Installed AirLift bags

Martin Kodiak · Sep 14, 2020

Denf said:
Quick update. OK, so I installed the Airlift bags and we ventured off on our first towing excursion. We have a 2020 K-Z Escape travel trailer. The 'dry' weight is 3300 lbs., tongue weight of 360 lbs. I'll cut right to the chase - we're selling the Telluride. Granted, we gave it quite the first dry-run test through the hills of WV. That, and then heavy rains on the day driving home, made it very apparent that the Telly is really not up to the task. It always felt strained and the stability was not very confidence inspiring. We also had noticeable front wheel spin once the rain began. Also, we averaged 10.2 MPG, and it rarely ever dipped below 3300 RPM (or higher than 6th gear) and had to drive the entire trip with the AC off. I never ventured about 65 MPH. (Our Telly is a FWD - maybe an AWD version would fair better). I estimated that our total weight with gear inside and a full water tank was around 3800 lbs. - well below the max 5000 lb. rating. IMO, I think Kia is very 'optimistic' rating this vehicle at a 5k tow rating. BTW - I had the Airlift bags inflated to the max 35 lbs. and the Telly was still dipping pretty low. Going today to look at the 2020 Ford Ranger. A real shame, as my wife and I both LOVE the Telluride, and I feel it was overall (sans towing!) the best vehicle we've ever owned. >>> Also >>> I would STRONGLY recommend that anyone towing more than 2,000 lbs. have the factory hitch welded to the frame, in addition to the 8 bolts that normally attach it. This was a recommendation from the RV shop, and seems like a prudent bit of additional safety advice.

Sorry to hear your disappointment. I have yet to pull in the rain, but with my weight distribution hitch I have never felt that the rig is under powered or under qualified.

In fact quite the opposite. I have been towing 4,000 foot mountain passes and long distances. I have about 2,000 miles towed with a 4,500 pound trailer in lots of conditions including very heavy wind.

I have some full write - ups due, but we have been on holiday for the last two weeks towing up and down the pacific coast. Probably next week I will author them

Rich G · Jan 4, 2021

Thanks all for the information. The dealer installed a 2" lift kit on my 2020 Telluride which also has the factory tow package and self-leveling option. I have the same sag issue with just a few hundred pounds of gear and was trying to figure out if I can install the 60904 kit. Can the 60904 kit work with the self leveling?

2020Telly · Jan 6, 2021

Rich G said:
Thanks all for the information. The dealer installed a 2" lift kit on my 2020 Telluride which also has the factory tow package and self-leveling option. I have the same sag issue with just a few hundred pounds of gear and was trying to figure out if I can install the 60904 kit. Can the 60904 kit work with the self leveling?

It’s doubtful you will get the results you are looking for. The self-leveling shocks sag when parked by design and when the vehicle hits some bumps and jostles side to side the shocks supposedly get activated and trigger each other to level while driving then when you park they sag back down. From reports on this forum people said when they activated they went up a little but never got back to full height. The air based helper bags insert in the springs and fill with air to maintain the unloaded max height you would see in standard shocks. They are connected to the same air feed line so the air pressure auto levels side to side but you control the air. To avoid any sag and achieve make height you would likely need to remove the self leveling shocks and special struts and install standard ones with an air bag system. Gabriel and Monroe brand shocks sell aftermarket ones that are air adjustable within the shock but they don’t have any for the Telluride yet.

Rich G · Jan 6, 2021

NCTelly said:
It’s doubtful you will get the results you are looking for. The self-leveling shocks sag when parked by design and when the vehicle hits some bumps and jostles side to side the shocks supposedly get activated and trigger each other to level while driving then when you park they sag back down. From reports on this forum people said when they activated they went up a little but never got back to full height. The air based helper bags insert in the springs and fill with air to maintain the unloaded max height you would see in standard shocks. They are connected to the same air feed line so the air pressure auto levels side to side but you control the air. To avoid any sag and achieve make height you would likely need to remove the self leveling shocks and special struts and install standard ones with an air bag system. Gabriel and Monroe brand shocks sell aftermarket ones that are air adjustable within the shock but they don’t have any for the Telluride yet.

