TRD Pro Squatting

I noticed when fully loaded with my ARE cap and two mountain bikes on my Thule T2 hitch rack my rear end squats. I driving on rough dirt roads the suspension does great, but I can't get over the squat.

Buddy of mine told me to use air bags, thoughts on air bags? At what brand should I look at? Or should I add a leaf. Would like to keep the rear end and plush as possible, love to mash on it when off road!

 

Airbags are nice because you can add and remove air depending on the load you have in there. Add a leaf may be better for you since you have a constant load with the cap. I've had both and liked the airbags but I've never had a cap. There's ups and downs to both.

 

Cap doesn't weigh that much only 200 lbs. I like the sound of air bags since it may not affect the way the truck rides. Seems to me if I add a leaf it will make a stiffer ride, or am I wrong?

 

You're not wrong at all.
Bags need some air at all times, I believe firestone says 5psi, which isn't too stiff. I had one that leaked a little and it drove me nuts. But I loved i could pump them up to 50psi and carry a shit load of weight.
If you get bags. Get some cradles so they are only attached to frame and free floating from axle. Daystar makes cradles.

 

Awesome sounds like airbags are the way to go. Sean do you have an onboard compressor, and did you install them yourself?

 

Airbags are good for loads that vary in weight. I thought about using on Tacoma Baja due to same problem. Levelled trucks will squat with any kind of load. I went with Helwig helpers. No change in ride and no squatting with boat hooked up. I did not want to have deal with inflating or deflating bags.

 

That's where the onboard compressor comes into play.

 

I did not have an onboard compressor. Just a bike tire pump. Would take 5-10 pumps to add 5-10 psi. So couldn't justify the money since it was so quick and easy to pump them up and down. One thing to be sure of is to keep the left and right bag independent, do not put a T fitting in the air lines. The loads shifts and so does the air.
The helwig helpers are a good idea too.
A full new leaf pack would be your best option. Idk what I'd do if I needed something in my tundra. I don't think I'd ever do an add a leaf again though. The ride was brutal unless I had a few hundred lbs in the bed. But the bags also add stiffness but at least you can adjust the stiffness. 5psi may be enough to level you out, and a few lbs here and there to keep it level.

 

I kinda shocked Toyota didn't address this on the Pro's. They lifted the front 2" i think? But left the rear alone, so it sits about level, any load and you're nose high. No forethought there at all.

 

Yeah it really bums me out. Another mod I have to explain to the wife.
Airbags sound like the best solution or a deaver leaf pack at $1,300. Not sure if the deaver pack will cause a harsh ride. Anyone have insight on this?

 

Cant help on the leaf pack question. But I do know your predicament would drive me nuts. I went to the outter banks one year, 4 people in truck, plus luggage in the bed and I would bottom out on bumpstops on ever bump, it was horrible. Added air bags when I got home. The leafs on the tacos sucked. I'd bottom out with 200lbs in the bed.

 

Well the TRD Pro suspension is keeping me from bottoming out. Just looks terrible when fully loaded. Did you find once you installed the airbags your bottoming out was solved? I noticed it before this trip but thought it was uneven ground. Turns out the cap caused the bed to squat a bit.

 

Yes the air bags solved the bottoming out issue for sure. I have never bottomed out in my tundra, before bags I would bottom out when i had some weight in truck, didn't take much weight, and I went over a bump And I agree, being nose high is a bad look.

 

I added firestone ride right kit and daystar cradles to my 2012 Tacoma and it changes the way it rides. I'm not really a fan of them, I added them to help with the weight of the cap. I'm going to switch to a better leaf pack, the airbags kind of bounce you back after you go over a bump even with low psi in them.

 

That is good to know, I was afraid that could be an issue. I live on a dirt road with lots of holes. Getting bounced back not a option I want to deal with.

 

SumoSprings are another option, airless, no leaks, lines or compressors to worry about.


https://youtu.be/0ed_szlRGn4?t=3m1s

 

Yeah I wouldn't want to deal with it in your situation, they just give so much extra rebound. I bought the Trd pro kit for my Tacoma and switching to wheelers off-road 5 leaf hd pack and ditching the airbags.

 

Rough dirt road sound like it'll rule out airbags too.

I can't believe I didn't think of shackles. That's a good option. Much better option than blocks. I still think leaf pack is best, but also the most expensive option.

 

Ron did you add shackles to your stock leaf pack? I am looking into a Alcan leaf pack.

 

Coachbuilder or Toytec shackles will raise the back 1.75" or 1.5" max respectively.

At a 2" front increase over base on a stock Pro, your truck will sit raked without cap and bed empty using one of those full length shackles (I'm at 2.5" front, 1.5" back and I still have a some rake).

 

The cap stays on the rig all the time. Seems to me a custom leaf pack will give me a bit of rake also.

 

Hard to see but took a photo of the truck and springs.

 

ToyTec shackles are only $140. A steal......

 

or steel??

 

Inquiring on steel.

 

Who is the discount for Aclane or Dever?

 

Steel. Solid welded..zinc plated.