight carrying capacity and a level ride to our 2010 Toyota Rav4 v6 with a 153k on the clock. I also replaced the spring isolators at the same time and was glad I did as one was pretty much worn through.990889

I found it very difficult to install this product in the coil springs of my RAV4. I did this in a cold garage during the winter and I am sure it would be easier if it were warmer. Once installed they have been trouble free after a year. I pull a pop up camper with the RAV and it took all the sag out of the back. 601219

The springs work well. Had difficulty inserting them between by sliding them through the coils of the spring. Had a local car mechanic put the RAV4 on a lift and installed them. 660485

Bob W.

6/21/2020

After a year the suspension works great.

I hired my favorite auto technicians to do the install. They complained that the air line fittings initially leaked air, until they very precisely cut the air tubing and tried a second time. Otherwise things seem good so far.1349722

The kit was shipped very quickly. The video help quite a bit with the installation. The air bags are a bit tricky to place inside the coil springs. We wound up pushing them up through the hole in bottom of the swing arm. Same hole that the black rubber bumper is inserted through. Took a bit of finagling, but we got them eventually. We just used a single edge razor blake to cut the air lines. Worked fine. No leaks.281026

I put these on the rear of my wife's SUV that sat a little low even without a load on the back. When she pulls our small trailer it helps with the extra weight and keeps the SUV level and stops the swaying motion that made her nervous. 727587

An excellent product. While I wouldn't say the installation was easy, it is doable. As hard as it was, the results were amazing. I tow a 19' boat with a Rav4. Before the air bags the rear would squat about 2" with the boat hooked up. Now, with the air bags installed, the rear actually sits about 1" higher (3" overall) than without the boat when I inflate them to 30 lbs. I installed a tee in the air fill line so that I have a single fill point.147353

Got these and installed them over the weekend. They work great, so far, but they require some determination to get the airbags into the springs.

Warming the air bags in the oven (at no more than 170 degrees) helped soften them up and make them a bit more pliable, but they are still a bear. I installed mine by rolling/folding them up length-wise and ty-wrapping them in the folded position to stuff them up through the hole in the lower suspension arm. Still a struggle, but less traumatic then trying to fold it through the coils as illustrated. I also took off the tires to get more room to work.

Connecting the air lines takes patience and precision to get a good seal. The tubing cutter is highly recommended, although the tubing's curl makes lining it up in the cutter a bit of a challenge, still. Be sure to seat the tubing in the fittings to both "clicks" and then push a bit more to make sure it's seated firmly.

After assembly, check all the tubing connections under pressure (30psi) with a squirt bottle of soapy water to watch for bubbles. Any bubbles and the bags will deflate on you. They don't hold much air so they deflate quickly even with just a tiny leak. Once you have no bubbles from any fittings, you're good to go and you'll get the support you need.

The product and components are well made and installed OK, but only 4 stars just because they're a bear to wrestle into place.724958

My airbags were put in a Toyota RAV4. Installation was not easy. To get the airbags in the spring the spring had to be removed completely. No way to put it in through the spring leaves. To remove the spring it is better to remove the center suspension arm bolt and leave it attached to the wheel attachment portion. Much easier to get the arm back in place this way. When placing the airbag in the spring it is easiest to collapse the airbag lengthwise and hold it collapsed with a tie wrap. Then put in the spring and once in place cut the tie wrap.Once installed the airbags seem to work as advertised. Good luck, these suspension bolts were tight.124532

The installation process was literally a workout!
They do an excellent job of keeping my RAV 4 level while pulling a teardrop trailer.
If they puncture or fail in the future however I will think twice about replacing them ---- thats how hard they are to install.

