What suspension changes for towing?

Scenario:
I have a 2020 Crewmax Pro. I have a boat that I will pull during the summers, not all the time, but a few times. its 28 ft, and with the trailer it weighs about 9000lbs. double axle, but has decent tongue weight. I do not want the back up my tundra to sag substantially. (pulled this last year with my 03 tundra, sagged a bit but had 5100s and progressive add a leaf) I also do not want to substantially change the suspension and I really like the everyday ride of the pro suspension. I do not mind a small amount of rake when not under weight.

Question: what do you recommend? just shackles?

Thank you!

 

Firestone air bags.

 

I have no input on suspension tips, but towing 9K with 2019+, I would get an Ultra-Gauge Blue, Ultra-gauge MX, or a Scangauge and set it up for reading transmission fluid temperatures as MGauges (Ultra-gauge) or X-gauges (Scangauge). Toyota deleted the tow package auxiliary cooler in 2019.

More frequent fluid service goes without saying.

 

With applications like yours we have set the PROs up quite a few different ways but with the valving being so soft it would pay to add some lift via shackles and then can use a Air bag ( Firestone #2445 ) for when your towing. Id be happy go over in better detail if you'd like?
David 801-635-4872

https://www.shopcoachbuilder.com/co...ilder-2-shackles-provides-1-25-of-actual-lift
https://www.shopcoachbuilder.com/co...ilder-airbag-spacer-kit-actual-thickness-1-50

$366 Firestone 2445 Rear Ride Rite Spring Kit for Toyota Tundra TRD 2WD 4WD

https://www.amazon.com/Firestone-W2...7142981&sprefix=Firestone+2445,aps,184&sr=8-2

 

Firestone air bags are your best bang for the buck.

 

I also tow a 28ft double axle trailer with my pro. I am running Firestone airbags and coachbuilder shackles and have no problems.
I almost dont even need much air in the bags with the +3s.

 

Hellwig Rear Sway Bar.

 

Airlift airbags with on board air. Convenient and they have the internal bumper.

 

Sumo springs. It will ride as before and only come into play when there is weight on the truck. Also super easy to install, nothing to maintain and cheap.

 

28 ft, 9k lbs boat? Nice! Let's see this beast! I'm amazed you towed it with your 03.

Also vote air bags.

 

I tow a 6500 lb. Travel Trailer with my 2016 SR5 4X4, Had the Timbrens installed didnt like the feel of riding on the bump stops. Removed those and installed the Super Springs SSA4. Night and day difference, wish I would of switched sooner. The installation was easy and no maintenance needs to be done. It did raise the rear a couple of inches, but not too bad just a little rake.

-Jason

 

^^^^^^^
This, and maybe a weight distribution hitch.

 

I have a 2" AAL in the rear but I also have a 4" front lift. I don't know what tongue weight is but I had my car hauler and a chevy duramax 2500 on it not too long ago and it was too much for it. The truck couldn't hold the weight without the trailer dragging the ground.

 

I use Boss airbags with on-board compressor. I also have the Pro suspension on (never should have). Keep in mind it is hard to have the best of both worlds. Your suspension is soft for a reason. My ride is a little more bouncier now with the airbags, but towing and hauling is way better. Trade off.

 

Weight distribution hitch. Air bags are proven to be a cosmetic fix only. WDH will reduce sag plus balance weight of truck and truck for improved ride quality and safety.

 

I don't have a pro, but use Alcan springs and +2 shackles. When I tow my camper I use an equalizer weight distribution hitch. Keeps my truck level.

 

I’m running toytec shackles and am considering some bags for when I tow or load up. Did the bags work right out of the box even though you had done a shackle lift?

 

I have coachbuilder +2 shackles and airlift airbags. Mine fit right out of the box. Didn’t need any extension. I do have the daystar cradles though.

 

Coachbuilder sells spacers for them. You will need them for +3 shackles.

