Slowly getting the bugs out

Hey all. Using my 2017 5.7 SR5 double cable( with a TRD rear Sway bar) to pull my 16' TT. Fully loaded probably around 3800 lbs of towing. Tongue weight is about 400 pounds.

With my bike and gen also in the bed, the back sags about 3". So I opted to go with Firestone air bags instead of a weight distribution system because of the low weight rating of the trailer's single axle. About 70 lbs in each bag brings the truck back level. The ride does feel much better and my "boating effect" seems to be gone.

What I'm noticing now is (or it was always there), kind of a jerking feel making the truck rock a little from front to back. This is during driving straight down the road. I do use a trailer hitch sway bar system and when watching the mirrors, I don't see sway. Just kind of jerking actions as if I was hauling a huge water tank that is slushing. That's probably the best why to describe it. Before using the airbags, the trailers nose was down about 3 inches. Now looking at it and using a level, It seem to be pertly straight. But I know that its always best to in error with the nose slightly down. Is this perhaps my issue? I can't move any weight around in the trailer because I really don't add much but cloths and fill the stationary trailer water tanks. Maybe I should lower the hitch an inch or so?

Your thoughts please,
Bob

 

@ColoradoTJ

 

From that picture it looks like the camper tongue is up a little, you need to drop it down some. Also the airbags will make your truck ride very different, I added a set to my wifes Tacoma and hate the effect it has on the truck.

 

Is that an 82 XL500?

 

OK Thank you. I think that will be my next test.

 

1983 Honda 250XLR my baby! Trailer is a 2018 Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS. Trailer GVWR is 3917. Axel tag indicates 3500 max. But what about the extra 417 Pounds? well that's distributed to go to the tongue according to the specs. So, for those who wonder why I don't use a WDS, is that much of the truck bed weight will go straight to that under rated trailer axel.

 

Maybe I can go with less PSI in the bags. What are the symptoms of over airing?

 

I have a TT similar in size and I put 25 psi in the bags to make it level...

 

nope

 

Excellent Point. You have described this perfectly for me. Before I get rid of the bags, I will try less air. You see, I measured the wheel well before loading (39") then aired up to get that back after loading. I think I hit a point during air up, after so much air, the movement was very slow. Perhaps that's were I should have stopped? Should I leave some sag? when you say 3/4" rake, you mean ass up 3/4" more than front right. I can't do a WDS on that trailer. Axel is to under rated.

 

One last question if you can answer this. How much rake is usually present on a stock Tundra. I was assuming that by adding air to achieve the "before measurement" put me back to stock, which may be the wrong way to do it. Hoping that a stock Tundra has more than 3/4 rake, less air may do the trick for me and still have plenty of rake.
Thanks for all your time.

 

I'm taking your advice. The next time that I hook up and go camping, I will use just enough air so that there will be a slight rake. I'm with you. I think that pumping the air bags up to create the stock height (70 lbs) took out a lot of the "working" suspension. Gotta find that golden spot. After my next trip (perhaps in a couple of months) I will update everyone.
Thanks for all your help.
Bob

 

OK, finally went on another camping trip and wanted to update my air bag questions.
Looking back, I think I inflated the bags PRIOR to attaching the trailer. And I pumped them up to 50 #.
This time I pumped them to about 25 # with trailer on and that made the truck sit level. It felt much better.

Thanks for all your help,
Bob

 

awesome..