Watch the e trailer video, it will help.621849

Excellent product. Use it on a 2008 Rav4. The rear end used to sit low when towing our little pop up trailer. Installed this kit with the help of the etrailer installation video. Rav4 rides nice and even while pulling the trailer. No leaks and has survived one canadian winter. Would buy again if ever needed.423079

Thanks to all of the folks who shared their observations on the installation of Firestone Air Helper Springs on Toyota RAV4s. Some of their suggestions made my life much easier. The Firestone instructions, as others observed, were pretty generic and were probably not written by a person who actually installed them on a RAV4. Here are a few things that I found useful:
I found that the easiest way to cram the air bags into the coil springs was to flatten them like a pancake with the top and bottom surfaces collapsed onto each other and lash them in this state with a zip tie. Compressed this way you can push them thru the gap in the coil spring in the correct orientation so that when you release the zip tie they expand into the coil spring correctly. It helps to push them thru an opening just below the center of the coil spring so that the air bag ends up slightly below center touching the bottom plastic protective disk. It is really difficult to move the air bags up or down once they expand into the coil spring.
I attached the air hose after the bag was in place. You can use a heat gun to warm the air hose enough to bend it so that it exits the lower control arm, turns 90 degrees, and runs along the back of the control arm without hanging down.
As others noted the exhaust system presents special problems on the right side. I ended up routing the air line toward the brake and up to the upper control arm to stay away from the exhaust pipe. It's not clear what the best strategy is for routing the air lines. They seem pretty tough, but will likely be rubbing on something given all of the movement in the suspension. I'd suggest not cutting the air line and starting with the right side, which for me needed more air line length to keep away from the exhaust system. That way you will have enough air line to finish the right side and you can use the remainder on the left side, which will need less. I cut the line in half to begin with and barely had enough for the right side.
All of the bits seem to be of high quality. The quick connect air fittings seem to seal well and grab tenaciously so you will have a very hard time removing them once you install them. Like a Chinese puzzle on steroids.
Our trailer has around 440lb tongue weight and these have brought us back to level with a few psi to spare. We'll see how it goes over the road.
Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas and suggestions.
161229

Air helper springs were a huge help, leveled the back I'd my Rav 4 making a huge difference when towing my travel trailer. Instillation videos were very helpful, I did not have to contact etrailer for help. Shipping was fast all parts fit as expected.540431

I bought this system because we had purchased a 17'-6" fishing boat and I was going to have to tow it with my Rav. Had some issues as it was heavy in the back end and handling wasn't optimal. This system corrected all that. I just add air to level the trailer out which shifts some of the weight back onto the trailer axle. MUCH better towing now...367984

I had a scooter lift installed on my Toyota RAV4. It requires some additional lift to boost the OEM rear springs. I had the Firestone F4174 Coil-Rite Helper Springs installed. Perfect!!!!!!!! They have infinite adjustment with their AIR ride system608559

So far this has been every thing it was advertised to be. Install took a couple hours give or take I didn't really time it. The install went well, no busted knuckles or any thing! I forgot to order the "T" fitting so I'll have to go back and take care of that. So when you order get the "T" to avoid my error.

Etrailer has been great. Deliver was timely when I made the order the Coil-Rite set I needed was on back order but as estimated by etrailer it arrived within two weeks, so no big deal there.

I installed the Coil-Rite on my 2014 Toyota RAV4 to help level the body out when towing our ATV trailer. I haven't had a trailer hooked up to it yet but looking forward to it. I'm pushing the max towing capacity of the RAV so I really want to keep the breaking as solid as I can. Keeping the body level will help there. 194450

As a former mechanic, this was a tough install. It was a struggle to get the air bags through the springs and there was not enough room to remove the 3" piece of tubing so I installed the bag with the full length of tubing already in place. I was hoping to gain about a 2" lift, but it only raises the vehicle about 3/4 of an inch. The bags do make a noticeable difference in handling and the hitch is not so close to the ground while hauling a trailer. 103341

Installation: 2007 Toyota Rav4. The installation instructions were perfectly fine. Installation is not a complicated process; it's just a struggle to get the air bag inside the coil and into its proper shape. Everything else is easy. Also, the instructions clearly stated how to remove the air hose from the air valve. Although not provided in the instructions, I removed the rear wheels for the air bag installation. While that took some weight off the coil's extension, the trade-off was easier access to the coil from the side rather than from underneath...and I did get the air bag inside the coils fine. In installing the air bags one bit of advice is consider using more fingers than tools. Once I put the blunt-ended tools down and worked it into place with my hands the install went much better. Once the air bag is inside the coil and the air plug is removed, the coil doesn't just pop into place/shape. It still needs to be worked in a spinning motion and using the soapy water from the sprayer that you'll need to check for leaks will come in very handy doing that.

