Buyer regret on 2025 Tundra Platinum (Towing issue)

figured I'd tee one up for you guys on a friday, HA

 

have you scaled to see the tongue and axle weight? do you have a WDH?

or did you drop a 10K boat trailer on (which tend to be front heavy sometimes), and have like 15% or more drop on the back of the truck which is over max payload ?

This isn't a f-450 where you just drop on whatever you want on and go.

its like my one van I have in the fleet, T-350 highroof, you don't even have to pay attention hardly it has so much payload, just load it and roll. 1/2 ton trucks have low payloads, it is what it is.

 

Air suspension systems have been failing for as along as pressurized hydraulic ones have. But when the air fails it’s $$$ and it creates loss of function in many applications where the air replaces the spring. But when it works, it can provide a better and adjustable ride, and adjustable capability to support weight. I’ve steered clear cause I keep stuff a long time and hate stuff that breaks.

 

toyota has been using these a long time, my dads sequoia had it as well, no problems there either, but ya, at some point you have to pay to play

 

Sorry, I just had to....

 

I had them on my '11 Sequoia and they are nice, except when it's time to re-up. It hurt my feelings. Rear shocks were $600 to replace, alone. Looked at doing a coilover swap/air bag delete and was a little over an air bag replacement cost for just parts, once said and done (pre-covid). Wasn't too long until I needed to replace the bags, until it turned into a 2 ton paper weight (timing chain jumped and did some internal damage that nobody wanted to overhaul, just replace motor).

 

the best part of this clip is when he gets run over by his own truck.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4jnzqA3HI

 

Yeah, my gif didn't gif.

 

Air Lift. Air Lift 5000 Ultimate Rear Bag Kit with Airlift Wireless One Compressor Kit. I had it installed locally. Total was $1700.
I have no experience with air bags, however these do what I need them to do. I don't have anything to compare them to.
A minimum of 5 pounds of air pressure is required. As I mentioned, it changes the ride quality from stock, but that does not bother me. It is afterall a pickup truck....
https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/88383

 

I have the same airbag kit minus the compressor. I just add air manually as needed, typically only when hauling heavy or towing.
If OP is DIY capable, (and cheap, like me) the kit itself is roughly $500 and is a pretty easy install.

 

Trust you have in this warranty, MmmHmm, forever it will not last.

 

longer than 10 years 125k miles own the truck, I will not

 

Fair point

 

Master Yoda has spoken.

 

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I don't know much, yet, about the 3rd gen. Does the ordered factory air ride take the place of coils on other models?



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hell, any new vehicle is a warranty purchase , especially with the hook ups here , just got one yesterday for our 23 awd 25th anniversary sienna

 

Most factory air ride systems use an “air spring” or air bag instead of a normal coil spring. When the air system fails or leaks or whatever, your suspension collapses.

 

Nice work. I thought about installing myself, but I definitely wanted the compressor. I tow fairly often, and just wanted the convenience of the on board compressor. Particularly if I needed to adjust it when away from home. I watched some videos, and ultimately decided to have it done. I am happy with it.

 

A number of folks have mentioned you shouldn't be too close to the max trailer weight. No disagreement with that. But, consider that most trailer or boat weights and what they include. Is that the boat on the trailer or just the boat? Does that include fuel and oil? Coolers, toys, etc. you put in there? A 10,000 lb boat can cross 11,000 lbs very quickly. And weight distribution can make that worse if you throw all the additional stuff up in the bow, or at least forward of the trailer axles.

 

Driving a 2024 Platinum 6.5 bed, no airbags. Our boat is #8,000, including the trailer, about 48 ft from the front bumper to the back of the swim platform, tows fine. It might squat an inch, know it moves but truck looks natural. I am using a https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/weigh-safe-aero-hitch/ hitch (they used to have some good guides on how to fit their products, guess they still do). I go it because before I bought the Tundra was renting HD trucks to tow the boat and between Ford and Ram, different trims etc needed something that was adjustable for height. This hitch has a scale built in so you are not guessing how much weight is on the bumper. If the truck is sagging that much then odds are you are running too much tongue weight due to hitch height. This is presuming that the boat's weight is properly placed over the rear axle(s), if the tongue is way too heavy and the trailer is adjustable then set it up with the boat a little further back. The 10% weight of the trailer on the hitch recommendation is a recommendation and not a must. Lots of things factor in, at least that is my personal non expert opinion. Back when my son was in scouts I towed the Troop trailer. I always supervised the loading to make sure to keep the tongue weight reasonable. For some reason most of the kids thought the heavy stuff should be at the front rather than over the axel's. Loaded like that is was unsafe, way to tongue heavy.

I run a level trailer and just under #550 on the hitch according to the builtin scale. It is a double axel trailer, have no issues with sway or tracking on back roads or being passed by big trucks on the highway.

Air bags (or anything that lifts the truck at the rear axel) increase rear axel load which is not good if you tow a lot. If the trailer is properly trimmed and there is still sag then a Weight Distributing Hitch is the best solution. Imagine an arm reaching over the truck from the trailer and pushing down to take some of the trailer weight. The WDH transfers weight to the front truck wheels, off the rear truck axel, and leaves weight on the trailer. Advantages are better steering and breaking due to more front axel weight, less rear axel weight (no overloaded axel or tires), much better driving feel. Many if not most 1/2 ton trucks require a WDH based on the very very small print on the last page about towing at some trailer weight. Usually around #5,000 or a little higher.

 

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Thanks.
I'll be sure not to ask for this option if I do buy a 3rd.


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Air lift makes bags for the 2025 check them out easy to install

 

Have seen the question asked a few times without answer. Do you have a WDH? I believe to hit max tow ratings most, manuals will say a WDH is required. I know my 24 sags way more with my dump trailer than my 15 did, even though my 15 was rated to tow less (with a WDH). I never needed one with the 15, but fit one to the 24 within a few months of ownership. FYI WDH should be first order of install, than bags. WDH spreads weight across frame vs bags just masking problem.

 

I agree. Weight distributing hitch first. I don't have my manual in front of me, however as I recall, for my truck, the threshold for using the weight distribution hitch is 5000 pounds. That said, the bags are good for general use also. Any weight at all in the back of that truck causes an embarrassing sag....

 

Maybe people read posts like this and think truck is super dootey capable. You will absolutely know there's 6,000lb package behind you in tow.

 

You are going to hurt some feelers on here if you suggest the truck is not superior in every respect. There have been many reports the 3rd gen needs rear suspension assistance to haul/tow anywhere close to its max capacity. Maybe use the search function for airbags in the 3rd gen forum. And welcome to the forum.

 

May well be a troll. But for someone so "knowledgeable" about trucks.....he should know that a payload of 13-1400lbs with a hitch weight of over 1000 with a ten-K trailer that the Tundra is not the truck for him. (Florida is always an exception- they do the craziest sh!t down there)

Agree with others. He needs to be in the F250/F350 zone.

 

How's the ride with this airbag kit? I am really interested in this kit