How much weight in bed before it is a problem w/ 3-leaf springs?

We put 2,000 lbs in ours every now and then, it doesn't quite bottom out on the bump stops just sitting parked, but when you drive it around and over bumps (especially off-road) it does. And you feel it through the whole truck.

So it depends on what your definition of "a problem" is.

Keep in mind 2k lbs is well over the factory suggested load limit, and for liability reasons I have to of course say you shouldn't do it.

 

Before the TSB, I brought home a yard of cedar mulch, approx 700#. The truck bottomed out on a few bumps but not bad. The next trip I had 1 1/2 yards of mulch, just over 1000#. The rear bottomed out frequently on the way home. After the TSB, I've purchased 1 1/2 yards of mulch a couple of times, no bottoming and the truck drove and handled much better with the load than it did before.

 

The tailgate must be reinforced. Mine would have broke with one.

 

I don't carry loads very often. Take trash to the recycle center 1 - 2 times a month, go to Lowe's and bring stuff home, but usually not much weight.

 

This is what is puzzling me. I had 300+ pounds in the bed, and had no extreme suspension compression, maybe an inch. Add in me and the other guy loading those appliances, that's about another 450 pounds -- we had 750 pounds in the bed without hitting the bump stops (just sitting there). I know it was compressed a bit then, because it de-compressed when he and I jumped out, but only about an inch.

I'm having a hard time finding data on rear leaf spring rates for the Tacoma, but some replacement springs are listing 220 to 250 pounds per inch. If true, that means that every 440 to 500 pounds in the bed of the truck should compress the rear suspension one inch (assuming the shocks don't contribute and you don't have a helper leaf or bags). If your truck was on the bump tops with 450 pounds in it, the springs just about had to be broken or from the wrong application.

If the Tacoma has four inches of rear suspension travel, it shouldn't rest on the bump stops until you have around 2000 pounds in the bed. Obviously it will contact during normal driving with less weight than that, since it is rated at 1400 pounds (+/-).

 

I have had a pallet and a third of ceramic tile in the bed and hauled it about 15 miles. That was about 2700 lbs, my front tires were barely touching the ground. I was more concerned about popping a rear tire than damaging suspension. I wouldn't reccommend that much weight but had a crew on a jobsite waiting on material.
TRD Off Road 4 x 4 DC "before" the tsb.

 

Oh. My. God. WHY?!

 

When the snow hit here in Washington I put 6 60lbs bags of sand in the bed to help with traction and I had less then a 1\2 inch of bump stop clearance. The truck bottomed on almost any bump. It must really depend on the luck of the draw when they spring the truck. I took my truck into my dealer and showed them the clearance and the TSB and the service writer said no problem and ordered the parts and said he would call me as soon as they were arrived. 2008 4X4 15,000 miles, I have only had it for three months so hadn't had a chance to carry much weight usually pull a trailer when using it for work.

 

Oh god thats disgusting...

 

1000lbs didnt bottom out also have the tsb and toy tec tsb aal

 

How much?? Not much at all with my cheap ass 3 leaf springs. 6 Ludwig Drums in cases. One anvil
case, one bass amp and a 60LB stack of Zildjians and BAM! Hit a 1/2" crack in the road and they bottom out. We are only talking about 350 LBS.

BTW Toy, thanks for that visual! I have to try to sleep.

 

Is there a parts list for the TSB springs and billies?

 

^This

 

450lb of dumbbells/plates, a weight bench, and a dumbbell rack hauled to the storage unit. I could tell where it hit the bump stops. It's winter, and I run 2-3 60lb sandbags. There is definite sag that I notice disappears when removing them to carry cargo.

Rear TSB is getting installed tomorrow. The service advisor balked and said they wanted to run a bunch of tests. I explained that I had pics of the amount of weight in the back and the problems - he said, "no problem; you've already done the tests. I'll order the springs."

I'll be asking Santa for some 5100s for the front... and sliders. A guy can ask, but my wife's had 3 surgeries in 3 months for baby & cancer. Those bills will hit around Christmas. We'll see.

 

300-400lbs for me & it rode like shit, 700-800lbs it was down right unsafe IMO, too each his own, I just prefer my truck to be a truck not a mall crawler.

 

That made me laugh my ass off. Needed it today... Thanks.

 

1200lbs worth of concrete pavers and about the same weight in mulch. Done this a couple of different times, truck rode heavy but handled better than expected, never bottomed out. Did sag in the rear. My truck is a SPORT and less than 4 months old. No TSB, no AAL.

 

Do miles effect the chance of getting a TSB spring replacement? I have 127,000 on my 06 Taco but it has been bottoming out for years. I just thought it was natural with a load. But 400# ?? I am going to pitch a bitch and hope for the best. My Billy's helped.

 

About 600lbs on mine before the frame/bumpstop contact during dips and bumps.

 

While towing a tandem trailer with 1100lbs of scrap steel, and approx another 600 lbs in the box, plus myself, yes the headlights where a tad high, no bottoming out, or light steering,