I tow a 1,000 pound covered trailer and have recently purchased a motorcycle hitch carrier to haul my dual-sport motorcycle. I always wanted this air bag set up for my towing, but it was the carrier that got me to pull the trigger on the Coil-Rite. Using the top of my rear wheel well as a point of measurement, the stock height was 32.75". Putting 525 pounds on the hitch receiver (motorcycle hitch carrier and motorcycle) the height dropped to 30.25" (-2.50" from stock). Pumping up the Air Bags brought the height up to 31.50" (+1.25" above the ladened height but still -1.25" below the unladened height). The specs on this product state that the Firestone Coil-Rite's load leveling capability ranges from "at least 500 pounds (at most 1,000 pound)." I was expecting the Coil-Right to level my vehicle with the 521 pound receiver tongue payload and it falls short 1.25" (or only half of the total ladened reduction in height). I'm giving the product a good rating as it was fairly inexpensive and something I could install myself...and does, in fact, help my leveling for towing. However, the spec says it should have leveled at 500 pounds and it didn't.242614

Struggled for over an hour trying to get one bladder in without dismantling any part of the suspension, but was unsuccessful. Leaks seem common with this product, so I decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Interesting how the installation video cuts to the bladder inside the coil without showing how they actually installed it.1233007

Jenny N.

12/29/2021

I recommend watching the video that we have on a 2018 Toyota Rav 4 starting at mark 8:20 to see how we installed the spring into the coil. If the air springs are leaking then we suggest spraying the air lines with soapy water. Typically, you can see where the air is bubbling and what is causing the leak. Most of the time leaks are at where the airline s into a fitting. If the airline wasnt cut perfectly square it will end up leaking. I would check there first.

Helpful Links

tv-install-firestone-coil-rite-air-helper-springs-2018-toyota-rav4-f4174.aspx

I installed these Coil-Rite Air Helper Springs on my 2017 RAV4. They do an excellent job of supporting the extra tongue weight for towing a trailer, and when I am travelling with a fully loaded SUV I can adjust the air springs so that my headlights aren't pointing at the sky and the SUV steering is more stable.

3 small negatives:
First, these air springs SQUEAK constantly which is very annoying in a passenger vehicle. I called support and they suggested spraying the air springs with WD40 which did not work. However, have found a SOLUTION that does work. I thoroughly soaked the air springs about 3 separate times with "Blaster Advanced Dry Lube with TEFLON". Once the Teflon got between the coil springs and the air springs, no more squeaks! (This is why I took away one star - with my solution I'd give 5 stars but the company should make this problem known to purchasers and the solution.)

Second, getting the air springs inside the coil springs is not easy. It required a lot of force and multiple attempts. I don't think that can be helped - just understand that it's not a quick or easy job.

Third, I don't like the way the air tube must protrude out of the hole in the bottom of the control arm (see picture). I believe that if the vehicle were used off road, there would be a risk of damage to the air tube. Again, I don't think that the design can be any different than it is.783298

Overall, etrailer service and the instructional video were excellent, installation was easier than I thought, and performance has been very good.

I installed these on my '07 RAV4. Quick delivery, excellent follow-up by etrailer.

Having read other reviews, I was a bit apprehensive about the installation. It went much quicker and easier than I anticipated. No bruised knuckles, a few grunts, no cuss words. The video is very good and helped a lot.

I jacked the car up until the wheels were off the ground, which gave a reasonable amount of room between the spring coils. The red plug popped out a few times but you could still squeeze the bag with one hand through the spring and then put the plug back in, which gave some laxity in the bag to help manipulate it. The exhaust was in the way on the right a bit but not really a big deal.