Thanks! Any chance adding another 1" spacer just to the back to at least start level?

2020Telly · Jan 6, 2021

Rich G said:
Thanks! Any chance adding another 1" spacer just to the back to at least start level?

I personally would wait for an aftermarket suspension upgrade to come out and just rip out the self leveling shocks. Based on the Overland project guys description, the Telluride is an easier suspension to mod than most. If you had a warranty issue on those shocks at the end of the warranty they would likely see those spacers and tell you that they can’t help you anyway. I think quality shocks and struts with a real air bag system is what you are seeking and a good aftermarket truck/offroad local installer would be able to give you a professional opinion and a quote with it.

Bob Utter · Mar 13, 2021

I just found this forum - what great info! 2021 Telluride with factory tow hitch. I was very disappointed with the sag when we hooked up our new 3,500 lb camping trailer. Both the RV dealer and the Kia dealer said I would have to wait several months for the after-market products to catch up. The RV dealer suggested I go from a 4" lift hitch to 6". This is feeling rather extreme at this point. I see from the previous posts that the aftermarket suspension system is probably the ultimate solution, but I'm surprised neither dealer suggested the interim solution of Air Lifts. I have to believe they can only improve my situation and safety. Am I missing something, or are the dealers missing something?

qwikhit · Mar 13, 2021

I think some people take for granted “tow packages” as meaning this is some kind of hauling machine. I see a lot of 3 row SUV’s pulling campers down the highway that sag. It’s a lot of weight and I’m sure most folks are either at or very close to their tongue weight and max capacity. Puts everyone at risk.

2020Telly · Mar 13, 2021

Bob Utter said:
I just found this forum - what great info! 2021 Telluride with factory tow hitch. I was very disappointed with the sag when we hooked up our new 3,500 lb camping trailer. Both the RV dealer and the Kia dealer said I would have to wait several months for the after-market products to catch up. The RV dealer suggested I go from a 4" lift hitch to 6". This is feeling rather extreme at this point. I see from the previous posts that the aftermarket suspension system is probably the ultimate solution, but I'm surprised neither dealer suggested the interim solution of Air Lifts. I have to believe they can only improve my situation and safety. Am I missing something, or are the dealers missing something?

Have you invested in a weight distribution system? Check out this post on someone who had just the tow hitch before and after implementing a WDS. FYI a lift hitch alone will not distribute weight.

My experience towing 4200lb RV trailer with. 2020 S AWD

2020Telly · Mar 13, 2021

@machtig Any status update on the Airlift helper bags? Are they working okay? To do it over would you still install them?

Bob Utter · Mar 13, 2021

Yeah, I learned that (that bags do not redistribute the weight) since making my initial post and was looking into the WDS. I then got concerned about the unibody issue with anti-sway devices. I understand that a WDS is different from anti-sway, but I could see where the impact on the tow vehicle could be similar. Thanks for the reference post. My situation is nearly identical to Midtown's, even the same car color.

2020Telly · Mar 13, 2021

Bob Utter said:
Yeah, I learned that (that bags do not redistribute the weight) since making my initial post and was looking into the WDS. I then got concerned about the unibody issue with anti-sway devices. I understand that a WDS is different from anti-sway, but I could see where the impact on the tow vehicle could be similar. Thanks for the reference post. My situation is nearly identical to Midtown's, even the same car color.

I’m not an automotive engineer but I have read that not all unibodies are the same anymore. The early days of unibody were screwed and riveted using steel with less strength for lighter weight in cars. Newer more modern unibodies are stronger metals and more welded components. I have to believe the Telluride is the latter to get to 5,000 lbs max towing. Otherwise they would have brought the Kia Mojave to the US which is a body on frame.

Kia does advertise some anti trailer sway feature on the Telluride called “Trailer Stability Assist” , but you can get a WDS with or without anti sway so it does not conflict with the vehicle. The WDS is to balance the load and move some of the weight off the back axle to the front.

