1st Gen Towing improvement

2004 Tundra 4x4, Access cab, V8. Towing Package, 105k miles. Pulling light weight 6400lb loaded trailer. With weight distribution hitch. I would like to stiffen the suspension a bit to reduce bounce on bumpy roads. I do not want to lift the truck. Probably original shocks. Any ideas?

 

Airbags.

 

Quick search would show you, many folks on here are using the Firestone airbag kit. I helped my dad install the same on his 2nd Gen. Just don't be ignorant: Make sure you plumb the bags independently so air can't simply pass back and forth between the bags. They literally give you the hardware and bracket to plumb separately in every kit I've seen/used. Here's the install on Dad's 2.5G, both Schraders to fill/air-out the bags, side by side, right next to the hitch:

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Airbags are about the only way to improve tow handling without getting a lift as a side effect. 6,000 pounds isn't exactly light duty. That's big for these trucks. Within their abilities, but big.

If the shocks are 20 years old with 100,000 miles, it's definitely time to replace. The usual advice...Bilstein 5100s. Or 4600s. Eventually you'll want to replace the leaf springs, especially if you've been hauling that topper and whatever the tongue weight of your camper is for a while. No idea if the bumpiness you feel on rough roads is totally normal, just something to live with, or if improved suspension will help. It might still bounce, but bounce differently...

Weight distribution hitch will definitely help.

I had airbags on my last truck but couldn't justify the cost on the Tundra. I went with Sumo Springs. Benefit of Sumo Springs is that they don't lock your axle to your frame the way airbags do. No added precautions to take. And they're cheaper. But there's no doubt airbags are a better system if you'll be regularly hauling heavy weight.

 

Google,forum search

$148 Hellwig 991 EZ-990 Helper Spring Kit

Hellwig 991 helper

 

I had a set of Rancho adjustable in my Tacoma and I was able to turn up the stiffness per corner which really helped for the bounce - stiff back and medium front setting to avoid that terrible front bounce.

Also isn't that gen Tundra with the tow package, the towing capacity 6500-6700lbs??? Just saying, to each their own but I'd be extremely cautious and ensure you have adequate braking.

 

That trailer weighs 6400#? Seems heavy for that size trailer, especially with a name like “super lite”. I towed a larger trailer with my FGT for years. Properly setup WDH is key, yours looks to be pretty good based on pics. Rear leafs on these flatten out over time and loose capacity. New leafs will help, they even make HD ones with an extra leaf for more weight carrying capability (does not increase payload or tow rating). And yes, if you are on original shocks, time to replace. Bilstein 4600 or 5100 are great for these trucks. If you go HD leafs, go 5100s.

 

This is what I was thinking. Something doesn't seem right.

 

He said 6400 lbs loaded. That's GVWR. Seems right for that size travel trailer to me.

 

I remember weighing my 17ft trailer at a truck stop and it was ~2,800lbs, connected to my truck. I assume ~300lbs tongue weight, so my trailer is right around 3,000lbs. I just pulled it 120 miles up the interstate, with a couple mountain passes. Honestly I'd hate to pull anything bigger/heavier. It's fine, but I'm definitely still learning how to work the auto tranny towing up steep hills. It'll maintain 70mph with cruise, but I'm not willing to run at the 5,000rpm required to do it. I end up trying to sit at 60mph, with the tranny down/up shifting about every 10 seconds, sitting closer to 4,000rpm.

 

Careful with cruise and constant shifting. What you want is for the torque converter to lock-up and stay locked. When it's not locked-up, these are the in-between gears, the clutches wear and the fluid heats up inside the trans.

/edit - Okay, I'll pull the manual shifting suggestion. Perhaps too many years of towing with a Chevy diesel, revs were the enemy of economy. But you can pay attention to the tach and manage the torque converter lockup. But anyway...

I wish the Tundra had a trans fluid temp gauge, might try to add one at some point.

Rich

p.s. Cute little camper, BTW. Here's mine.

 

To the OP: I'm towing lighter trailers than you, 2k lb travel trailer or 4500 lb flatbed + race car. I've added Timbren extended bump stops and the Helwig 991 helpers that Nola mentions. It still squats a bit in the rear when I'm loaded so a weight distributing hitch setup like yours would be nice.

 

Don’t tow in OD. Turn OD off. You’re better off running at 3000rpm (that’s where these trucks start making most of their torque btw) than constantly shifting and heating up your transmission fluid.

 

OD off …always when towing……..



2002, has been pulling this guy for 21 years…..No OD when towing, get a good run at hills…..lol

 

We're all trying really hard to ignore this monster. What's she weigh?

 

Gvwr is 3538kg ( Canada uses British metric….sorry about that… Aug 24 1814 as well)….which is a hair under 7800 lbs…..too be fair, my father inlaw who is a great guy, but a bit of a puss, went with a 5th wheel because he’d never towed anything bigger that a tent trailer,when he was shopping for a trailer…. a buddy told him he’d never had a 5th wheel, and I quote “
Wiggle waggle the truck”…….he took it all over North America, but just him and my
Mother inlaw……he filled water tank 25% before he left……..trick completely
Stock, but maintained like crazy……any bc’ers
Will know the parts store called lordco……..my mother in laws family owns it……then I bought truck and trailer 4ish year ago……family
Of 5, and 2 dogs……wife over packs beyond belief…….I travel with no water in tank, always figure out a place to get it close to destination…….I do bring bikes, Honda 3000 generator and a Weber travel or bbq……I go easy, try and keep rpm’s, under 4K…..




Tough little truck. Not sure what exact weight it would be.

 

No lift, reduce bounce, and stiffer suspension? Airbags, as has been mentioned, or new HD springs built to factory spec. I think General Spring may offer an HD kit for the 1st gen; they do for the 2nd gen and it's not supposed to add any lift. New shocks for the bounce, as has also been mentioned. Bilstein 4600 or 5100's are a crowd favorite for a reason.

 

Wow. That’s like 1200# of pin weight at least. Plus gear. Probably knocking on your payload (likely over) and definitely over towing capacity.

 

I thought about mentioning that I tow with OD off but figured I had enough street cred that people would know I know better.

I definitely tow with OD off. I'll read the advice here a little closer to see if I understand. Should I just shift into 2, and keep the rpm at ~3,000, whatever speed that happens to be? That's essentially what I did with my manual Tacoma. I never used 5th gear. Cruise in 4th at 65-70mph, which happened to be 3,000 rpm. Up mountain passes, 3rd gear, 45mph, 3,000rpm, flashers on like the semis.

I'm still figuring out what's what with this auto tranny. To me 2 is still 2nd gear, which obviously I wouldn't use at 45-50mph or higher. But 2 in the auto tranny is obviously different. I remember reading the manual and what the safe mph range was for each gear but haven't committed it to memory yet.

 

Nice! I was living out of my camper most of the last 8 years so this 17ft boxy camper was really nice. Now that I'm pretty sure that phase of my life is over, I'm considering downsizing. A 13ft egg is an option. But I might also go slide-in pop-up.

 

air bags, od off esp on hills

 

I’d give my 2 cents, but the OP might not be showing up again until he gets back from towing his 6,400lb lightweight trailer.

 

Not sure…..I know my father in-law was concerned about being legal……He chose the frontier based on being legal I believe…I think dry weight is about 5500lbs…..add gear…..it’s definitely close.