I opted to install the tee fitting and routed the valve stem into the left rear, as per the video. I chose to install it in the "dimple" below the 12v plug present in my car. Be careful, though: if you put the stem in the exact center of the dimple, many tire fillers won't fit into the dimple, so install it offset to the bottom. Also, I routed the tubing through the rubber grommet (maybe 1' dia) in that space on the bottom towards the vehicle front.

The bags seem pretty easy to inflate with an inexpensive 12v compressor. As for performance, they seem to do very well, cutting down some of the bounce when towing our pop-up trailer.

386041

Ed L.

5/29/2018

Thanks for the follow-up: reviews at this point are much more useful than ones immediately after purchase. They’re working very well and we’re very happy with them. They do tend to squeak a bit when low on pressure and they do seem to leak a tiny amount over time but neither are a big deal. I would definitely get them again.

Once you wrestle the bags in the rear springs if you have a air compressor with a spray nozzle you can charge or inflate the bag enough In the spring to seat it. It’s a challenge to pry them in but careful leverage with a dull ended pry bar works. Once installed and careful routing of the tubes to avoid crimping or creasing air tubes. When zip tying the tubes remember to cradle them and not to tight. I ended up drilling holes in the harness plate to mount the stem valves. This was a complete tow bar, wiring, and harness mounting job well worth the money and it looks factory in every way. Just added value to the vehicle for sure. Not only towing or carrying bikes or utility racks. The air bags level the rav 4 with 4 adults and a full cargo area keeping the ride perfect. 660343

John

6/21/2020

No issues. Some noise but plan to lubricate with Teflon spray so the springs don’t squeak against it. Also periodically check your pressure I keep them inflated around 5-10 lbs when not hauling or towing. We did a trip to Canada hauling the motorcycle from Sacramento to Calgary and back not issue one! The hitch and air bags keep the car level and handling perfect.

The product is not exactly as pictured. The bottom protectors are disks (round) rather than rectangular. But that doesn't affect their installation or performance.

Installation was a bit of a challenge. I'm not a gear head, so I was lying under my 2008 Rav4 trying to jam the bags into the springs. I started on the driver side. It went fairly well. The passenger side was a different story. The exhaust system was in the way -- good thing it was coolish. I did manage to get both bags in with all my knuckles still intact.

The instructions indicate that you cut a short piece of hose, insert it into the bag, deflate the bag, and insert the plug in the end of the short tubing. That's fine... but then when you get the bag in, it says to remove the short tubing. Ummmm.... how!?!?! I did manage to get the tube out of both sides. I'm not sure, but I think I may have buggered up the quick connector in doing so.

The second to last step is to run the tubing to the back of the vehicle. I'm not too sure I've done a great job running the tube. Since the tube sticks out the bottom of the spring and arm, it seems there is no way to get the tube so that it's not dangling down from the car. On the passenger side, the exhaust system is very close to everything. It was hard to find a place to run the tube that wouldn't be too close to the exhaust pipe.

Then you need to check for leaks. My unit's max pressure is 35psi. I inflated it to that, and quickly heard hissing from one side. I removed the quick connect inflator and reinstalled. Still with the hissing. So far, I haven't been able to stop the air leak. But... they stay inflated at 25psi. For now, that's okay for my application.

Then you're supposed to drill 2 holes in your car. I don't think so.... I left enough tube that I can decide later where to install the inflators. For now, they're zip-tied to the hitch bar. I plan to get a piece of metal that will attach to the hitch's mounting plate, and drill through that instead.

I haven't been able to tell if they perform as advertised. I just finished installing them earlier this evening. I took it out for a test drive (just to make sure I didn't mess up anything). Inflated at 25psi it seems to drive fine. I can't tell if the back end is firmer.... or if I'm just sensitive because I'm aware of the bags being in. It does appear that the back end rides higher (even when it's empty).

I'm loading up in the morning and heading out. I'll update my review with performance observations when I get back. 94306

Patrick B.