PittPa · Mar 14, 2021

I love the Telluride, but if hauling anything significant was a part of the purchase I would certainly look elsewhere. I understand that KIA kind of blindsided the new adopters and they are struggling to make it right. Hence the 100's of post on this site dealing in some way with towing. I think there would be level of confidence of just buying a Tahoe (Come on, its a small town that begins with a "T"

) hooking up your trailer and driving away.

2020Telly · Mar 14, 2021

PittPa said:
I love the Telluride, but if hauling anything significant was a part of the purchase I would certainly look elsewhere. I understand that KIA kind of blindsided the new adopters and they are struggling to make it right. Hence the 100's of post on this site dealing in some way with towing. I think there would be level of confidence of just buying a Tahoe (Come on, its a small town that begins with a "T" ) hooking up your trailer and driving away.

I disagree, I think they made it right, I just think technology has made stronger unibodies and thinking hasn’t fully changed. The documentation is lacking so we need more guidance. Kia tried a body on frame SUV in the US with the Borrego and they won’t try that mistake again. If they come in with a larger vehicle into the US it will be an an EV pickup truck manufactured in the US so they can compete with Ford and Chevy.

Sure the Tahoe and Telluride both can seat 8 but other than both starting with a T they are different vehicles for different buyers. The Tahoe sucks down more gas, is a RWD and barely fits in most garages. It’s a truck without a bed meant for people who need a truck but also want more passenger space. The Telluride is a more reasonably sized family hauler that justifies a unibody frame. You said it right, occasional hauling, if hauling were significant to the purchase you not be in a Telluride. But we still need better guidance from Kia on how to do something safely even if it is occasionally.

2020Telly · Mar 18, 2021

Just read about the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder coming out.

Also has a unibody frame
AWD comes with 6,000lb max towing and 600lb max tongue weight
No more CVT transmission
There is a tow driving mode
Same seating options as the Telluride
New exterior is not as curving as prior design and little more boxy
Even the letters spelling Pathfinder are stretched across the hatch
The Armada towing package comes with an integrated electronic brake controller from Nissan. Not sure if that is an option in the new Pathfinder’s towing package.

Nissan even publishes a towing guide in addition to the owners manual giving some level of confidence that proper engineering was done, especially since Nissan has a track record with selling larger SUVs and trucks in the US. In the towing guide they give guidance on weight distribution systems and not using smart cruise, with no mention of self leveling or air bags. https://www.nissanusa.com/content/d...ides/shared/2020/2020-nissan-towing-guide.pdf

Watch out Kia! There is a Pathfinder chasing the Telluride.

Wiluride · Mar 28, 2021

So, anyone who's added the air-lift bags with the hose going out the bottom, can you elaborate on getting a hole in bottom plastic/rubber piece at the bottom of the coil spring?

What did you use to make the hole? How large? How'd you insure it was centered?

What exactly is that part originally intended for?

2020Telly · Mar 28, 2021

Wiluride said:
So, anyone who's added the air-lift bags with the hose going out the bottom, can you elaborate on getting a hole in bottom plastic/rubber piece at the bottom of the coil spring?

What did you use to make the hole? How large? How'd you insure it was centered?

What exactly is that part originally intended for?

Reports were that the air fill hose fits exacting into a hole that is already there. No drilling required.

Wiluride · Mar 28, 2021

2020Telly said:
Reports were that the air fill hose fits exacting into a hole that is already there. No drilling required.

There are holes in the suspension arm, but at least in my 2021, there is no hole at the bottom where the coil spring ends. There's a solid, somewhat soft/flexible piece, no hole. There is no easy way to drill it, could even be tricky to cut, as there is no way to do it from below. To do it from above means working from inside the coil spring.

2020Telly · Mar 28, 2021

Wiluride said:
There are holes in the suspension arm, but at least in my 2021, there is no hole at the bottom where the coil spring ends. There's a solid, somewhat soft/flexible piece, no hole. There is no easy way to drill it, could even be tricky to cut, as there is no way to do it from below. To do it from above means working from inside the coil spring.

Here’s the post with pictures.