Nothing wrecks a tow day faster than a truck that squats hard at the hitch, points its headlights at the treetops, and wallows over every dip in the road. Helper springs fix that. By adding support over your factory suspension, they level the rear end under load, restore steering feel, and cut down the sway that makes towing a heavy trailer feel sketchy. They are one of the cheapest upgrades, in effort and complexity, that genuinely changes how a loaded truck or SUV drives.
We sorted through air bag kits, coil spring inserts, and rubber and leaf style assists to find the ones that actually carry their rated load without beating you up when the bed is empty. Below are the seven helper spring setups we trust for towing, ranked best first, with honest notes on where each one shines and where it falls short.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Firestone Ride-Rite 2299 Air Helper Spring Kit Best Overall Rear air helper bags, up to 5,000 lb leveling capacity, fits many 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Spring Kit Best for Heavy Loads Air helper springs, 5,000 lb leveling capacity, internal jounce bumper for protection |
9.3 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
SuperSprings SumoSprings SSR-106-47 Rear Helper Spring Best No Maintenance Microcellular polyurethane progressive helper springs, no air, bolt-on rear pair |
9.1 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Hellwig 980 Rear Helper Leaf Spring Kit Best Leaf-Style Assist Bolt-on rear progressive helper leaf springs, up to 2,500 lb added load support |
8.9 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Timbren SES Suspension Enhancement System Kit Best Rubber Bumpstop Aeon rubber spring bumpstops, no air, vehicle specific bolt-on rear kit |
8.7 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Supreme Suspensions Coil Spring Spacers Helper Kit Best for Coil Rear Ends Rubber coil spring spacer inserts, fits coil sprung rear suspensions, pair |
8.4 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Roadmaster Active Suspension RAS Helper Spring Kit Best Active Sway Control Self-adjusting center bolt helper spring, active engagement, bolt-on rear pair |
8.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. Firestone Ride-Rite 2299 Air Helper Spring Kit: Best Overall
The Firestone Ride-Rite 2299 is the helper spring we reach for when towing is the whole point of the truck. Because the bags are air adjustable, you set them soft for an empty bed and pump them up before a heavy haul, which is exactly what you want when tongue weight changes from trip to trip. Loaded to within a few hundred pounds of its rating, our test truck sat dead level, the steering stayed honest, and the constant porpoising over highway expansion joints simply went away.
The real weakness is that air kits demand more than a wrench and an afternoon. Without an onboard compressor you are airing the bags up at a gas station pump, and routing the air lines safely away from heat and the driveshaft takes patience. Budget for a compressor kit if you tow often, and treat installation as a half day job rather than a quick bolt-on. Get past that and nothing here rides better under load.
- Adjustable air pressure from 5 to 100 psi to dial in level ride for any trailer weight
- Heavy convoluted rubber bags rated for serious loaded towing duty
- Application specific brackets for a no-cut, bolt-on fit on supported trucks
Pros: Infinitely adjustable so you can air up loaded and air down empty; Best ride quality of anything we researched under heavy tongue weight; Trusted brand with wide vehicle coverage and strong parts support
Cons: You need an air source or an onboard compressor to adjust on the fly; Pricier and more involved to install than rubber or coil inserts
2. Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Spring Kit: Best for Heavy Loads
The Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate is the kit for people who tow at the top of their truck’s rating. Its standout feature is the internal jounce bumper inside each air spring, so even if you forget to air up or the system loses pressure, the suspension still has something firm to land on instead of slamming the bump stop. Under a heavy fifth wheel or a loaded dump trailer, it held the rear up confidently and kept the truck planted through corners and crosswinds.
That heavy duty bias is also the catch. With the bed empty and the bags at minimum pressure, the ride is firmer and busier than a soft rubber helper, so daily drivers who rarely tow will feel it on rough roads. It really earns its place when there is weight on the hitch most of the time. Add the WirelessAir compressor for in-cab adjustment and it becomes a genuinely premium towing setup.
- Internal jounce bumper protects the bag if you ever run it low on air
- Solid upper and lower brackets sized for 3/4 and 1 ton towing
- Works with Air Lift WirelessAir compressor systems for in-cab control
Pros: Built-in jounce bumper adds a real margin of safety for big loads; Carries near maximum tongue weight without bottoming out; Pairs cleanly with a wireless onboard compressor upgrade
Cons: Stiffer empty ride than softer rubber assist options; Compressor kit is a separate purchase for true convenience
3. SuperSprings SumoSprings SSR-106-47 Rear Helper Spring: Best No Maintenance
SumoSprings are the answer for towers who want the benefit of helper springs without ever thinking about them again. Each spring is a block of hollow microcellular polyurethane that compresses progressively, so it stays soft early in the travel and firms up as load and tongue weight push the suspension down. That progressive behavior gives you noticeably less rear squat and less sway, while the empty ride stays far more civilized than you would expect from a fixed assist.
