New Taco, suggestions for towing and rear sag?

Hey Taco World!

Long time lurker, finally an owner! I have 22 TRD Sport, and I just bought a Taxa Mantis trailer this week. On my drive home (PA to MI), I basically had to run in 4th, and got 10-11 mpg. Trailer weighs around 3000 lbs, tongue weight is 420 lbs dry, so probably 470 lbs with propane. It squatted the rear about 2”. I’d like to level it up, not sure what my best option is. A weight distribution hitch is probably the most expensive, especially if I get the AndersotjT I want, and takes some effort at every hookup, but leaves the truck stock. Sumo springs or the Timbren equivalent seems like it could handle the weight, I’m concerned about how it might affect the ride when I’m not towing. Airbags seem like a good choice but I haven’t really researched them.

Any suggestions? Also, any suggestions to get decent mileage while towing? Or ideas to make it seem less taxing, to the Tacoma or me? Any gadgets you definitely would recommend?

Thanks in advance!

 

WD hitch is most ideal. For occasional towing go sumo or timbren. For frequent towing, airbags, or an add-a-leaf is better.

 

https://youtu.be/XBZu39pQ8Gg

Weight distribution hitch all the way. Airbags do not redistribute the weight. Only helps the sag. Seems silly, and that if you picked up the rear that the weight would transfer, but it does not. Leverage is important.

If you wanna be absolutely the most safe, weight distribution hitch, if you just wanna solve the sagging, the airbags are nice because you don't have to use them all the time and can air down for every day driving.

Before I found that video I had airbags on my 08 tundra. They did help with sag, but made the ride more rough when aired up for obvious reasons. I traded that truck in for my current taco and plan on getting a WD hitch if I ever purchase a camper.

Does your trailer have brakes? If so, def get a brake controller if you haven't already.

 

Here's my 3500 lb camper with about 400lb tongue wt.
I have one of those weight distributing hitches.
Works great.

 

You might want to check this thread concerning weight distribution hitches: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pcs-problems-when-towing.693821/

 

Thanks for the vid, I’ll check that out!

Yes to brakes, I installed a Redarc the first weekend I had the truck. I wouldn’t tow without brakes, it seems so much easier and safer.

 

Which WD hitch are you using? I’ve noticed that some make a ton of noise, and most have to be unhooked to back up.

 

I saw that thread when I first was looking at WD hitches. It’s a little concerning, but it looks to be 4 people, so hopefully a small number of people with the issue. One slightly weird thing, part way through my trip I noticed my right BSM would come on frequently with nothing beside me.

 

Your mileage while towing 3k is about the same as mine towing roughly the same weight so I’d say it’s normal. Towing in S4 is the norm as well. Your truck is not taxed and is quite happy to run higher rpm to make the required power/torque.

Take a look at Hellwig helper springs to level the truck when towing. You install the helpers, once, in about an hour and they only kick in to level the truck when you put a load on. Rides like stock when not loaded.


3250# trailer/400# tongue weight, 175# in bed, levelled with Hellwigs.

Also, invest in a device to monitor your transmission temps. I use a ScangaugeII (plugs into the OBD2 port) but there are other options.


ScangaugeII

 

I would say your a good candidate for the Firestone airbags

The kit isn’t expensive and I believe it would suit your needs. Do NOT load those bags up with a shit ton of psi, it will ride like a brick. (15-30psi). I have seen people put 60psi in them to level a large load, and it was horrible. These really should be used to help the sag, not jack the truck up to a suspension lift height.

Adding leafs will only jack the rear up more or make the back end hop around when not loaded.
Hellwig makes a leaf kit that doesn’t raise your truck and only engages when you load it up. However, there’s a lot of pieces and parts to that (hardware install kit sold separately WTF), I prefer the simple approach if it meets the need.

Sumo Springs could work, but on that amount of tongue weight I think you would just wear them out along with your OEM leafs. Probably work well, then you might see the fatigue I was talking about. Could be worth a shot considering they are cheap. If they don’t work I know you could resell them quick.

I do a lot of towing, and the proper leaf stack is really going to be the proper way in regards to part wear, and performance. The reality is the OEM leafs a flat from the get go, inverting them with a load is just asking for trouble and puts you past the sweet spot in the stroke of the suspension.

I don’t have experience with the WD hitches, so I can’t comment on those.

Check this out too for more info:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/reducing-rear-sag-with-towing.573253/

 

No such a thing as decent fuel mileage towing. Newer campers also have much higher stance than older ones more camper in the wind. 14 mpg for me with a manual 6 spd is about it. If the road is pretty flat I can use 6th gear. I tow a 17' older camper it's big plus is two camper axles it's about 3600# I have no special towing gadgets. 10 years ago there was a "harsh ride" Toyota recall I jumped right on that and ended up with a spring pack with one more leaf. Have no ideal of the later ones cover that.

 

I'm not sure of the brand.
We bought it when we bought our camper from the dealer. I don't have to disconnect the arms when reversing, unless it's a really sharp angle. It's not terribly noisy but when going over some elevation changes at slow speed there is an occasional little pop.
I don't have any issues with it. If I can get out to the camper today, I'll take a look and see what the manufacturer is.

 

I’ll take a look at those helper springs, thanks! I’ve also been looking into trans temp monitoring options, and almost ordered a dongle, and got the torque app, then realized that it doesn’t work with iPhones, so I need to look into that a bit more. How high of temps would you say are “normal” while towing?

 

Thanks for all the info! I like the idea of airbags for sure, it seems easy, and it’s there when you need it, not when you don’t. My only experience with them is on my grandma’s Lincoln, and it seemed like she had to have something done to them every year. I assume the new kits are way more durable?

 

EQ hitch for sure. When I tow our 3800lb rv around the campground with the bars down the truck is not happy.. brake controller, SG2, Friction Sways make it easier- but the hitch is mandatory in my books.

 

WD plus Roadmaster Active Suspension works well

 

Mine’s pretty low at 82”, but it still felt like a parachute behind me! I’m not sure what I expected, but it thought it would do a little better, especially when there’s guys pulling 27 footers on here.

 

This ^^^^ no maintenance. 5100 lbs and probably 550 tongue weight

 

You don't need a WDH for a trailer that small. Two inches of squat is normal and won't hurt a thing. That is why trucks are built with some rake to them and sit higher in the rear when empty. All you are doing is adding another 100 lbs to the tongue weight and reducing payload by the same 100 lbs.

If you're tongue weight now is 470 it will go up to closer to 600 lbs. Considering most Tacoma's only have 1000-1200 lbs usable payload you'd be hurting more than helping. A friction sway bar is a good idea however.

 

Not towing about 185*f, pan. When towing it settles on 188*f pan when locked in 4th. When TC unlocks or downshifts the TC temp can spike up to 210*f. I have the luxury of pinning my atf cooler and find that it lowers the pan temp and the TC spikes temps quite a bit. I understand that your model year doesn’t have the separate atf cooler so just monitor your temps in all driving situations and after a while you’ll find know what your normal is.