Need Suspension Advice - '15 Tacoma 4x4 with 4 wheel Camper

I am an ex moto rider getting into truck camping for the first time. I have a new 2015 Tacoma TRD offRoad access cab with a new loaded four wheel camper and Aluminess Bumpers. I am probably 400 lbs over the max payload for the truck.

In order to support the weight I added a new Helwig rear spring pack (5) and Firestone air bags. I have Cooper Discoverer A/T tires.

Ride on paved roads is great. I am currently in Argentina headed south on Route 40 and have several hundred miles more in pretty rough sections. My problem is on rock roads and washboard it way too stiff. It is a teeth rattling and everything else on the truck shakes. I don't want to break anything.

I am hoping that someone knowledgeable with more experience than I have can offer solutions like how much air to run in the tires off road and where to inflate the airbags? If anyone out there has any advice please help me out.

I originally tried to post this in the suspension forum but "the program" advised me to go to the introduction or main forum.

 

FYI you're way over 400lbs past GVWR. I don't even have bumpers on my '15 with FWC, you're underestimating. Which is fine, just giving you a heads up.

Let's see what you're setup looks like, and get some more info. The "spring pack" is a full leaf spring pack, right? Rather the hellwig add a leaf pack, that adds on to your stock springs? What shocks? How much air pressure in the air bags?

What size/rating are the tires? E rated? What psi are you running now? What shocks are you using.


So I have a 2015 DCLB with fleet camper, fully optioned. I'm running icon 2.5" coilovers, icon rear 2.5" shocks valved firmer than normal, with adjustable compression valving all around. Using old man emu Dakar leaf springs with an add a leaf, and and overload removed. And I'm using a taller and softer timbren hollow rubber spring. E rated cooper Maxx St tires (255/85r16). Very very happy with it off highway and on rough roads. On the highway I ran somewhere around 45psi up front and 55psi in back. On rough washboard roads, even a small amount makes a huge difference. A drop to 40/50psi makes a difference, and 35/45 helps even more. Just play with pressure a bit. Also I wouldn't use so much pressure in the air bags that your raising the truck above stock. In my opinion, the truck would ride better if most of the weight is carried on the spring. Again just have to play with it.

Having all the weight on the back (especially with a bumper back there too) make cause the whole setup to buck around a bit. Having the front suspension cranked up too high may do the same.

Interested to see what your suspension setup looks like though.


Here is my truck and camper.


For what it's worth I'm having custom leaf springs made for the truck in the next couple weeks. The Dakar springs are incredibly noisy, and the timbrens are restricting overall suspension travel. It works well but I'm looking for something a little more supple with more room to travel.

 

Thank you Brian and DoorDing!

Brian, I added the full spring pack from Hellwig, not just the helper springs. I still had a little sag in the back with full tanks and loaded so I added the Firestone Ride-rite Air bags and last I checked had about 20 lbs in them.

The Cooper Discoverer are E rated tires, which I normally run about 40 lbs pressure. Which i bought down in your neighborhood Brian, Discount Tire in Tigard.

All of the shocks are stock.

I have read the off-road tire article you sent DoorDing and will start to experiment. The one big question I have is with my weight and the E rated Discoerer A/T tires how low on pressure can I SAFELY go without getting too close to having a problem. I am in some remote places.

Also, I did start a blog: http://rogoroads.com

Thanks and I will start experimenting, anything else you think of would be appreciated. It seems paved roads are the exception around here.

 

PS....I am slow to reply because finding internet is often difficult.

 

In your situation, 30 - 35 psi in the tires will make a huge difference, and be plenty of air to prevent problems - even with all of that weight. What do you have the air bags set at? I would guess you should get a good ride at around 45 psi - that's what I run with weight in the truck and towing my camper at the same time.

 

Yeah I'm sure 30-35psi is plenty safe for sub freeway speeds. Again with the airbags, you might want to just see how the ride changes if you let most of the air out so the weight is on the springs, then try adding air so more weight is carried by the bags. Just to get an idea how it changes the feel.

This is the "spring pack" you have, right? The 5 extra leafs added to the bottom of the spring pack? Did the rear just sit too low with this? I ask because I'm getting ready to either have custom springs built or add something similar to my old man emu leaf springs. I'm trying to put together a good smooth progressive spring pack that carries the weight without the use of air bags or timbrens, and still provides a couple inches of lift. Seems to be difficult to carry the weight really smoothly while maintaining enough arch for some lift.
http://www.hellwigproducts.com/new-products/4231/

Good luck on your travels!

 

Yes Brian those are the springs. It was pretty good without the airbags unless I was loaded and my tanks, water, gas, toilet were full so I added the bags. They seemed to soften the ride on the street. I will try your suggestion start with 30 lbs in the tires and minimum pressure in the air bags and work up from there.

Hey, I remembered looking at the link you sent that I also added the Hellwig sway bars.

Reading the comments in the link you sent it looks like the Tundra with the camper has the same problem, I find that surprising since the payload has got to be much better?

Siesta, I am running about 20 in the air bags.

I will soon start another lengthy rough segment so will do some testing.

Thanks all for your advice - keep the tips coming, I am not too old to learn.