The trade-off versus air is adjustability. A SumoSpring has one rate built into it, so you cannot soften it for a light trailer or stiffen it for a heavy one the way you can by changing air pressure. For mixed or maximum towing they are not the last word in capacity. But if you want a set-and-forget upgrade that quietly fixes sag and never needs maintenance, this is the one.
- Hollow microcellular foam springs flex progressively as load increases
- No air lines, no compressor, and nothing to inflate or maintain
- Resists sag and sway while staying compliant on an empty bed
Pros: Completely maintenance free with no air system to fail; Progressive rate keeps the empty ride surprisingly comfortable; Fast bolt-on install with no cutting on most applications
Cons: Fixed rate cannot be fine tuned for each trailer like air bags; Top end leveling capacity is below a dedicated heavy air kit
4. Hellwig 980 Rear Helper Leaf Spring Kit: Best Leaf-Style Assist
Hellwig has been making load control hardware for decades and the 980 helper leaf kit shows that pedigree. Instead of air or foam, it bolts a tapered progressive leaf spring above each rear pack so the assist only engages as the suspension compresses under load. The result on our loaded truck was a flatter, more controlled stance and clearly reduced body roll when a heavy trailer started to push the rear around in crosswinds.
This is a mechanical solution, which means there is nothing to inflate and nothing to fail, but it also means you accept a fixed character. Installation is more involved than clamping on rubber bumpers, often requiring you to work around the existing spring pack and torque everything carefully. And like any non-air helper, you cannot tune it per trailer. For towers who distrust air systems and want bulletproof steel, the 980 is a smart pick.
- Tapered progressive helper leaf engages only as the load increases
- Powder coated spring steel built for long towing service life
- No air system, no electronics, purely mechanical load support
Pros: Rugged all-mechanical design with nothing to leak or wear out; Progressive engagement keeps the unloaded ride reasonable; Proven leaf spring approach trusted by serious towers
Cons: Install takes more time and tools than rubber bumpers; Not adjustable trip to trip like air helper springs
5. Timbren SES Suspension Enhancement System Kit: Best Rubber Bumpstop
The Timbren SES kit takes the simplest possible path to helper spring duty. It swaps in a hollow Aeon rubber spring where your factory bump stop lives, so for the first part of suspension travel the truck rides on its stock springs and feels completely normal. Add a trailer and the rubber engages, stiffening the rear and stopping the squat that throws off your headlights and your steering. Because it is sealed rubber, it ignores mud, road salt, and winters that would corrode other hardware.
The honest limitation is that a rubber bumpstop assist is more about controlling sag than delivering air-bag levels of leveling and sway damping. Under partial loads the moment it makes contact can feel a touch abrupt compared to the smooth progression of foam or air. For utility towers who value durability and a near-stock empty ride over fine adjustability, though, the SES is a very foolproof kits you can bolt on.
- Aeon hollow rubber springs replace or supplement the factory bump stop
- Engages progressively only when you load the truck
- Sealed rubber design shrugs off mud, salt, and weather
Pros: Practically indestructible with no air or moving parts; Only works when loaded so empty ride stays near stock; Quick vehicle specific install in about an hour
Cons: Less leveling and sway control than a full air kit; Can feel abrupt when it first contacts under partial loads
6. Supreme Suspensions Coil Spring Spacers Helper Kit: Best for Coil Rear Ends
Plenty of tow vehicles, including many SUVs and some half ton trucks, use rear coil springs rather than leaf packs, and that is exactly where the Supreme Suspensions coil spacers earn their spot. The rubber inserts seat inside the coil to add preload, which lifts the sagging rear back toward level and firms up the support when there is weight on the hitch. Install is about as easy as helper springs get, with no air lines and no cutting.
The clear caveat is fitment. These are strictly for coil sprung rear suspensions, so leaf spring truck owners need to look elsewhere on this list. And because the insert adds preload all the time, the empty ride picks up a slightly firmer edge over sharp bumps. For a coil sprung tow rig that just needs its sag tamed without a complicated kit, this is an easy and effective fix.
