1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Tundra is bad on the highway

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by jsurf58, Aug 20, 2019.

  1. Aug 20, 2019 at 3:46 AM
    #1
    jsurf58

    jsurf58 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2019
    Member:
    #33329
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jordan
    Vehicle:
    2019 tundra trd limited
    Stock
    I put in a rear seat bar in my 19 Trd limited crew max. Truck wanders on the highway and is bouncy like a boat when it his bumps in. 100% stock and I figured this Ute ofatruck would cruise fine seeing the long wheel base and weight. I really hate how unstable/ not planted/ unpredictable it is at 70-80mph. It feels like the shocks are worn out. This is the exact feel of worn shocks but the truck is brand new with only 2k on it. I had a lifted fj cruiser and I think that truck handled better. Very disappointed . Anything I can do before major modification.
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  2. Aug 20, 2019 at 3:58 AM
    #2
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Member:
    #7181
    Messages:
    6,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2002 4.7L RCLB 4X4 2007 5.7L RCSB 4X2
    Truck are designed to carry a load in the bed... secure two to three hundred pounds of dead weight in the bed over the rear axle, the ride will smooth out. My '07 was a little unstable around 125, I secured some weight over the axle and she stays planted now.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2019
  3. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:11 AM
    #3
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2766
    Messages:
    35,630
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    LML 3500HD
    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    The rear sway bar is causing your issues.

    Unless you are towing most of the time (like Rex said, having weight in the bed or on the hitch), the sway bar stiffens up the rear and makes you feel the road in the suspension.

    I would remove the sway bar, sell, enjoy your new Tundra.
     
    Black Wolf, Skeezo, BTBAKER and 4 others like this.
  4. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:12 AM
    #4
    PJR202

    PJR202 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2019
    Member:
    #32421
    Messages:
    396
    Gender:
    Male
    I've found the ride to be surprisingly smooth and stable. Granted, I'm coming from 12 year old Tacoma and performance package mustang but I've had comments about the nice ride.
     
    Boerseun likes this.
  5. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:37 AM
    #5
    jsurf58

    jsurf58 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2019
    Member:
    #33329
    Messages:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jordan
    Vehicle:
    2019 tundra trd limited
    Stock
    I’ll try adding weight to the bed. I added the rear sway bar after I bought it to try to stabilize the vehicle better. Do get me wrong the truck is good. I really just don’t like the highway unstable feel. Can drive it with one finger like some other trucks.
     
    Rex Kramer likes this.
  6. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:47 AM
    #6
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Member:
    #7181
    Messages:
    6,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2002 4.7L RCLB 4X4 2007 5.7L RCSB 4X2
    I would sell my truck if I couldn't use a rear sway bar on it... I can't stand driving a road vehicle that doesn't feel solid & planted. Trucks without a rear sway bar feel sloppy, and out of sync to me. Articulation is not much of a requirement on the roadway, stability & control at higher speeds are what you want on-road.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2019
  7. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:48 AM
    #7
    SoCalPaul

    SoCalPaul New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2019
    Member:
    #29401
    Messages:
    971
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Paul
    San Fernando Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Tundra Access Cab Limited 4wd.
    Front Bilstein 6112 shocks & Bilstein springs. Rear Bilstein 5160 remote Reservoir shocks, Wheeler’s Off-road add-a-leafs. LED lighting. Pioneer Avic 7200NEX Nav Head unit. Borla cat back exhaust.
    Have the alignment checked. Also check your tire pressures. If the pressures are too high, the tires will be bouncy and cause the truck to wander.
     
  8. Aug 20, 2019 at 4:53 AM
    #8
    Taofouajarodeve

    Taofouajarodeve New Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Member:
    #30108
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tao
    Vehicle:
    2021 Voo Doo Blue Crewmax
    None
    I have a 2019 DC 4x4 with sway bar and it seems to ride fine for me on highways. I do have 295/70/17 wheels with BFG AT. Maybe more rubber is benefiting me.
     
    Tundyfundy likes this.
  9. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:02 AM
    #9
    NoRcptn

    NoRcptn Better than mediocre poster

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2018
    Member:
    #19520
    Messages:
    1,516
    Gender:
    Male
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2017 Platinum
    GFC, Dobinsons IMS, RW's 285/75/17
    I've had two Tundras, and they both felt really stable to me on the highway. What car/truck were you driving before? Does it have a level kit? Lift?
     
  10. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:30 AM
    #10
    WILLINH

    WILLINH New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2019
    Member:
    #33280
    Messages:
    3,037
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    BILL
    NEW HAMPTON, NH
    2019 TUNDRA
    I drive 45 miles on rte 93 one way to work in NH, cruise at 75. My ride is smooth sailing
     
    Babysfirsttundra likes this.
  11. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:35 AM
    #11
    WFD473

    WFD473 Long Live The V8

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2018
    Member:
    #20393
    Messages:
    621
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Northeast Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM SR5 CM 4x4
    I thought the rear sway bar was designed to keep the truck planted, which in turn makes it feel more stable, especially in turns...
     
