I've been towing a Harbor Freight utility trailer around for some time now with my 2007 Honda Fit. Haven't had any issues whatsoever with handling although I've taken care to distribute the weight evenly to maintain tongue weight.

I recently decided to buy a small teardrop camper (850lbs) for a roadtrip this summer with the '07 Fit. I've noticed that the rear sags just a bit with no cargo on the camper. I can probably alleviate that a little bit once I have a loaded cooler, spare tire, etc, loaded up in the back of the camper. However, the trailer wheel is far enough back I don't think I'll be able to completely compensate for the slight sag.

A friend of mine who had a similar situation with a small SUV recommended air bag suspension inserts in the rear. I've looked and I only see these made for 2010 and later Fits, although I suspect they'd fit a first generation.

Wanted to ask if anyone else had installed these Firestone Coil-Rite air bags or seen them installed? 2010-2012 Honda Fit, Insight - Firestone Coil-Rite Air Bag Helper Springs [REAR] [4183] | $104.65 | SD Truck Springs | Leaf Springs, Helper Springs and Suspension Parts

 

Some here have installed Monroe air shocks on Fits (which require very minimal modification/shimming), with apparently good success.

I have a set of Firestone Ride-Rite air helper springs on my other vehicle (a class C motorhome), and there they work very well for me. As the volume of air in them is quite small, and presumably even smaller in the ones for the Fit, it's not hard at all to adjust the pressure with something like a bicycle pump. An electric compressor is entirely superfluous, though of course it also works if you happen to have one.

If you do get these or something similar, I would not suggest teeing the two lines together but rather having separate inflation ports for each one. If they're connected together, you can get some rather odd handling on side loads as the air shifts from one to the other, kind of acting as an anti-anti-roll bar might act.

 

Highly recommend the air shocks over the air bags inside the springs. I too have an 875lb utility trailer empty. Without the air shocks the rear squats too low for my liking. I put 50 psi in the shocks and that keeps it at normal ride height with a max 200lb tongue weight.

 

I'm curious if they don't both accomplish the same goal though?

Don't the air shocks make the ride stiffer when the Fit is driven unloaded?

Also, approximately how long did the air shock installation take you?

 

What's the part number of the air shocks you are using?

 

It makes the ride more "spongy" yes. The air bags only stiffen the springs, they dont provide any vertical lift with a heavy load. The air shocks do.

I have the Monroe MA811 with some small modification extending the upper stem mount with some 3/8" threaded rod. Bottom mounts accept the stock 10mm diameter bolt thats 73mm long with fine thread, but you need to use the washers it comes with, and reuse the oem upper bump stop, seals, and spacers. All detailed in my thread.

All told, if i had to do it over again knowing how to do them with the mods, two hours at most.

 

I'd go with the air shocks over the spring airbags.

 

The air bags WILL lift the car, (Semi tractors use them.. ) BUT I noticed on most light trucks with them even if you let all the air out they make the rear end stiffer.

I'm not a fan of either one they are kind of a bandaid.. I've had experience where the air got out and the car dropped enough with the load to cut a tire..

Either one the air pressure decides how stiff they will be.. When loaded.

Progressive coils can work if you can find the right length. They will squat a bit when loaded but when not loaded the ride is not as harsh as if you just put stiffer springs on.

 

I had air bags in my 08 Fit. Used to level the car when towing a HF trailer with a motorcycle on it, plus the cargo area full of track gear. They worked well. My only complaint was that they squeaked from rubbing on the springs. Was going to work out a fix this year but the car got totaled last month, sadly. Currently trying to decide whether to go the same route with my new 3rd gen Fit or do the air shock mod.

 

What was the brand and item number for the ones you used in your 2008 fit?