You guys are totally right about all this heck I han't even had anything on air yet I just thought it would be cool because my 97 silverado had the hotchkis kit an engine would bottom the rear on the frame, handled really good and my 06 silverado had beltech 3/4 it would bottom out on speed bumps rode good and handled good though. I guess I will put the 22's on it and see how it looks though it handles really bad even with the hotchkis sway bars and the rear 2" drop, rides good though. If anything, I will probably put the beltech 3/4 drop kit on it and the edelbrock shocks I'll bet the rear will bottom out though!

 

With a 4" droop and a good shock you shouldnt bottom out too much, you could notch the frame to give you some extra travel, thats what i plan to do.
Keep your eyes on the classifieds and craigslist, i only have $200 into my 3/4 drop and thats with shocks

 

Lot of people overlook the long term cost of air ride.

Bags need to be replaced every 3-4 years just like tires then new lines every 2 years(hydraulic lines last longer but still degrade). Solenoids go out every now and then so add those to the list. Ohh don't forget the air compressors they seem to burn up every few years.

Daily maintenance- Bleeding the condensation out!

I use to be the recovery specialist in high school and after for a few years. Air ride sucks when it breaks, no one will tow you. Better have a very close friend with a trailer available 24/7

 

I'm not going to lay it on the ground. If you have the bumpstops mounted properly you shouldn't have to have anybody tow you and also I really like the way my crewcab rides but it doesn't handle good. I just want to lower it a few inches and even at that I still may have some problems with bottoming out. I just think it would be nice to increase my payload and lower it at the same time and bring it up if I decide to go fishing or something!

 

Helper bags are the answer to your dilemma.

 

Sounds like you really want to run air, no problem with that as long as you know what you are getting into and don't get cheap on parts. Many run the KP 6 link for the rear and will do cups and bags up front. A lot also like to run the ART strong arms for better balljoint angles. Along with that you can toss in 2 6 gal tanks to put between the frame rails where the spare is, 2 compressors (Viair 380 or 480 seem to be the choice) a minimum of 4 valves (front and back adjustability), 6 is better (each front corner and the rear), and 8 best (individual corner). Of course there will be many other parts, lines, fittings, check valves, gauges, switches, etc. It adds up fast.

If you go through all that, I'm sure eventually you'll want to lay frame. So you will have to cut up the bed, frame, inner front fenders, relocate things under the hood on the inner fenders, switch to a hydroboost brake setup (if you are running big wheels), and I think the crew cabs either have to switch to the 2pc driveshaft or notch the cab with that big 1pc they have.

 

I can also say that my dads 3/4 drew with air helper kit on the rear rode AMAZING....

 

NOt wanting to slam it just maybe 3/4 with air ride technologies bolt on kits rear for link and shockwave in front nothing drastic just adjustability and to ride like a cadilac and to be reliable as well!