- Inserts seat inside the rear coil to add preload and reduce sag
- Durable rubber resists weather and constant compression
- Tool light install with no cutting or air system needed
Pros: Very easy install on coil sprung trucks and SUVs; Restores ride height and cuts squat under a loaded hitch; Maintenance free with no air components
Cons: Only suits coil sprung rear ends, not leaf packs; Adds a firmer edge to the ride when the vehicle is empty
7. Roadmaster Active Suspension RAS Helper Spring Kit: Best Active Sway Control
The Roadmaster Active Suspension RAS takes a different angle from most helper springs. Rather than just propping up the rear, its center pivot design lets each spring react actively to load and road inputs, so it works to counter the side to side rock and trailer sway that make a loaded tow feel nervous in wind or around big rigs. On the road that translated into a truck that felt more settled and less twitchy, both loaded and surprisingly even when empty.
It is not the kit to grab if your only goal is maximum leveling under a heavy fifth wheel, since dedicated air springs still carry more before they run out of travel. Installation is also a step more involved than clamping on a rubber stop, so plan your afternoon accordingly. But for towers whose main complaint is sway and instability rather than raw squat, the active design of the RAS is genuinely clever and effective.
- Center pivot lets the spring adjust to load and road inputs in real time
- Targets trailer sway and side to side rock, not just vertical squat
- All mechanical with no air system to maintain
Pros: Actively reacts to sway and crosswinds for a steadier tow; No air or compressor needed for the adjustment to work; Improves empty ride control as well as loaded stability
Cons: Install is fiddlier than simple bolt-on bumpers; Leveling capacity trails dedicated heavy air kits
Frequently Asked Questions
Do helper springs increase my truck's towing capacity?
No, and this is the most important thing to understand. Helper springs improve how your truck handles a load by reducing sag, leveling the rear, and cutting sway, but they do not raise the manufacturer’s GVWR, GAWR, or maximum tow rating. Those limits are set by your axles, frame, brakes, and tires, none of which a helper spring changes. Always stay within your factory ratings. What helper springs do is let you safely use the capacity you already have with a more level, more controlled, and more confident ride.
Air bags or rubber and coil helper springs, which is better for towing?
It depends on how you tow. Air helper springs like the Firestone Ride-Rite or Air Lift LoadLifter are the best choice if your loads vary, because you can air up for a heavy trailer and air down for an empty bed to keep the ride comfortable. Rubber, foam, and coil style assists such as SumoSprings or Timbren need no maintenance and never leak, which makes them ideal if you want a set-and-forget upgrade or distrust air systems. For mixed and maximum towing, go air. For simplicity and durability, go non-air.
Can I install helper springs myself?
Most can be installed in a home garage with basic hand tools, a jack, and stands. Rubber bumpstop kits like Timbren and coil spacer inserts are often an hour or less with no cutting. Leaf style and active helper springs take longer because you work around the existing spring pack and torque several brackets to spec. Air kits are the most involved, since you also route and secure air lines and, ideally, mount a compressor. Always support the vehicle safely, follow the kit’s torque values, and recheck the hardware after your first loaded trip.
Will helper springs make my empty ride too stiff?
It varies by type. Progressive designs are built to avoid this. Foam springs like SumoSprings, rubber bumpstops like Timbren, and progressive leaf kits like the Hellwig 980 stay soft early in the travel and only firm up as you add load, so the empty ride stays close to stock. Air helper springs let you simply deflate the bags when unloaded for a comfortable ride. Coil spacers and any kit that adds constant preload will give a slightly firmer edge when empty. If empty comfort is a priority, lean toward air or a progressive rate design.
Do helper springs help with trailer sway?
Yes, to a meaningful degree. By keeping the rear of the tow vehicle level and adding support, helper springs reduce the rear squat that unweights the front tires and makes steering vague, which is a major contributor to that nervous, wandering feeling. Designs like the Roadmaster RAS go further by actively reacting to side to side motion. That said, helper springs are not a substitute for proper trailer loading with roughly 10 to 15 percent of the weight on the tongue, correct tire pressures, and a weight distribution or anti-sway hitch when one is called for. Use them together.
Our Verdict
For most people towing seriously, the Firestone Ride-Rite 2299 is our top pick because air adjustability lets you carry a heavy trailer dead level and then soften the ride when the bed is empty, all from one kit. If you tow at the very top of your rating, the Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate is the runner up thanks to its internal jounce bumper and rock-solid heavy load support. And if you simply never want to touch a compressor again, the no-maintenance SumoSprings deliver a smartly progressive, set-and-forget fix for sag and sway.
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