2023 Tundra Platinum Towing

I have a 2023 Tundra Platinum crew and will be towing a 6800 LB travel trailer. I have a weight distribution hitch w/ no sway bars. Will I need to install Rear Active Suspension or will the factory set up be ok? The farthest I tow is 2 hours.

 

The rear active suspension works great, and I need it at 10-12k but you should be OK without it at 6800lbs. The weight distributing hitch should help, and make sure you have moved stuff in the trailer around to get a 10-15% tongue weight on the trailer and not too much weight in the bed.

 

As far as I know, RAS, active suspension is not available for a 2023 Tundra. RAS is for the leaf spring trucks (thru 2021). I dont think they offer anything for rear coil springs. Your 2023 truck has rear coil springs.

 

In your opinion, will the coil springs be able to handle the 6500 lb travel trailer?

 

You'll be more than fine with just the WDH. Which brand/model of WDH do you have and how come no sway bars?

The additional rear suspension support stuff would definitely be a "nice to have" if it were factory components, but if you use the truck outside of your towing duties, such as a daily driver, I personally don't believe the sacrifices in ride quality while not towing are worth it.

I regularly tow a 5000lb GVWR travel trailer, so not as heavy as yours, and do regret not trying to find a Platinum that had the OEM air/adjustable suspension, but with my E2 equalizer set up properly, it handles it just fine.

 

Yes and the WDH will help greatly.

 

I'm not even sure how a WDH would even function if it didn't' have sway bars. That is literally what transfers the weight to the front tires. Literally can't picture how that would work so curious to hear what the OP has??

 

My WDH didn’t have anti- sway bars, just the torsion bars.

 

I mean don't the torsion bars prevent sway too because of the pressure applied on both sides of the tongue? At least thats the way I understood it in my head and very well could be wrong there. I know my old camper with torsion bars hooked up stayed put and never swayed. Wouldn't be the first or last time I'm wrong though. I have heard of anti-sway hitches which aren't WDH's, but always thought a WDH is basically anti-sway by design with the spring bars. Absolutely don't miss that heavy ass WDH and 1" spring bars in my life though. Camper is light enough now I don't need WDH or sway.

 

WDH can have or not have sway control... Pending which one you have/get... The cheaper WDH's with just the chain on the end of the spring bar has no sway control feature built in.. You must use the friction slide bar for sway control on those particular WDH's and I highly recommend you stay away from those... You MUST get the correct WDH for the weight/tongue weight of your camper as there are different ones for different camper/trailer weights... And then they have to be set up correctly..

 

You can see a bit of squat here for me but it's not bad. I have a Husky WDH and since I have a TRD OR I couldn't get the AVS. My TT is around 5800lbs or so, probably a bit more with all of the stuff I added to it.

IMHO you'll be fine.

 

Some whd bars are part of the (friction sway control) I have a cheap one that has a separate friction sway attached to the side. Blue OX is my next update by design the bars control the sway no add one needed.

You'll be fine just take some patience get the wdh set properly as you will have some squat.(normal)

Got to https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=Wdh&vp=F

 

If you're still running like this with this much squat even using your WDH, I'm pretty certain you'd be able to make some fine adjustments to the hitch to get it to put more weight towards the front tires. I know you said it's not bad, but you definitely have some pretty significant front tire gap.

 

Agreed! I took this pic on my return trip after dumping all tanks. I had set the WDH with full water tank (60 gallons) for a boondocking trip and it shows!

Will need to play with the adjustments to dial it in better.

 

Just get that WD hitch set up according to manufacturer instruction. I have a 23 Limited OR and imagine it’s a bit softer than your Platinum. I have a little bit a squat but not bad. TT is around 6000 lbs with our stuff in there. Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch.

 

I have an equal i zer WD hitch with the no sway bars. When I towed the camper (33 ft long/6800 LBs) with the 2011 F150, I had a very noticeable sag. So, I bought an active rear suspension kit which did the trick.

I have not towed using the 2023 Platinum yet. Guess i will need to hook up and see how it does. Hoping the stock suspension will be ok....really don't want to sink anymore money into the truck right now. Just bought side step rails, foldable rear step, and a hard tonneau cover for the back.

 

Do you have air in the rear of just standard coil spring?

 

Standard coil

 

You'll be good. Just takes time with the WDH as these are rarely one and done. My toy hauler towed better with a 800lbs street bike in it vs unloaded BUT was using more or less links depending on loads in the trailer. Remember also too put all your shit in the camper NOT the truck bed. Then when I get to my destination I'll trow it in the truck bed until it's time to leave.
*2012 tundra then 2018 f150* Tundra handled better

 

Set up dialed, tows well. R6 WDH + 30lbs in airlift bags