Wind & Highway Speeds

Do you have to fight to keep your taco tracking straight at highway speeds when there is some cross wind? Or do I need to get the dealer to make another stab at a front end alignment?


UPDATE: So I installed TRD Off Road shocks (Prerunner springs). This seems to have made a huge difference in how the truck handles.

Before, the steering wheel would get very loose if there was any wind or buffeting. Now the steering stays tight and heavy, like the truck actually weighs 4000lbs, not leaf being blown around in the wind.

I was banking on the floating being due to body roll, and at this point it seems that assumption was correct.



I love my taco, but it was very uncomfortable to drive above 55... now, I love it! I can kick back with one hand on the wheel and not worry about ending up in the ditch!

 

When storms roll through Utah, I notice that the truck gets buffeted by the wind. The truck is completely stock, but this happens almost every time the wind is blowing. I used to drive a Subaru Impreza wagon, and the same thing would happen. I think it's just physics... but then again, the truck is stock with 7.5k miles on it.

 

Kind of...but it's not too bad. It's worse with my 4Runner though.

 

Yea, it gets pushed around a lot, I figure it is just because the back is so light.

 

try drivin a jeep wrangler in a good crosswind......whew

 

Wind speeds aren't even big in Hawaii, but I still feel it.

 

It's worse when you have a canopy- More surface area!

 

My truck seems to want to move around with the wind blowing as well. Just a light truck, and I can see the topper compounding the issue

 

On my 09 DC I never had to fight the wind to keep it straight, but it always felt "skitish" in the wind. Would still drive straight, but it would feel like the body was being moved around a bit. That was stock.

I've since added 5100s all around (fronts at .85 lift), TSB rear springs, larger tires (265-70/16 from 245-75-16), and an alignment where I specified the setting at 0/0/2.1. Since then it is much much better. Can still feel some movement, but not the old Caddy floaty thing like before.

 

Mine also wonders when driving across the Salt Flats towards Salt Lake City.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I guess it just the nature of the beast. I'm sure it doesn't help that until mine grows into a TRD, the 4cyl makes it even lighter in the front end.

 

I use to drive my friends xj a lot on the interstate and it had the auto merge feature in high winds it would really really scare you the first time it happened.

Anyone noticed that the hood seems to wave at like 75mph and driving in a crosswind?

 

It's no better or worse than any other truck that I've driven over the years. They sit high and have no weight in the back end so they are going to get blown around a bit.

 

Since a Suzuki Vitara was my last car (it would blow everywhere) the truck is great! At 90 MPH and severe cross winds it started to be as bad as the vitara, but I'll take it!

 

Beefier Taco suspension helps with wind gusts on the roads while driving. I installed an inexpensive $25 -autozone-helper spring set up forward of the axle under the taco and it helped a bunch with wind on the roads. The way I installed it,the spring serves as a sway bar instead of load capacity enhancer,as it was designed for...

 

trd sport 4x4... my other cars blow around on a certain part of the coast that are always windy... don't feel it in my truck.

 

Yep, does it happen on the passenger side? That's were mine waves.

 

UPDATE: So I installed TRD Off Road shocks (Prerunner springs). This seems to have made a huge difference in how the truck handles.

Before, the steering wheel would get very loose if there was any wind or buffeting. Now the steering stays tight and heavy, like the truck actually weighs 4000lbs, not leaf being blown around in the wind.

I was banking on the floating being due to body roll, and at this point it seems that assumption was correct.



I love my taco, but it was very uncomfortable to drive above 55... now, I love it! I can kick back with one hand on the wheel and not worry about ending up in the ditch!

 

It's like this with any vehicle. Especially one that has more side sirface area, such as trucks.

Try driving a tractor trailer with a 53' van trailer...