  12. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:38 AM
    #12
    rustynail11

    rustynail11 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2017
    Member:
    #10935
    Messages:
    453
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Mansfield,TX (DFW Area)
    Vehicle:
    2017 Grey Tundra TRD
    Love the way my 17 drives on the highway. Drive 54 highway miles roundtrip every day work and been on dozens of long highway trips and the truck handles great
     
    nlaroy and Boerseun like this.
  13. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:40 AM
    #13
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Member:
    #84
    Messages:
    2,868
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
    Vehicle:
    2022 MGM XP-Series CrewMax 4x4
    Yes.
     
  14. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:41 AM
    #14
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Member:
    #84
    Messages:
    2,868
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
    Vehicle:
    2022 MGM XP-Series CrewMax 4x4
    Sway bar does not stiffen it up. It is free moving. It only stabilizes around curves when the vehicle leans to one side. On a straight road it does not do anything to stiffen the ride.
     
  15. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:43 AM
    #15
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Member:
    #84
    Messages:
    2,868
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
    Vehicle:
    2022 MGM XP-Series CrewMax 4x4
    What is your tire pressure? Too high pressure might cause it to be more bouncy. My truck drives like a proverbial Caddilac on the road - stable and I can drive it with one finger on the steering wheel at 80 mph.
     
  16. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:48 AM
    #16
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Member:
    #84
    Messages:
    2,868
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
    Vehicle:
    2022 MGM XP-Series CrewMax 4x4
    Just reading your first post. Slow bounce like a boat would not be too high tire pressure. High pressure would be short choppy bounce. But check pressure anyway. I am surprised that you do not like the ride - the stable ride was the thing that impressed me the most of the truck when I got it. I often get distracted day dreaming and not paying attention to my speed, and when I look down I realize I am doing 80 or 90, and it feels like 60.
     
    Skeezo likes this.
  17. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:56 AM
    #17
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2766
    Messages:
    35,630
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    LML 3500HD
    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    On a straight, smooth road, totally agree. The suspension is not cycling.

    In the bold is his problem when hitting bumps, which is cycling the suspension.

    I haven’t had a rear anti-sway bar on a truck since my 2002 Dodge 2500. The frames were so flexible that they needed the rear sway bar from the factory. Since then, not one of my trucks needed nor required an anti-sway bar.
     
    Black Wolf and Newm like this.
  18. Aug 20, 2019 at 5:59 AM
    #18
    LT75

    LT75 Seasoned Pro

    Joined:
    May 27, 2018
    Member:
    #15633
    Messages:
    1,479
    Gender:
    Male
    Saint Charles, IL
    No mods yet
    My rear sway stabilized mine better. I haul stuff for customers sometimes, so it helps in turns and highway ramps. I had a slight bounce issue on certain roads with my 2018 platinum so I bought some coachbuilder shackles which helped. Like stated above, tire pressure can cause that as well.
     
    sf319 likes this.
  19. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:05 AM
    #19
    Danman34

    Danman34 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2018
    Member:
    #19579
    Messages:
    2,231
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Danny
    Vehicle:
    2018 White Tundra TRD Sport
    My 18’ Sport feels incredibly planted on the highway, even with it being lifted and bigger tires. You have other issues.
     
    Skeezo and Boerseun like this.
  20. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:15 AM
    #20
    WrigglingWilly

    WrigglingWilly Well used Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2018
    Member:
    #17292
    Messages:
    534
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra 4x4 5.7 8.1bed
    LineX
    My alignment was off from the factory, good advise to get the FREE alignment check from Toyota, up to 12 months, 12k
     
  21. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:23 AM
    #21
    JeremyGSU

    JeremyGSU New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2017
    Member:
    #10980
    Messages:
    360
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tundra
    I politely disagree with this statement. Having purchased a TRD sway bar and driving for awhile with it and then removing it the truck most definitely rides choppier with the bar in straight line highway driving. Think about it, you are linking both sides of the suspension together essentially through a bar so when you hit a bump on one side it is now felt more on the other side as well. It stiffens up the whole rear end. You just aren't noticing it. I suggest testing this theory yourself. Try taking it off for two months and then putting it back on. I did it twice to confirm my findings and ensure it wasn't something else causing the stiffer ride.

