Thump?

So.... The other day I'm driving down the road and I come to a stop light. Of course I stop.... When I started back moving I accelerated as normal (not rapid accel). At about 10 mph, maybe 15 feet from the start I hear a "thump" like something shifting in the bed of my truck. Problem is there's nothing in the bed. I dismiss it as just a bump in the road and go on.

Now it seems I'm hypersensitive to every noise and I keep hearing it. A couple times I can even feel a bump like a keg rolling around in the trunk of a car (familiar feeling from my past).

Anyone know what this might be? Should I be concerned? It's a brand new 2011 DC TRD Sport.

 

maybe axle wrap? but i dont think it would be THAT noticeable.

 

Sometimes when I have something in storage compartments under or behind the seats they make a really loud thump, particularly when I put my hitch ball mount in there.

hitch ball mount: I'm sure this is the wrong technical term

 

I checked that. Everything is secure. (fire ext. Is all I got back there and it's strapped tight. )

 

Do a search on old threads. You'll find a ton of people complaining about this over in the past. There were two causes: Axle wrap and fuel in the fuel tank (this was the more common cause when the tank wasn't full).

 

Ahhhhh..... I have had a half tank for a few days now. That makes sense.

Because I'm not a gearhead can someone define axel wrap?

 

Well apparently I was way off.

 

Here's a good thread on the issue that should explain it for you:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/33459-axel-wrap.html

 

Actually you weren't way off. I actually had a similar noise when I first put all my stuff in the truck. That's why the fire ext. Is secured now. When I heard the noise the first time that was the first thing I checked.

I did some reading on axle (axel) wrap in the forums. That definitely sounds like the ticket. I wouldn't have expected something like that on a 3 week old vehicle with 1700 miles on it though.

My third and final question: If it's just annoying, is it eventually going to cause a problem?

By the way, thank you. You guys have been great.

 

In the case of the Tacoma and axle wrap, it just seems to be the way it is with the softer springs (it pretty much goes away if you have the rear spring TSB done). But I'm betting it's your fuel tank. Either way, nothing to be worried about short term or long term. The "Thump" question used to come up a lot on the various forums. Not so much anymore as the 2nd Gen has been around for so many years now. We don't get into the long discussions on axle wrap, fuel tank thumps, and drivetrain slack (the delay when you leave that red light).

 

Thanks Moose. I'm a Tacoma newb so this is virgin territory for me. I do appreciate the info.