I used to own a Mitsubishi Outlander and I installed air helper springs on that to help with towing. They were heavy duty air bags that installed inside the rear coil springs and could be adjusted with air pressure when towing a heavy enough load that would cause the rear end to sag a little. I just had a Curt trailer hitch installed on my 2023 CX-5 Signature and I am looking for an air helper spring kit but can't find one for the CX-5. Here is an example of what I am looking for:
www.suspensionconnection.com
The Firestone Coil-Rite air springs are what I installed on my Outlander but the company does not list a kit for the CX-5. Understandable since most CX-5 owners are not going to tow. I am wondering if anyone has found a universal kit that will work with our Mazdas. The size of our coil springs must be the same or similar to other car manufacturers.
I am buying an aluminum trailer that will weigh around 500 lbs and expect to tow a combination of landscape and construction materials for my home and motorcycles for when I want to play. The total load will be under 1500 lbs which is well within the tow rating for the turbo model but I am expecting loads at the higher end of that range may cause the rear end to sag a bit and compromise safe handling at speeds well under 70 mph. I am not talking about performance driving.
For short trips, that won't matter much. I am primarily concerned with long road trips towing the motorcycles. Last year, I rented a Uhaul motorcycle trailer to haul a 500 lb Africa Twin to Vermont with my Toyota Tundra. I had another 2 bikes in the bed of the truck with weighed 600 lbs total and the trailer weight was about 900 lbs. Total load was supposedly well within my truck's limits but the combination definitely compromised handling more than it should have and at times, the front end felt light on roads that had lots of bumps and elevation change.. I did not exceed the tongue weight rating but 600 lbs in the bed plus the trailer made the rear end sag enough to make things uncomfortable. That is a long way of explaining why I am interested in air helper springs for my Mazda. The beauty of those things is when they are not needed, you can just let all the air pressure out of them. They worked great on my Outlander.
Before someone asks me about the condition of the suspension on my Tundra, it has Fox coil over shocks and springs on the front end, Fox shocks in the rear and really good aftermarket rear leaf springs that are rated to heavier loads than the OEM Toyota leaf springs. When my CX-5 has a little more mileage on it, I will probably install Bilstein heavy duty struts and rear shocks. I am not aware of anyone making aftermarket springs for our Mazdas suitable for my purposes. I am not interested in lowering. The stock ride height is fine.
Firestone 4105 | 1996-1996 Mazda MPV - "Coil-Rite" Air Bag Helper Springs (Rear)
Firestone "Coil-Rite" air bag helper springs are designed to fit inside the existing coil spring suspension creating a variable rate spring. These air bags are made of durable, elastic polyurethane providing years of comfort and stability to you
www.suspensionconnection.com
The Firestone Coil-Rite air springs are what I installed on my Outlander but the company does not list a kit for the CX-5. Understandable since most CX-5 owners are not going to tow. I am wondering if anyone has found a universal kit that will work with our Mazdas. The size of our coil springs must be the same or similar to other car manufacturers.
I am buying an aluminum trailer that will weigh around 500 lbs and expect to tow a combination of landscape and construction materials for my home and motorcycles for when I want to play. The total load will be under 1500 lbs which is well within the tow rating for the turbo model but I am expecting loads at the higher end of that range may cause the rear end to sag a bit and compromise safe handling at speeds well under 70 mph. I am not talking about performance driving.
For short trips, that won't matter much. I am primarily concerned with long road trips towing the motorcycles. Last year, I rented a Uhaul motorcycle trailer to haul a 500 lb Africa Twin to Vermont with my Toyota Tundra. I had another 2 bikes in the bed of the truck with weighed 600 lbs total and the trailer weight was about 900 lbs. Total load was supposedly well within my truck's limits but the combination definitely compromised handling more than it should have and at times, the front end felt light on roads that had lots of bumps and elevation change.. I did not exceed the tongue weight rating but 600 lbs in the bed plus the trailer made the rear end sag enough to make things uncomfortable. That is a long way of explaining why I am interested in air helper springs for my Mazda. The beauty of those things is when they are not needed, you can just let all the air pressure out of them. They worked great on my Outlander.
Before someone asks me about the condition of the suspension on my Tundra, it has Fox coil over shocks and springs on the front end, Fox shocks in the rear and really good aftermarket rear leaf springs that are rated to heavier loads than the OEM Toyota leaf springs. When my CX-5 has a little more mileage on it, I will probably install Bilstein heavy duty struts and rear shocks. I am not aware of anyone making aftermarket springs for our Mazdas suitable for my purposes. I am not interested in lowering. The stock ride height is fine.
