Rear strut weld crack

Yeah I usually do more like 3/4 cord split maybe a little bit more. The math says 4' high sides give me 130 cubic feet which is a full cord, so I built sides that high, but I haven't stacked it all the way to the top yet. its pretty sketch at 3 or 3 1/2 already. The bed is like 1" too short to fit a 5th row of wood, so I won't be able to get a proper cord in there even at 4'.
My goal is to build a headache rack to keep wood off the back window, and that might also allow me to build solid enough sides to get a full cord in there.

 

3000 to 5000 lbs a cord (depending upon the species and how wet it is) might be pushing it a smidge bit for a 1/2 ton truck.

You’ll definitely want a firestone airbag kit. The bags themselves will handle the weight, but the design and location of where the airbags brackets are mounted will cause them to bend and deform with that heavy weight. You’re probably going to be better off fabricating your own mounting brackets that locate the airbags directly above the axle tube.

I recently modified my headache rack my welding in rear window protection. If you want tall steel sides, it might be easiest (and cheapest) to buy a tundra specific rack and modify it from there. Of course if you could find a tundra specific landscaping rack (with expanded steel on the from and sides), that would be best. Make sure to reinforce both the floor, bulkhead, and tailgate. If not they get crumpled in pretty darn easily.

With all that weight, you already know that you’ll need to address the brakes, lower the ring and pinions, mount up E load tires, ect.

Maybe this link will give you some ideas on building a headache rack?
https://www.tundras.com/threads/tacoed-tundra-project.130491/page-10#post-3715216

 

Sweet set up you got there!! Thanks for the advice! Some guy on facebook has got some airbags we'll see if he takes my offer haha. Just bought a chainsaw and need to get my engine sorted so funds are low. Do you have a build thread for that air bag fabrication? I definitely wanna look into that.

Some day I hope to have a linked 1 ton axle under there hehe but those are dreams.

 

I have no build thread for airbags. I have had to reinforce the bag brackets on my old 71 Ford flatbed highboy since they started to collapse when i kept overloading the truck with too much weight though. I don’t have airbags on my tundra yet either. I already had the the bags in my shop, so i simply just ordered all the brackets separately…except that was 9 months ago. I dunno if Firestone will ever ship them. I keep calling them about every 3 months and they keep telling me that they’re slated to be manufactured very soon. Last week they told me i might see them in a couple weeks. We shall see. I doubt i’ll modify my brackets right off the bat. I don’t plan on hauling over 2000lbs (famous last words), so hopefully the brackets will survive. If not, then i’ll address that problem when it arises.

 

I've got someone who might sell me some bags for $80, but with no brackets or anything. It seems like angle iron cut to the right size with holes in the right spots would work, thoughts? It should be stronger too I'd think.

 

It depends upon what kind of steel you can find and what gauge. The brackets aren’t too expensive for what you’re getting. They should last longer than your rear axle bearings, 3rd member carrier’s spider gears, bed floor, transmission, and the frame if you’re truly planning on hauling a full cord of wood (2500~5000lbs). But if it’s only going to be around 1 ton every now and then, then i would just buy the premade brackets. And if the brackets start to bend at some point, then just modify them as you go. Especially if you’re planning on installing a 1 ton axle at some point.


This is the list of brackets that i ordered. They are sold individually, so make sure to order two pairs of everything! I already have all of the fasteners and air fittings, so i didn’t need to buy any.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories_and_Parts/Firestone/F2135825289.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories_and_Parts/Firestone/F5086.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories_and_Parts/Firestone/F5267.html


I also had to order new air line.
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories_and_Parts/Firestone/F49ZR.html


Link to the full air bag kit $$$$$! Seems like the price keeps going up and up and up every year!
https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Firestone/F2245.html