 

In addition to WDH, recently installed Roadmaster Active Suspension to help tighten up the rear end on my 2017 DC Limited towing 32 ft, 8000 lb+ TT. Still evaluating performance but definitely helps with porpoising over bumps and did not change the ride when not towing.

 

I bet you’re over 9,000 pounds. Put it on scale sometime, you’d be surprised. (I speak from experience)

Airbags, LT tires and good shocks will make a big difference. But, that heavy load will take a toll on a half ton truck. Any half ton truck. Be prepared to go through brakes. Upgrade them when they wear out.

And as you probably know already, a weight distributing hitch is not a good idea for a boat trailer. Especially if it’s an aluminum one.

Lastly, make sure your trailer braking system is 100%. It’s not so much what you can tow, but what you can STOP.

Be safe.

 

Nice trailer. I like seeing the max tow that the Tundra can handle. Helps me plan for my next trailer.

 

Thanks - quite a step up from the pop-up I used to haul with my 2000 T4R back in the day. The UVW on this TT is 7014 lbs but the GVWR is 8495 lbs. My CAT scale result, lightly loaded for camping, was 7400 lbs with propane but fresh, gray & black tanks empty which is how I roll. Total weight of the TT is not the problem...the Tundra is rated for 9100 lbs. The limiting factor is payload which includes the tongue weight. You have to be careful what you put in the truck but the TT tows great properly loaded. Rig is very stable with the WDH (Equalizer 1,000/10,000) and even better with the Roadmaster Active Suspension. Lots of folks towing more but this is max for me.

 

What was your tongue weight. I'm good for 1330lbs payload and with me, the wife a generator and accessories I have about 700lbs left. My current trailer has about 550lbs of tongue and is only 24' long.

 

It's a 2020 Grand Design Imagine 2670MK. The manufacturer literature says it's 642 lbs. The VIN specific build sheet supposedly reflecting actual weight says it's 726 lbs. The free standing tongue weight that I measured using the bathroom scale method is 900 lbs. Per my CAT scale measurement, the weight transferred to the truck with the WDH in place is 680 lbs. I am loading for a longer trip and will do another CAT scale reading.

 

Let me know what your next CAT scale weights are. We have the same trailer that we tow with a 2019 Crewmax with the tow package. I have a tongue weight scale and we are right at 910 lbs. with full propane and empty tanks except for about 5 gallons of water I keep for an emergency.

 

I drive a 2019 PRO, and tow a 20FT Center Console Bay Boat. The boat is not real heavy as it only pushes the rear end down about an inch. Having a hard time trying to decide the best way to lift the rear by 1-2 inches. Seems to me the PRO's sit VERY level with almost no rake. I like a truck to sit a bit higher in the rear. Thought about the SumoSprings, which would stop the sag once the load is on the truck. Don't want anything that will affect the driveline. The SumoSprings will not lift the truck, they just prevent it from sagging. I had them on my 2016 Tacoma TRDOR and loved them. Still debating on which way to go.

 

I would add an extra Transmission cooler. Biggest you can get, why not. 3 is better than 2.

 

WDH are not really a thing on boat trailers.

If OP is only trailering the boat a few times a year he'll probably be okay without any modifications. He will just need to take it easy and leave plenty of room in front of him for stopping. Evasive maneuvers and stopping quickly will be the biggest issue. If I had to say any mod it would be the TRD RSB, but that beneficial whether you're towing or not. Towing near the limit of the truck is not fun. My boat was 80-90% of the max towing capacity of my Tacoma, but only 50-60% of my Tundra's max capacity, depending on how much fuel is in the boat. OP definitely needs to make sure the trailer is set up correctly so there is enough tongue weight and be aware that the location of the tanks and amount of fuel in the boat will have an affect on weight distribution.

In for pics of OP's boat.

 

I wouldn't lift the rear. That looks fine. Maybe a little too much tongue weight for that setup, but the truck doesn't look like it is struggling. For a boat that size I'd roll like that.