    I am not the first person to comment on this either. I have read numerous posts of many sway bar threads of people removing them because of a harsh ride. One guy commenting not long ago that was the first thing he did when he bought his new Sport was remove the bar. It was most noticeable to me because my kids car seat shook like crazy when I had the bar on fairly smooth Florida highways. As soon as I took it off it quit each time.
     
    Iowa12tundra, Newm and ColoradoTJ like this.
  22. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:25 AM
    #22
    Geezer

    Geezer New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2018
    Member:
    #21415
    Messages:
    300
    Gender:
    Male
    Heart of the Catskills
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra Limited
    Do you have the Sport or Offroad package? I assume not since you added an anti-sway bar.

    I have been very happy with the ride quality of my '19 Limited double cab, neither Sport nor Offroad. I also like the ride quality of my daughter's FJ. Neither are as soft as a car or unibody SUV, but that's expected. As others have said, maybe the alignment is out. Or, maybe you have a bad tire. Your dealer should have a road force balancing machine to check the tires properly.
     
  23. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:33 AM
    #23
    JeremyGSU

    JeremyGSU New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2017
    Member:
    #10980
    Messages:
    360
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tundra
    If you're referring to me I have a regular '16 SR5 Crewmax 4x4 non-TRD. It does have TRD 18" wheels that are Road force balanced. Once the tires are warm the truck rides extremely smooth.
     
  24. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:35 AM
    #24
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Member:
    #84
    Messages:
    2,868
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
    Vehicle:
    2022 MGM XP-Series CrewMax 4x4
    I agree with isolated bumps or potholes. But OP is talking about "bouncing like a boat" on a highway. Sway bar would not have any affect on that condition. If anything, it would keep it from bouncing like a boat. My truck has a sway bar and I love the ride.
     
  25. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:39 AM
    #25
    JeremyGSU

    JeremyGSU New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2017
    Member:
    #10980
    Messages:
    360
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeremy
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tundra
    I would agree with that then. Unless the roads are just pitiful it shouldn't be riding that badly.
     
    Boerseun[QUOTED] likes this.
  26. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:43 AM
    #26
    Rica25

    Rica25 Got Bam? IG ......@TNDRA08

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2017
    Member:
    #11380
    Messages:
    5,540
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ricardo
    Tulare
    Vehicle:
    2008 Super White Tundra/14 Cement FJ
    TRD sway bar...addictive audio sub woofer.....Volant intake.....Black Rhino Glamis wheels....Billstein adjustable shocks
    So I drive a 2008 that has coachbuilder shackles and 5100s all around but soon will have 6112s and 5160 on rear I also have front and rear TRD sway bars........yesterday I took my uncles new 2019 to work so we can install his 6112s and 5160 with shackles and while driving it 2019 TRD 4x4 bone stock I noticed the same thing you are talking about real bouncy and mushy I did no like the drive so today I'm finishing his truck with the shackles ......I've not had my truck stock since 2009 so now I know there is a big difference in doing shocks shackels and say bars
     
  27. Aug 20, 2019 at 7:41 AM
    #27
    Stewartac

    Stewartac New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2019
    Member:
    #26512
    Messages:
    106
    Castle Rock Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2013 White Tundra
    Bilstein 5160s or throw the sway away
     
  28. Aug 20, 2019 at 8:04 AM
    #28
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2766
    Messages:
    35,630
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    LML 3500HD
    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    Where the OP is located (I will not state unless he does), I’m just going to assume the roads are rather rough and hard to maintain due to traffic and seasonal weather.

    There have been many threads on this, and everyone has a different opinion on how their own truck rides. I guess it depends on what one compares it to.

    Highway driving over concrete expansion joints can have a harmonic effect from the rear to the front. This can be caused due to factory shocks not being able to slow down the rebound of the leaf springs. We have this problem around here and it can bounce a truck around quite a bit. Ben at Filthy Motorsports has a cure for this (running a 2.5” shock on all 4 corners as it should be for a heavy truck) and custom tunes the rebound adjustment (slows down) and controls how violently leaf springs react to rebound.

    Personally, I would remove the anti-sway bar and see how you like it. Next would be shocks.
     
    Black Wolf, Kerch71 and Rica25 like this.
  29. Aug 20, 2019 at 8:59 AM
    #29
    djhase

    djhase New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2019
    Member:
    #29875
    Messages:
    189
    I just did a 2000 mile trip with my wife in our new 19 Tundra. It road very comfortably on all types of roads. Totally stock with the offroad package (bilstien 4600's).
     
    Skeezo, Tamutundra and Ronin73 like this.
  30. Aug 20, 2019 at 9:42 AM
    #30
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Member:
    #7181
    Messages:
    6,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2002 4.7L RCLB 4X4 2007 5.7L RCSB 4X2

    That is it's purpose, it also helps reduce trailer sway.
     
    Boerseun likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top