Bouncy Tacoma when towing

I just cleaned up my '89 Coleman Sequoia tent trailer and aired up the tires today. I recently purchased a replacement to my '02 Tacoma. I bought a 2011 V6 PreRunner so I wanted to tow the trailer for a little freeway cruise to see how the truck handled it.

I was so amazed with the V6, compared to my previous 2.4 4cyl + 5 speed. I almost couldn't tell that the trailer was back there at all. (1995lb GVWR for the trailer.) The tent trailer has a 10 ft box.

I say 'almost', because while the truck had no trouble getting up to speed on the road, and no problems with hills (as compared to the previous Tacoma), I Did notice severe bouncing from the back end.

I had a SnugTop XV on my last truck, and didn't notice it as bad. Would it help to add another shell to this truck to tame the bounce? It just seemed to me that since there was no weight in the bed the trailer tongue was causing a lot of bounce on the road. It was like driving on a dirt road. What about stiffer rear shocks? Anyone have a preference? I never go off road and would just want something to stiffen up the aft end. What about Helwig overload springs? I had those on a '91 F150 and they helped carry my 8ft Alaskan camper really well.

Thanks,

ONT-

 

Probably need stabalizer bars (anti sway, anti roll). They make a huge difference.

Yes, you could also tighten up the rear with a new suspension, or add air bags. But those steps are unnecessary with what you are towing.

I have Husky brand bars bought on Amazon fow a few hundred and they made towing so much better. The bars are rated based on weight range of your trailer so you'd be a "lightweight".

 

Thanks.

I thought a stabalizer bar was mostly to correct body sway in turns. I wonder if Helwig makes overloads for the 2011 Tacoma. They are an adjustable spring that worked well for me in the past. Guess I'll have to have a look at their website.

 

We have a Fleetwood Arcadia trailer it weighs about 3500lbs ready to camp. As you said the truck pulls the camper just fine with the exception of the bouncing. It makes me feel like I am in an old low rider. I realize that a weight distribution hitch is recommended and have read that it will help with the bounce while bringing the rear up to level. If the wdh does not fix it I am going to bag it with the firestone ride rites. They look easy to install and will retain the factory ride for the other 90 percent of the time I drive it. My truck has a shell and not uncommon for me to pull a utility trailer so the ride rites sound better all the time.

 

To me "bouncy = shocks". Try bouncing it manually without the trailer, see if they're weak..

 

How many miles are on the truck? Is it a TRD model? It sounds like your shocks are just worn out and need to be replaced.

 

It just turned 46,000. Is a TRD OR.

 

First check for 4 leafs to make sure the TSB was done. Then add the Helwigs. I have them on mine. The TSB springs helped a lot on my 2009. I put the Helwigs on my current truck mainly because the Baja is levelled. Add a load and it is nose up which I cannot stand.

 

I'm guessing it's a tire balance issue being magnified by the weight of the trailer. I have the same bounce. I have airbags and Dakar springs with brand new shocks. The issue (for me) is either tires or drive line. I didn't have the bounce with my winter tires, but switched to my summer tires at the same time as the suspension upgrade. I only feel the bounce when towing. I had the same issue on a work truck years ago, and rebalancing the tires solved it.

 

Strongly suggest weighing trailer and especially tongue weight. Ballpark tongue weight should be 15% or so of trailer weight. Do this before considering air bags, weight distributing hitch, or other addons.
Also is trailer tongue level? May need a different height drawbar. Symptoms sound like NOT ENOUGH tongue weight.

 

This could be my issue too

 

X2 on tongue weight

 

I tow a ton with my Tacoma and I can tell you, that even with the TSB leaf springs, the tacoma leafs are just far too light for any kind of towing - well, towing more than an empty utility trailer.

First, it's important that your ball is at the right height for your trailer. If the tongue is sitting high, the trailer will bounce and bob like mad. You want more weight on the tonge, so the ball needs to have the trailer sitting level or slightly tongue down to keep the trailer from bouncing..

If that doesn't work or you, I would recommend the Wheelers Progressive AAL - you'll also need a set of Bilstein 5100 shocks to accommodate the longer length. You will end up with about 2"s of lift, but what's not to like about that?

some pullin' pics

 

What canyonchaser says ^^^ I'll add that my Wheelers progressives have settled in at 1 3/4" lift And with a load or tongue weight added it still rides great with no bounce or sway

 

Before you go throwing money at new shocks, leaf springs, or a shell post some pics of the trailer hitched up to your truck. Could be as simple as the wrong amount of drop on hitch.

FWIW I tow a travel trailer with a dry weight of 4,500 lbs and I don't have any issues with the stock suspension when using a weight distribution hitch.

 

I also tow a 4800lb travel trailer with stock suspension and WDH and I don't get bouncing unless the road get pretty bad.

 

Ooh. That could be it. The trailer was set up originally for my '02 X Cab 5 lug Tacoma, which was quite a bit lower than the PreRunner. I remember that the trailer used to sit nose down a bit and yesterday the tongue was raised and the rear of the trailer was lower.

(My mechanic thought it could be flat spots on the trailer tires, because the tent trailer sat for about three years without being moved. I used to tow it briefly on the freeway on occasion to keep the tires from getting flat spots and to turn the axle, but I haven't had a truck for this last year since my last one was totaled by that idiot woman on her cell phone. But THAT'S another story...)

 

This. Soft springs create hitting bumpstops, not bounce.