Just bought my new truck; some questions...

Just bought a 2011 Reg. Cab 4x4. It's been my dream growing up (I'm only 26) to own a Tacoma, and so it's such an immense pleasure to finally reach that goal. I've always loved how they looked, especially the 2nd gen, and when I saw the truck on the lot I just knew I had to have it; it's everything I ever wanted. I have a couple questions for you all, however:

1. I know there was a leaf spring TSB issued for the previous years of this Tacoma generation. The back of my truck goes down considerably with just me (175) standing in the bed, so I'm a bit fearful to transport firewood or a washer and dryer in there. If the TSB for '11 isn't out yet, how many months am I looking at waiting for it to be issued? How long did it take for the other years? Six months, maybe?

2. Sometimes when I back out of a parking space in reverse, shift to drive (I have an auto) and then accelerate, I'll hear some kind of chirp noise seemingly coming from the backend. Just one short "chirp"...I don't know how else to describe this. What might this sound be, and could it present a problem or might it simply be the truck settling in?

 

Welcome to TW. Another Oregonian. Where you located in Oregon?

 

I'm in Bend...lots of washboard dirt roads here. Can't wait to finally see where they go! My '94 Honda I had didn't like washboard roads too much.

 

Shame. Should I bother calling Toyota anyway? Or just plan on buying an add on leaf?

 

I have the same truck in magnetic grey and have already hauled firewood in the back with no problems. In fact standing along side it I can't see any real difference from when the truck bed is empty.

 

Welcome to TW, I'm up in the Portland area.

 

Congrats on the your new Tacoma! I have not seen a Barcelona Red Regular Cab, until now. What my thinking is; since the tacoma does not have as much weight in the back as in the front, you may be hearing the tires trying to grip the road and slipping a bit. Nothing to worry about if this is it.

 

Congrats on the purchase and welcome to TacomaWorld. Like you, the Tacoma was my dream truck. I got one new in '99 when I turned 17 and now I got a '10 in July. You'll be hooked for life. I was sad as hell when they bought back my '99. Will never forget that truck. Love the new one though. It's basically the same as yours but a '10 and Timberland Mica. Really like the red.

 

That's a really nice looking truck.

On the rear springs issue...it's going to compress with weight in it. There may be some progressiveness to the rear suspension in the first couple of hundred pounds. Mine (stock, no TSB, access cab) compresses when I step into it, and I'm about 230#. But I loaded it down with car parts (unknown weight, but probably on the order of 350 to 400 pounds) and it didn't "sag", just compressed a reasonable amount. I had a big old refrigerator in the bed...no "sag", just reasonable compression of the springs. But then I haven't tried to weigh it down to the limits yet.

You could do what a lot of people do to test whether they need an add-a-leaf. Go to a building supply store and buy bags of the cheapest thing they have (sand, quickrete, etc.) and load it up to the stated payload capacity. Don't forget that you and any cargo in your truck count in that payload capacity! 1350 pounds - your weight - cargo = how much to load into the bed. Drive it around and see how it does. Go back and return the bags of stuff. Tip the yard guys well if they load/unload it for you.

 

Barcelona Red and the dark flares and bumpers looks really nice. Congrats on the truck!

 

nice truck. ive never heard a chirp noise in my truck, BUT i do hear a noise that sound like an air-ride activating in the back suspension when i back up

 

Sweet!

Now get yourself some 265/70R16 (same size as they put on the stock TRD Off-Road package) Duratracs or BFG All-Terrain TAs and you are ready to roll!

 

Isn't that 'chirp' or 'air ride' actually the ABS doing a self-test? My '10 DC does it every time.

 

I have a reg cab as well.

You will want 265/75/16 not 70, they'll put you up a touch more. or 225's, which are narrower and imo a better move/cheaper. Also with the leafs, if you're just hauling shi t occasionally you can get some supersprings or helwigs. Helwigs are way cheaper and do a fantastic job, much better than the tsb springs would do. They do limit your art. off road a bit but you need to figure out the trade off. If you're wheeling the hell out of it then dakars etc are best.

 

my 11 makes a noise in the same scenario, my sound comes from the e-brake (inside cab) i think it's just making sure the e-brake is released.

 

Thank you all very much for the kind answers and comments! If it's just a self-test, I guess I'd have nothing to worry about. I bought an extended warranty anyway, so if anything comes of it at least I should be covered for a while. The "chirp" sounds like a very fast wind-up and wind-down. Almost like some kind of electric motor or even rubbing course fabric together. It's difficult to explain and it doesn't happen all the time.

 

If it can haul a large fridge or both washer and dryer or a decent load of firewood in the bed without bottoming out, that's about all the capacity I would need. Anything more and I'd probably just put it on a trailer and tow it. The test you suggest sounds like a good one and I just may do that. Maybe I'll get the dog a three year supply of dog food

 

Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread, but you reference 225's. What's the aspect ratio you're referring to (ie. 225 ? R16)? I want to upgrade to something taller but thinking if I can go narrower and save some weight (and some gas mileage) I may do that. Thanks.

 

My work truck is an 09 2wd base model, it has 1000 lbs in the back all day everyday. Truck has 37K on it now. It sits about one inch off the bump stops with the factory springs in it. Yeah, it does bottom out sometimes, but no damage to the truck so far. I could see wanting an add a leaf just to make things more comfy when hauling, but definitely not needed.

 

Sounds like the roads up around China Hat...those washboards are nasty!