Rockwarrior rear sag....why?

I recently purchased a 2011 Rockwarrior with 90k miles. I upgraded from a Tacoma with 330k miles and still counting. I put an ARE mid-rise topper on it, and have noticed it sagging in the rear, way more than expected... I'm not sure why the suspension feels soft. Right now, the back end is sagging about an inch lower than the front, and I have a set of old tires, and a heavy bike rack on there... not more than a thousand pounds if you factor in the topper.

My plan: removing the sway bar (to help on off-road adventures) and adding a leaf spring (about 2k lbs of payload capacity). Does the sway bar affect the sag? Anyone else have this problem? Mechanic has said the shocks and struts look good.

 

The 2nd gen Tundra’s rear leafs are meant more for articulation than load-bearing. If you’re carrying a few hundred pounds or more around all the time, I would invest in the RAS system. Or new leaf packs.

I have the stock leafs on my ‘21, and I love the RAS HD. No more sag with heavy loads, and it acts like a rear sway bar on pavement while still allowing articulation at slower speeds off-road.

$589 (RAS®) RoadActive Suspension 4611-TDHD | Fits Toyota Tundra 1999-2021

RAS HD for the Tundra

 

Anyone use a roadactive setup offroad?

still articulate? Stiffer over speedbumps?

i know, wrong section, i've just never used em, and i think i know how it works, but im not sure.

 

Ok, thanks. That was my original thought is that the suspension wasn't really meant to always carry a few hundred extra pounds. What about just an add a leaf? I found some for 175$. Seems like a good place to start to me, instead of a 600$ system. Thoughts on just an add a leaf? Also, this truck has a 2-3 inch lift on it.

 

https://ironman4x4america.com/suspe...rings-kit-suited-for-2007-2021-toyota-tundra/

I had these with about 400lbs of constant load and still got 2 inches of lift and they road great.

EVO Smartcap and a bunch of "stuff"

 

x2

 

@RainMan_PNW had them on his rig when he was out at T2S i believe...

I haven't been 'crawling' since I've had mine on, but when when the terrain warrants, you can still see the rear wheel start to twist and tuck (articulation) as it did w/o the set up. I'm just not sure if it requires a bit more force to start that process, but on uneven ground in my driveway and on FSRs it wouldn't seem that way I'm only on the 'lighter' setting currently w/about 400lbs in the bed and about 1/2" lift over OE height on my '21 Pro (no rear sway bar)...

PS>>> The City just installed some 'speed humps' (stupid, plasticky, sharp, and steep as hell speed bumps), and no I did not notice any increased stiffness going over them!

 

Sway bar should NOT affect sag, and as already stated (especially since you're looking at pulling your rear sway bar), I'd go w/RAS HD setup; which is an easy install and will not only help w/sag, but will help stabilize the vehicle on-road, in turns, and during hard braking.

My '21 Pro w/OE Fox set up was a little 'sloushy' in turns and when braking (especially in a turn) out the gate. Once I added the RAS, much of that was corrected w/o any loss of articulation and the ride is still 'softer' and not as jarring as the SR5 suspension on my '08 over washboard roads, etc...

 

I can float over most. I dont want to make my rear stiffer, just a bit taller when loaded.i'd think i could tighten it for the road, and loosen it for the trail.

 

If that was a question... Yes, you can adjust them once they're on the vehicle, but you can only do so when the rear suspension is 'unloaded'. So, for me, I used the pumpkin to lift initially, then set the jackstands under the front eyelets of the leaf springs and lower onto them; once the jackstands are set on the front eyelets, I lower the floor jack under the pumpkin to unload the rear suspension and make the adjustments

 

Yea, got that. Mainly meant being stiffer when i'm heavy & removing or going looser when i'm empty. An extra half hour at camp wouldnt hurt my feelings. Prolly be nice to pull out wrenches after setting up canopies & kitchens.

 

Almost every lift makes the sag worse because most lifts raise the front of the truck more than the rear. The less of that factory nose-down rake your truck has, the more it will sag when you load up the bed.

Add-a-leafs might be fine. Just depends on how much resistance they add vs how much weight you’re carrying.

I have about 250 lb in and on the bed at all times (2nd battery, plano trunk of tools, retractable bed cover). The RAS system gave me more rake (this is a good thing; I kinda hate the leveled look because it says to me that this truck doesn’t get used as a truck), and it rides better on- and off-road.

If it rides a lot worse with the add-a-leafs, try the RAS. You will not be disappointed.

 

I just read a bunch of this. I’m an old airbag guy. New guy I’m working with runs these
swears by them. Not for me, but they seem worth the look

https://www.tundras.com/threads/roadmaster-active-suspension-review.103453/