Reducing rear sag with Towing

Towed a travel trailer this weekend (sport with tow package) for the second time with a weight distribution hitch and swaybar and it wasn't bad. The trailer is definitely under max weight of 6500. The tongue weight is heavy though. I am having quite a bit of sag on the rear suspension (did the rear leaf TSB) and wondered if anyone had suggestions on improving the rear sag so she sits more level... Seen some posts on sumo springs...any suggestions welcome
thanks

 

Even with the TSB the rear leafs in these trucks are junk.

If you aren't going to lift, I'd go with airbags. Deaver makes some standard ride height higher capacity springs afaik, though they're going to make your truck ride a lot stiffer.

 

I second airbags. Firestone makes a set for the truck for around $300-$400 IIRC

 

I choose to go with the SumoSprings for our truck. I felt it was cheaper and less complicated compared to the airbags. Only took maybe and hour to install. My wife and I also think it added the right amount of stiffness to the rear suspension too.

$289 SSR-610-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O4GD38M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

thanks for the info- how heavy is your trailer?

 

I figured it weighs about 5000lbs with 500lbs of tongue weight. I have been meaning to go to the scales and get exact numbers but we are usually dont have the extra time to do so. Below is without the sumo springs and I will try this weekend to get it one with them installed.

 

Is your WD hitch setup properly? I get very little sag when mine is hitched up with a WD hitch...even when I was running stock suspension. (Trailer is 4,500 dry with a 450 lb dry hitch weight).

 

thanks that would be great- your rear sag looks a bunch like mine does now. I think my tongue weight is a bit more.

 

Do you have stuff in the bed of the truck in that pic? I have the same trailer and don't sag nearly as much.

I'm guessing that your WD hitch isn't properly setup.

 

Your tongue weight shouldn’t be exceeding the max allwance of 700lbs. So obviously verify your trailer is loaded properly.

Rear leafs in these trucks suck and they will sag with heavy hauling and towing.

You will want to look into some sort of suspension upgrade. Air bags, AAL, the Toyota TSB pack, or new leaf springs like a pack of heavy duty Dakars.

 

Looks to me like you need to drop the ball down some too. The trailer should be level or tilted slightly forward.
May just be a illusion.
Found lots of good info here. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/#post-35019

 

Will check the WDH setup and lower maybe a bit. There wasn't a ton in the bed but some gear. If I add a leaf in the rear do I have to do anything in the front?

 

Is there a "procedure" for correct WD hitch setup?

EDIT: found some on this procedure but any hints are welcome

 

Sticky Taco Do you have a close up pic of your ball/hitch setup?

 

@stickyTaco do you have Dakar leaf springs? I feel you cant compare when he has as the stock leaf springs. They are junk and have a hard time with very little weight.

@rbenner89 Even if you WDH is setup properly you are going to get squating with the OEM springs. This is why I went with Sumo Springs as a quick fix. A true fix is replacing the leaf springs with better ones.

 

Going to more accurately setup the WDH and see how bad the sag is (this trailer has a heavy Tongue weight). Maybe Sumo springs temporarily as an add also... we'll see

 

4 wheel parts had them in stock for my truck, and they price matched Amazon

 

I got Sumno springs and now have level towing my 4200# camper. This is how I load my WD hitch: With the hitch latched on the ball, I lower the tongue jack until I can see the back of the truck starting to rise up. It is essentially pulling up the back of the truck. Then I hook up the two torsion bars on either side of the hitch and lower the jack until all the weight is on the ball. Nice and level. Also as was noted above, might want to drop the ball a bit.

 

Airbags with automatic leveling kit.

 

Stock leafs are junk, if you tow a lot, do yourself a favor and get better leafs.....
Dakars are great for towing but add around 3" of lift and sag about 1" with the trailer on. So you net about a 2" lift with a trailer and gear.

Some other leafs are good with less lift, 1-2" is good so it levels out with the trailer.
An OME lift with 884 in the front is what I ran for 3 years. Great for towing with my 16X7 inclosed trailer, about 5,000 pounds loaded... Running AT3s 275 70s

I towed this trailer for 9 years with stock 4runners and the Tacoma, when I put the lift on It was night and day better for towing. The lift turned it into a truck. I was pissed I never did it sooner...