Towing with the TRD PRO

Okay everyone, report out what you’re towing with your PRO and how you’ve got the suspension set up.

I’ve got a travel trailer that tips the scales around 4,000lbs. I’m going to get it out of storage in a few months to see how it hooks up, but I expect to need airbags or something to help calm the ride down. We haul a lot of gear, so I expect to be right at GVWR. I’ve got the Daystar cradles bookmarked and will plan airbags accordingly if needed.

Thanks for your inputs and ideas...

 

My general rule of thumb is to use the airbags when less that 5k lbs and airbags and an equalizer hitch for anything above that. Just how I roll.

 

Damn, not too much traction on this thread.

I've towed once with my 25BHS (5400 pounds) and it felt like I either need to adjust my WDH, I need sumo springs/air bags, or both. I've been looking for guys with stock Pros that had trip reports, so if anyone wants to share, I'm all ears.

 

I have CB +3 shackles and an E2 WDH. The biggest/best upgrade I made was installing the rear sway bar. Truck feels like it's on rails compared to before. TT is 30ft long with ~650lb tongue weight. In the pic it's full of water

 

I had a 15 SR5, and now own a 19 Pro.
Towed with both.
My opinion is simple.... Due to the lack of rake and softness of the Pro shocks, airbags are ideal. I got quite a bit more hitch bounce on the Pro than I did with the SR5.

 

I just hate the idea of having air bags back there constantly, like when I'm not towing, so I'm going with Sumo Springs 1st. I can take them off while not towing and just go back to factory bump stops. I put Sumo Springs on my camper and they made the ride far superior, so I'm hoping for the same here. I can't recommend them enough for folks pulling campers. Improves ride and the stability while walking inside.

I need to reconfigure my Equalizer WDH because it's still set for my AT4, so that may help my situation. I'm going to try sumo springs and raising the L brackets on my WDH (if needed), and I'll update.

I 'really' like the level of the truck, but I may want to put my pursuit of appearance aside for a safer towing experience. Shackles will be the next upgrade if I don't like the way it rides after the Sumo Springs.

 

I towed a ton with my truck leveled. I have shackles and sumos. The sumos are harsh, i have a second set cut down like bumpstops. Really easy to switch them out. You cannot swap back and forth between bumpstop and sumo mount, u bolts cannot be reused like that forever according to the experts

 

I've been going back and forth over the sway bar. I love the ride now, but I know it would be a huge upgrade for towing. If it still feels loose, I should probably do that.

 

Ahh, good heads up, I had no idea. Maybe that changes things.

 

I think sumo works best when there's load in the bed vs at hitch weight for our trucks, I also didn't want to deal with bags, went with RAS and it helps a lot!

The ride change is barely noticeable after sway bars.

Here's my truck when it still has stock suspension, with f+r sway bars, and RAS (non HD), tongue weight was about 750lbs (weight safe hitch).

 

I totally forgot I started this thread.

For the record, I haven’t used air bags yet. Loaded up with full gear and family, I’m a few hundred lbs over GVWR but well under either axle rating. My heavy pin weight (650-700lbs) gives me a 1-2” negative rake but the truck handles just fine.

 

Same. Can't use both the bed and the cab without being somewhere north of GVWR. As I get nearer to E, I get down to GVWR.

 

I have a 2019 Jayco 267BHS. I towed is a ton with my 2015. I played with airbags but hated them. Ended up with SumoSprings and they worked well. They did eat into ride quality a little when empty.

I have towed a couple of times with the PRO. It tows great and rides better than the 2015. I run an Equalizer hitch and while it squats a little it rides great. I am thinking about going for a while without the SumoSprings to see how much I miss them. I really like the ride of the PRO suspension and I am not a fan of messing it up.

The PRO does not squat more than the old truck. It looks like it because the truck started out level.... Then the front suspension is softer so it rises more when the back is loaded. Like I said, the ride and handling are too good to mess with.

Mike