not a happy driver so far

Nothing should be loose. The bed is plastic it will move side to side. I would hope to god your u bolts aren't loose. Shouldn't be. They corrode very quickly and most likely wouldn't loosen up on they're own.
Something tells me you last owned a car and just need to get used to driving a truck. I could be wrong???

 

No, I have had a Tahoe, Silverado, my dad has a Tundra and I drive a 70 VW Bus on the weekends. I am used to driving a mix of vehicles. I understand trucks are 2 pcs seperated at the bed and cab but nothing I drive has the vibration this truck does.

BTW 240 miles on the bus this weekend....its not fast but rides smooth as butter.

 

For alignment/balancing, I would take it to either NTB or Firestone vs. dealership. I doubt you will need road force balancing but in case you do, some Firestone shops are capable. As for the infamous clunk,greasing the rear driveshaft and slip yoke have worked for some. Mine was from axle wrap from tired springs on 1.5" blocks, fixed with new leaf packs.

 

Ok, as said though. Tires probably just need balanced. The bed of these trucks bounce around a lot because they're plastic. Just something to get used to. It's normal. As for the clunk or thud. That could be anything really. I believe mine to be from fuel surge. Maybe grease the driveline and you could check the u blots. I believe they are torqued to around 85 ft lbs. Double check that though because it's been a while since I've messed with the rear springs on a second gen.

 

I get the thud at stop as well in my 2013. I believe, as others have already said, it's due to the design and placement of the fuel tank. The fuel tank is long and parallel to the truck so when coming to a stop, the fuel builds up at the front end. Once stopped, it flows back like a wave and smaks the rear of the tank.

I'm willing to bet if they had the tank perpendicular, there would be no thud as the "wave" can't travel as far or build up as much.

The rest has already been provided.

Cheers,

Jay

 

I don't see how a completely full / almost empty fuel tank can generate a "wave" big enough to make a big ass thunk like my Taco had.
On my truck I eliminated the thud by adjusting the rear brakes. They are very loose from the factory to the point where my rear wheels were spinning while I was stopped on an icy road.
If the rear brakes don't work, the front end brakes while the rear still pushes and puts tension on the springs then bang, axle wrap and frame tension.

Fritz

 

That's why mine only does it on occasion. It's not a every single time thud.

 

This is backwards. Toyota Tacoma Wheels are Hub Centric.

 

It IS axle wrap.

You have a DCSB, so part of your tank extends up under the cab.
Any long-bed Tacoma, the tank is completely under the bed and does not extend under the cab.

The "bump" is consistent and does not change with varying tank levels.
It's not the fuel.

OP, to help with the axle wrap issue, check the torque on your u-bolts. they should be at 80ft/lbs. Many owners have found them to be significantly below that from the factory.

 

The composition of the bed makes no difference in how the bed behaves.
It is bolted to the frame, it is a solid, sturdy bed, with steel fenders.

2nd Gen frames may (or may not) be more flexible than 1st Gen or Hilux, which will make a difference, but all pickups are designed to allow for some flex behind the cab.

 

I had an unusual thump for a while, the spare tire had came undone and was swinging somewhat free. Tightened it up and no more thump.

 

The thud/thump at a stop "occasionally" is the lock up on the torque converter unlocking, it is normal on all the automatic tacomas and 4runners. Drove me crazy for a while. My wife has a 4R.
Jet

 

Wow. Thudding, due to axle wrap, sloshing gas, unlocking torque converters, ungreased drive shafts, swinging spare tires...how do Tacomas get out of the driveway anymore?

 

This much?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJZVUnOduH4

 

On the "fuel surge" theory. Aren't modern fuel tanks constructed with internal baffles to prevent "fuel surge", sloshing, and thumping?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cUQkBLYbUk

 

So when I'm at a stop light and I'm stopped. If I let off the brake and roll forward without hitting the gas then hit the brake again and I hear a thud. Your going to say that is axle wrap?
I've had two 2nd gens tacomas one long bed and one short. Both did and do the same thing. It's not axle wrap.

 

I don't think the plastic bed is as rigid as a metal bed. So I feel the tacomas have more bed bounce than other trucks. My 2012 rock warrior didn't have as much bed bounce as either of my two 2nd gen tacoma ' s.

 

My truck runs and drives great. The little thud I hear occasionally doesn't bother me at all. I don't wanna come off like I'm unhappy with my truck.

 

You would think/hope so. I've never seen a cut away of our tanks. So I'm not sure how they are designed internally.