Loaded bed with firewood, what happened?

I normally don't haul too much in the bed or haven't with this truck. I have put some firewood in the back on my truck 2 times this year so far that I got from my granddad. Its just even with the bed rails, so nothing heaping over and its all dry. When I go down the road and hit a bump you can feel the rear bottom out. Is this bottoming out the shock or the leafs? I've got the stock trd off road with the 2 leafs plus 1 overload(I think thats what you guys call them) ( I know nothing) so 3 total. What do I need to do to get keep this from happening? Did I hurt my shocks or anything? My wife and little girl were right in the back seat and I hit a bump and she said "good gracious"

 

You're hitting the bumpstops. Toyota leafs suck. There is some aftermarket options to replace them, or you can get airbags or a leaf spring helper

 

Crappy Tacoma springs. Mine used to bottom out with just passengers. I've got the TSB springs now, only slightly better. Time for new springs or an add a leaf.

 

Your hitting the bumpstops, shocks should be ok but might want to look into the spring tsb or an aal.

 

It's totally normal and Toyota's weak-ass rear leaf springs.

There is/was a TSB for a 3 leaf pak but it was only offered for a few years and free under warranty. I'm not even sure if they still offer it....under warranty anymore.

You're bottoming out at the bumpstops - coming in contact with your frame. Weak springs.....

 

This

 

I know I can't get the TSB done since mine is an '08 and I've got about 73,000 miles on it. Would an add a leaf do the trick or should I get a new leaf pack. I think the add a leafs are around $75 or $80 and the new leaf packs are close to $300 I Think. I've looked at wheelers and toytec and the add a leafs I believe provide 1.5" lift in the rear.

 

Get the Wheelers HD leaf pack , and AAL is just a bandaid on those garbage springs

 

I have an 08 as well and I replaced mine with the Dakar leaf pack. I had to lift the front as well as the rear gave me almost 3" of lift. Now however I can stuff it with all the family and wood I want and hardly even sag let alone hit the bump stops. PS my stock leaf snapped when hauling my aluminum boat. As you have read they are JUNK!

 

^this. or get an actual leaf pack like the Dakars for 400

 

How much lift will I get with the HD pack?

 

Maybe an inch I think is what they advertise. That pack is designed to provide better load handling without providing much lift.

 

Another alternative is to install Firestone Ride Rite Airbags, good way to augment the trucks hauling capabilities without switching leaf packs. They can be pumped up for whenever you haul and left with a minimum pressure when you are not hauling.

 

It would be possible to put over 1,000# of dry pine in your pickup. Hard woods could well exceed 2000# dry. It would be easy to haul more than the pickup is designed to carry no matter how strong the springs are. Beyond springs wheel bearings,axles, and tires. It not for nothing fire wood is generally delivered in 1 ton trucks. Granted the stock springs lack a lot and better springs would help but fire wood is not light. When I haul fire wood with the Taco it's in a trailer with brakes.

 

The Wheelers HD leaf pack is an actual leaf pack

 

1 1/2 - 2" IIRC , you can remove one of the leafs if you want less height

 

If you plan on continuing to use your truck as a truck and haul heavy loads, an entirely new leaf pack is the way to go. If you only haul once in a while, and add-a-leaf is just fine.

 

My apologies. I forgot they started offering that! I even started a thread in their vendor section asking if they were going to offer anything like that before I decided on the Dakars

 

Another option.

http://www.generalspringkc.com/product_p/90-297hd.htm

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/product-reviews/266183-generalspringkc-com-hd-leaf-springs.html

 

Well, you can either have it ride decent 99% of the time and ride on the bump stops that other 1% or it can ride rougher 99% of the time and be smooth that 1% when you haul a heavy load. I understand that is a generalization but that is essentially the trade off. Air bags are an option for occasional heavy loads.