Rear TRD Sway Bar with Roadmaster Active Suspension?

Hey all, this past weekend I installed the Roadmaster HD Active suspension and my questions are this: Does anyone out there have the Roadmaster suspension on their Tundra and if so, do think the TRD rear sway bar would make a significant difference if installed also?

The reason I ask is Roadmaster advertises that among other things, their product improves rear sway (pic attached) when installed so I really don't want to waste money on something that really won't do much but add additional weight.

 

I got RAS put on too, but haven't driven it yet since I'm re-gearing at the same time, should be wrapped up this week, I'll report back on the differences on feel.

 

Cant wait to see these results. I am also considering doing the RAS.

 

Yes, with the addition of rear sway bar, it will make a big difference in reducing body roll. I have RAS installed on my 2010 Crewmax 4x4 right now. No sway bar though. On my previous 2007 Tundra RCSB, I had both installed. Great for highway stability specially with heavy loads, but not on trails.

I have also installed Firestone airbags with the ras and it's even better. You can vary the ride height and the ras keeps the rear suspension tight.

 

I haven't towed our camper since installing the RAS yet, but I've noticed improved handling/ responsiveness unloaded so far this week. Tundra not as bouncy on bumps and the rear suspension just feels "tighter" in a good way. I do have the RAS springs dialed up to the black setting which is supposed to be 40% more support and the back end sits up at least an inch higher after install. I didn't think of measuring before and after install. I also removed the Sumo Springs I had on the Tundra and installed them on my Tacoma.

I just don't want to waste money and added weight by installing the rear sway bar if there is no need for it if the RAS already provides that benefit....

 

I have zero experience with either product on the Tundra, but just thinking out loud: The sway bar links the sides of the vehicle so that if something happens to one side, then the reaction is transferred to the other side. That is something that the RAS doesn't have, but since the RAS increases the spring rates, it would have a similar "feeling" at the rear end. I would think this feeling would be similar to independent airbags on the rear.

Again, no experience, no expertise, just my $0.02.

 

I had the RAS and a Hellwig on my 2002 17 or 18 years ago, and they worked well together. I removed the RAS for two reasons: 1. the bed was jacked up when empty and not towing a trailer. 2. I stopped hauling & towing heavy loads.

I think it's a great combo if you carry a heavy load in the bed full time.

 

Can you elaborate on the not good on trails part, I would assume less flex and less traction but I'd like to hear your experience.

 

Gotcha, yes the bed sits at least an inch higher after installing the RAS but it’s not a big deal for me as we do a lot of towing with a camper. I also may eventually replace the shocks with Bilstein 5100’s to give the front end a bit of a lift to even out the rake....Appreciate your insight, maybe the rear sway bar is in the cards in the future....

 

Yes. Less flex resulting on one tire lifting off the ground. So now, you only have one rear tire doing the pushing. But the rear sway bar is easy to disconnect on the linkage and just tie them up with a bungee cord to keep them up against the frame. You can do the same thing with the sway bar so the ends won't point down.

 

Yeah that's typical with sway bars. I thought you meant the RAS was hindering the suspension off road.

 

@Downytide any good news on the new set up?

 

Playing the beautiful game of waiting, dealership is trying to fix the fluctuating idle issue right now.

 

Got the truck back.

Rear definitely sits bit higher, firmer on rough roads but I can't really tell the difference if it made the rear firmer or not, and yes it did stabilized the rear during turns with and without load.

 

I just Installed the Roadmaster suspension on my 2020 TRD Pro last weekend and initially set it to roughly 30% using those 2 spacers as a guide. I noticed as you increase the tension on the spring it does incrementally raise your rear end up by pulling the leaf springs up. I then lowered to a bit less than 20% (white 20% spacer could no longer fit in between the RAS spring coils) and my rear sat about level. I left it there as a test and loaded 2000lbs of stall mats into the rear and there was noticeably less sag than without and it drove on the highway at 80mpg more confidently than without the RAS. Less rear end sway and bounce.

I am running this setup with both TRD front and rear sway bars just because I already had them installed and there was no interference so I can not tell you how the RAS rides without the rear sway bar.

 

I've got both, had the Road Master for a year before the TRD Sway Bar. The Road Masters helped with stability and some with sway, but the sway bar really dialed it in. Immediate difference.

You can adjust the Road Master assist level, the minimum setting is about a dime, the standard is a quarter, and max is about 2 quarters (Fit between the coil springs). Takes 20 minutes to adjust. Just lift the rear so the tires are off the ground, loosen the lock nuts and tighten or loosed the spring preload tension.

 

Do you have pics on this set up? I’m worried about the two not working together, i.e. interference with the RAS.

 

No issues, I have had both for a couple years.

 

Turns out the TRD sway bar won't fit with my RTX leaf kit so ill be running the stock sway bar with the roadmaster kit when I eventually install it.

 

What stock sway bar?

 

Stock front sway and rear roadmaster will be my setup eventually. Currently only running stock sway bar on the front of the truck.

 

OK, I thought you were saying there was a stock rear bar.

I put the Road Master right when I bought the truck, I use them on any leaf spring vehicle. They add stability and settle the rear axle, make the truck feel better planted as well as reducing sag with a load. They also help some with handling and sway control. I had them on for about 2 years, and then added the rear TRD bar, which was immediately noticeable. The Truck handles and corners much flatter. Highly recommend both.

 

I wish there was a way to make it work with my leaf kit but it doesn't look like it will.

 

I'm assuming the leafs are wider than the stock? They may have other kits that the shackle can fit.

 

Yeah, I'm looking at other options.

 

What leaf springs do you have?

 

Icon RTX with the add a leaf installed. From what I've been told they are too wide to fit a sway bar.

 

2020 Tundra TRD PRO, got a call from a friend, he had space in the shop, so it was time for the installation RAS, Front and Rear Sway bars, took about 4 hours, with a hour for lunch, and admiring our work, we removed the spare, just in case extra room was needed, Thank to @RainMan_PNW, for your pictures, and to @SparkParts, sway bars arrived on time, and were packaged well, installation was awesome.

 

How does the ride compare to the stock ride? I have a limited and have the FOX pro Suspension that will be installed this spring (Hopefully) and also thinking he RAS may be needed since I pull a 3000#+/- trailer occasionally.

 

@Bergy24, it seems as though, I have better control, I will be pulling a trailer, with family aboard, in a parade, so this was a great time to install, doing both was a plus, suspension upgrade completed