Roadmaster Active suspension review

can't say I notice much in the way it handles, but after driving the truck for 5 years I notice the rack a little.... I didn't measure it before... but like others have said... its probably a 1"
but I do have a before pic with my boat..... ill post when I get around to hooking it up again

 

I installed front Eibach Pro Shocks to 1.25in clip setting, to offset the added rake from adding RAS-HD. Took a roadtrip this weekend (around 500 miles) and am really liking how the truck rides with the new shocks (did the rears also). Much smoother ride than previously with the stock black shocks. Will be towing 7k lb TT this summer, hoping/expecting this setup to help with squat and stiffening up the ride when loaded.

 

Did you have to take the side of the shackle off for the eyelet install or did you pass it through the gap? Are you leafs touching your sway bar in that last pic?

 

Planning to install my HD's this Thursday evening.

 

yes, i had to take the side of the back shackle off.....not hard to do....
and yes, when i unloaded the leaf springs to set the tension on the RAS, i noticed it hits.... not sure how to prevent this... but its only when its completely unloaded

 

Just installed mine on Sunday, and am very pleased with the way it rides.
I have 130K on stock springs and could feel a little soft/ uneasy while driving down the free way.
Noticed it also helped with axle wrap and and planting those tires to the road.
Also it raised the back about an inch, and I went with the HD kit & used the white disc 1mm setting.

 

Did my install last night. Took me about an hour while working with the truck on a lift. I set them to the white spacer and felt an instant improvement. Big test will be next weekend when we take the boat on an 8 hour road trip to TN from Ohio.

 

Did you go with the standard or HD version? What kind of boat will you be towing? How much sag did you have with the boat before and after the RAS install?

I ask because I got my Tundra late last year after we were done boating, I hooked our boat (2019 Ranger 212LS, 91% full on gas but no fishing gear) up last weekend to start getting it ready for the season and it only dropped the rear of the truck about 1/2". Not looking to lift the rear, just want to prevent the drop when towing. I expect once I have all the gear in the boat it'll drop the rear of the truck a bit more but it isn't significant so I'm think of just getting the standard version. Looking forward to hearing you thoughts after your trip.

 

I went with the HD at the 25% setting and got about an 1" of rise. I have a 21' Mastercraft which is an inboard wakeboard boat that weighs about 5000 lbs fully packed for vacation and it over 12' tall with the tower. I get about 1.5-2" maybe total sag, which isn't terrible. I do notice that the rear end is "squishy" with the boat and I am excited to see how much the RAS helps with planting the truck and making it more stable on the highway.

 

Thank you for the reply. I believe my boat weighs just slightly less fully loaded but I plan to get it weighed once I have it fully loaded. Look forward to hearing your thoughts after your trip.

 

Got the boat out of storage this weekend. This is basically empty and there is probably 500 lbs that needs added for regular service. Vacation trim will probably add 1000 lbs.

Truck is pretty level now, so would be expecting a little sag with vaca weight. For the vacation trip, I may tighten it up a bit.

 

Nice looking truck and boat. I haven't snapped a picture of my truck towing the boat yet lol. Did have it out this weekend for the first time and slid down the ramp on ice while launching the boat, first time that's ever happened, thought I was going in for sure, luckily I stopped right before my back tires hit the water after sliding about 8ft or more.

 

I have OME shackles(OMEGS222), that allow for greasable pins/bushings. It’s supposed to be a stock replacement but they’re really almost 1/2” longer. Zero issues with the RAS HD install.

I do have Dobinson’s leaf springs as well, I had to knock the rear spring clamp of the leaf pack back with a sledge a bit to make room for the RAS HD and the RAS barely reached at first but it wasn’t a huge deal once I figured it out. I forgot to log the heights before and after leaf pack replacement, shackles, and RAS HD, but the RAS HD bumped the rear maybe 1/2”. The springs were about 1.5” from stock by estimate, my stock packs were collapsed so no good comparison available there.

Performance review: Love them so far with one towing trip with the travel trailer and about 500 miles of normal mixed driving. Huge difference towing, they really help with porpoising/bouncing on rough roads and smooth everything out and with significantly less sag. I had to re-tune my WDH as it didn’t have to do as much work, and lower the hitch because of the lack of sag. Road manners are also much better, even bombing down bad roads with a mix of gravel and broken asphalt. No kicking out to the side at all, between my ICON shocks, Dobinsons, and the RAS HD I’m absolutely loving the suspension on the truck now. I set mine at the minimum with the white disk slipping in and out with a tiny bit of friction.