8/10/2013

Use a concentrated soapy water solution in a spray bottle and start check the areas where the hiss is coming from. If you have an audible hissing sound, it will not hold pressure for long and you do not want the coil springs to be moving on a flat bag.

Bob K.

8/12/2013

Thanks for the awesome customer support.Making a fresh cut on the inflator end helped. The hissing has stopped, and no more leaks have been detected.I just got back from the maiden road trip 350 miles round trip. Its certainly not a long road trip, but it was enough to notice the dramatic improvement.Normally, when I attach my travel trailer 3500 GVW my Rav4 with tow prep option sags in the back. My trailer has the weight distribution kit that helps level it out. But, it only helps with the trailer weight. When I carry SCUBA equipment in the back of the Rav4, it still sags, and the weight distribution kit doesnt help with that.But... With the F4174 Coil-Rite air springs, there is very little sag. In fact, I was able to attach the trailer without much sag at all before I attached the weight distribution bars. With the SCUBA gear in back, the Rav4 stayed level no visible sag.In fact... the hole towing experience was dramatically improved. The ride was a lot smoother. There was a lot less galloping. I hardly felt the bumps on the road.Im surprised that Toyota doesnt offer this as an option. That such a simple and inexpensive alteration could make such a dramatic improvement is really surprising.I would like to change my rating to 5 stars.

Patrick B.

8/14/2013

We are glad to be of help. Remember to check the tongue weight rating of the RAV 4 in the owners manual. The tongue weight of the trailer and any cargo in the RAV 4 behind the rear axle will count towards that capacity. The air springs working with the weight distribution should make for a much better ride and your RAV 4s suspension will certainly thank you for it.

Bob K.

2/9/2015

The good news is... These are awesome and should be available as an option from the factory. With the back end loaded and the trailer connected, the rear of the Rav is still off the ground. It also improved handling as the front end stays on the ground.It turns out that I hadnt buggered the quick release. I had just cut the hose at an angle. You need to make sure you cut the hose square. After cutting the hose square, the bags stay inflated without hissing.The Bad news is... if you have work done around the exhaust system requiring a cutting torch, you need to be careful and have some sort of shield to protect the bag and hoses. I discovered this the hard way. A small piece of molten metal cut through the bag like butter.But, for some reason, putting the 3rd bag was easier than either other the first two.I wound up attaching a small piece of angle iron to the hitch bar. This worked very well and avoids cutting the hole in the car.Having the tubes dangle from the bottom of the car hasnt been a problem. I was able to tighten them up a bit and route them better once the angle iron was installed.This has made a big difference

They work great. First I added a levelling kit then the Firestone ride rite for when I tow my boat. Really notice the difference when towing.

With fully loaded tongue weight, rear suspension dropped .75 inches, added 10psi to the bags and brought it back up .5 inches.910811

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Chris K.

11/12/2021

Its been great one of the best additions to use when towing. I recommend it for anyone that tows or adds excessive weight in the rear.

I learned the hard way that towing with independent rear suspension ends up wearing out the inside edge of the rear tires due to the sag changing the toe-in of the rear tires. I purchased these to raise up the back end when towing. Just finished installing. Went smoothly. I may have missed it in the directions, but on my RAV4, the upper coil spring bumper (They call it the upper protector) can be installed up thru the bottom support of the coil spring. I tried unsuccessfully to slip it between coil springs. It would not fit. It was a bear slipping the collapsed air spring between the coil springs. But with the aid of a very blunt tire iron, it went fairly quickly. Thumbs up so far. Time will tell if tire wear goes away, but I'm sure this will help. Thank You!3221103

John S.

10/27/2025

After using the Balloon coil spring for about a year, Ive learned that it does not raise the suspension like an air shock as I was hoping, but rather dampens the heavy load ride, and makes it harder to bottom out the suspension. It has worked great. Held air very well. No leaks. Very happy with it.

Gwendolyn Y.

10/27/2025

@JohnS I'm glad that you still like the kit even though it didn't meet all of your expectations. And no leaks is always a plus! May your air helper springs always be leak free.