Rear end suspension question...

Good afternoon everyone. I have a '17 Tundra Crewcab Platinum 4x4. I recently had a load of maybe 400 pounds in the bed and noticed a much deeper dip on the rear end then one would expect. It's all fine per the dealership, but I wanted to beef up the rear suspension but I don't want to deal with air ride balloons or whatever you want to term it. I want to be able to put up to 500-600 pounds from time to time in the bed which has a tonneau cover on it, where if I have gear back there, it's not making the rear end dip, or giving away to potential thieves that bed is fully loaded. Any suggestions? I had a friend recommend shocks from KYB but I have never heard of them.

 

Swap your shocks for Bilstein 5100. If you're still not satisfied you can put in an add-a-leaf or extended shackle.

 

Simply replacing the shocks will not help support the load.
You need an add a leaf.
Air bags are popular because of their adjustability. Unloaded bed? Level. Loaded bed? Level.

 

My experience is that the TRD off road package squats less with a load than trucks with the black OEM shocks (like the 1794 and platinum). Aren’t the shocks the only difference? What am I missing?

this is stock with 6,000 lbs of boat and trailer plus gear for the day.

 

Shocks provide zero lift.....the Tundra has crappy rear springs...........

 

Call Alcan Springs in Colorado. Tell them your needs. Get some custom rear leaf springs. Around $800 and up. Made to order... Not one or two sizes pre-made. Truly custom made after you place your order to your specs. http://alcanspring.com/

 

Not saying they provide lift but I do believe they can help prevent squat due to a heavy load.

 

Deavers leaf springs

 

Nope....only affects the ride. I've had KYB's on my old SR5 07 and TRD Bilsteins on it too. Makes zero difference on what load I had in the back, includling the OME shocks I upgraded too...for a better "ride"

 

Cool. I’m not an engineer, just basing my assumption on observation and experience.

 

THIS^^^^^^^

 

I added 3 heavy dirt bikes with 4 people with food gear parts and tools heading to the track. My tundra barely moved and handle well which surprised me. But it does have new leafs from toyota from when they did the frame swap and also fox 2.5 dsc shocks. I dont have a good picture showing the side height only the rear.

 

I've got leaves added and CB shackles. Definitely no squatting unless I load her down well

 

I routinely have 500-800 lbs in the bed, have loaded over 3,000 lbs of building materials with no problems, I did install air bags w/compressor & TRD rear sway bar, Hope this helps.

 

For what it's worth, my Platinum does the same thing when I hook up my trailer with maybe 4k in weight. I wish it sat like the above with the boat! HATE that my truck looks likes it's laboring.

 

I had 2007 tundra dc and added Firestone air bags. Pull 2017 TT that weighs 6000LBs. Came in handy when I hooked up,just put about 35lbs
In the bags truck was level. My 2020 SX has stock springs and will be putting air bags on it too. Low maintenance easy to use and I route the air lines along the frame to the back and into a single shatter valve. Works great.

 

Opps supposed to be shrader valve. Sorry

 

I use sumo springs...easy, cheap and they work great. Black-47s. Ive swapped in rear leafs before...effing pain in the ass, plus you still have 5 lug hubs, light-truck duty everything else, etc so just adding heavier springs or air bags doesn’t make it so. Of course they work good too. To me its a matter of time and effort...hauling 4-500 extra pounds isn’t worth the time and effort for bags or leafs...why I chose the sumos.

I haul my 6000lb boat, loads of wood from time to time, and they minimize the sag and help stabilize the rear.

 

Unless you want that jacked up rear end look that beefy springs and add a leaf springs give trucks when the bed is empty, you need adjustable Firestone Ride-Rite Air Springs

 

I have the sumo springs too. I went with the heavy duty “yellow ones” love them truck sits perfectly level while towing my 12’ cargo trailer full of tools.

 

I thought about upgrading to the yellows.

 

I just figured might as well go big.Lol I hate to see trucks squatting and just figured they would extend the life of my springs

 

Agree...should have gone yellow the first time.

 

I have hung the leaf springs below my axle to level the truck, making the squat more noticeable when carrying a load. (I'm not suggesting you hang your leaf packs in the same manner)

I solved the squatting problem by installing an air bag kit... the truck rides & handles great and I can haul over 1000 pounds in the bed under the tonneau cover without squat with the bags aired up. I air them down when I'm not hauling a load... I also added a rear anti roll bar for improved handling.

 

Just curious. Why did you mount your stabilizer bar like that? Is it because of the airbags? I might be looking at an airbag option and wanted to know Incase I have to rotate mine also.

 

Your installation is perfect, don't change a thing. I had to mount mine as pictured because the leaf packs are hung under the axle and the end links are much shorter than standard. The Shocks are also 3" shorter than standard.

 

hey hey..I got that swole look