 

Got back from our 1,023 mile, 18 hour, road trip. We had the boat on the back for half that. Truck felt way more planted and stable while we were cruising the highway. Previously, the truck felt "squishy" and would bounce on the highway with the boat. Even without the boat, the truck felt way smoother overall. I am impressed with the performance and would recommend anyone to do this update.

 

Dude this is what I need as I’m having sag issues and I feel like it’s my leaf pack and shocks that are stock and have 82k miles on them. I have RAS, Timbrens and TRD sway bar with a WDH and still sag 1.5”

 

So I installed my RAS HD today along with CB +3, durobump stops, bilstein 5160 and used brand new u bolts and nuts, also I took off my sway bar. I set the RAS slightly bigger than the white disc. I really like the setup on my short drive. No weird noises or vibration. I used the CB carrier bearing drop kit for 0 to 2 inch lift, plus I added 2 standard size washers, just in case, since I'm passed 2 inches. Also installed CB abs line relocation kit.

Planning to load up the back tomorrow with some weight and go for a little drive. I'll be checking torque in 500 ish miles.

I initially tried to use the CB +1 shackles but I can confirm they didn't fit. I needed about a quarter inch more space. Oddly enough pushing out my stock bushing was really easy with some pb blaster and the fact that the trucks only a year old.

 

I'd check torque on the U bolts after 50 miles, then do 500.

 

Good lookin out

 

Installed the HD version a few days ago. Set the tension to the 2mm shim and got 2” of rise (measured at the wheel well). Not sure I’ll keep it that high, but want to tow with it first before making any adjustments. I was dead level before the install and had at least 1.5” of negative rake while towing. I don’t care so much about being level when towing, just need to stop the bouncing and improve overall stability.

Only driven about 35 miles so far, but I’m pretty impressed.

 

Also just installed the HD model and got 1/2" of additional lift using the white disc.

Initially it was 7/8" when set with the back disc, and on top of the CB +2 and air bags with cradles, it was too high for my liking.

Both extra heights forced me to change the mounting of the TRD sway bar to avoid contact with the springs. All is well now and no more clanking.

I took measurements and headed to the scales to see how badly the WDH was off. Changed things by about 60lbs on the front axle, so it'll be need some relatively minor adjustment. Overall, the ride is already very much improved and axle wrap with the 5.29s is reduced as well.

Took a second to realize how to make this work with the lower bag mounts, but it is doable.

I regret not adding these until now, and that is after only one short tow. Def tames low speed porpoising.

 

So will the HD RAS fit with the TRD Rear sway bar and everything else stock?

 

Yes, fits stock with TRD sway. It is going to lift the rear about an inch, and you may need a carrier bearing drop to address take off vibration which often occurs when you lift the rear of the Tundra.

 

+1 on what frichco said. I have the rear sway bar and no issues.

 

Looking for some guidance. I just had Bilstein 6112/5160 setup installed with the front at the top setting with CB shims and 3” CB shackles in the rear with the carrier drop kit.

Running 17” Fuel wheels with 35” Wildpeaks.

I have a decked drawer system and an ARE topper for about 500 lbs loaded in/on the bed.

I’m almost level in the rear, but there’s a slight sag.

Loaded up for our normal camping load out and had a ton of sag.

I run my trucks off-road overlanding and am looking for a solution that would keep me level in the rear and with the ability to tow a light <5k lb trailer.

Would this setup be a good approach or should I be looking at a new leaf pack or air bags?

Any thoughts from anyone running a similar setup? This truck gets run off road so I do care about offroad capabilities too.

 

Crank the RAS to a little over the black disc. It will give you more lift and less sag.

I run the same setup in the rear and I have my RAS set at between the white and black disc. I'm at exactly 2.5 inch rear lift.

 

That makes sense. No concerns about the 3" shackle + the RAS?

 

Lots of opinions there. The RAS will level you out but it is a static piece. If you wanted to have full mobility of the suspension with the softest possible spring rate, then I would recommend the air bags. You can pump them up when loaded on the road, then dump them on the trail.

 

Just removed my airbags with daystar cradles and coachbuilder shackles. I’m installing RAS today. Will report back.

I did not like the airbags when empty. Back end always felt bouncier, no matter the PSI.

 

This is my struggle, I Offroad more than I tow, but we are looking at getting a small travel trailer or Offroad trailer next season. The shop that installed the lift recommended the air bags too, but I also don't want them to be bouncy when not in use...

 

How much weight were you running in the bed day to day? I don't want them to feel bouncier, but I think the static 400 - 500 lbs I carry around may be able to offset that.