Softer Ride Question - 2020 SR

I recently purchased a 2020 Tacoma SR and found the ride to be much rougher than the 2008 Tacoma access cab long bed that it replaced. I purchased the 08 from my dad with 35k miles and then totaled it at 85k miles (my wife actually - no injuries thankfully). The 08's ride was as soft as a car from the day my dad bought it at 18k miles. I really wanted that truck back, but no luck - totaled. FYI - Geico paid me $11,500 - held it's value well. I've reduced the air pressure to 32 psi in front and 30 psi in the rear and it still rides like a truck. Before anyone blasts me for buying a truck instead of a car, I use it as a daily driver and for kayaking (weekly). There aren't any heavy loads, just 1-3 50 pound whitewater kayaks in the bed. It's a headache loading kayaks on top of a car - thus the need for a truck. Could anyone please advise me on how to soften the ride? Is it the shocks, springs or leafs (or maybe all three) that make for a stiff ride and what would be good replacements?

 

Too much tire pressure can make it harsh. As for suspension, you’ll have to replace what you got if you want it to feel softer.

 

What do I replace on the existing suspension and what product do you recommend? Adjustable shocks? What brand? Springs? Leafs?

 

I can give you my opinion, and I’m sure many more people will after this. But you should go on the suspension threads and look around.
Your ABSOLUTE best bet would be to give a phone call you one of our vendors like AccuTune Offroad, Headstrong Offroad, etc. in my opinion those are the top two best because they will talk you through everything from start to finish. All you have to do is tell them your wants or needs and give them your budget. Done deal.

 

Shocks make a difference, but not a massive one. I know where you're coming from.

The Sport rides really rough for me, its why I bought the offroad model.

The simplest answer is different shocks. Ideally shocks from an offroad model would be cheapest, check your area for tacoma shocks from 2016+ for the yellow offroad shocks.

Next aftermarket replacement is an option. The bilstien 4600's are great oem replacements, better than trd offroad shocks, but they look very similar.

I ran 29psi cold, which is spec. It made the truck ride way smoother. A bigger tire would soak up bumps better, but the trade off for power isn't worth it on a 4 cylinder model.

 

My 2020 DCLB OR rides so much better than my 2012 DCSB SR5 for sure. The suspension + long bed make a difference on the OR for how it feels.

 

Throw some weight in the back, see if that help yours needs/want's out. Few sand bags.

 

Bilstein 6112's and 5160's

 

Any chance your '08 was a 5 lug?

Mine has a car like ride.

 

Keep an eye on the For Sale section for someone selling their OR components. I swapped the Hitachi components on my Sport for OR components, and it made a big difference in the ride.
Probably the least expensive way to go.

Something like this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oem-2020-suspension.648985/

 

I have a 2017 4/4 trd lb off road. It rides well on a smooth road but off road is a little rough. Andafter 39k miles the at doesn’t search for gears as much. I average about 19mpg. However, my wife just bought a ‘20 trd pro 4runner. I know it is heavier but it is light years smoother. The pro suspension is great. Also, though still a 5 speed, the engine/transmission is as smooth as glass. I am contemplating trading the tacoma for a ‘20 trd pro tacoma.
In regards to the discussions about at vs mt, I will always go with the at. I had a ‘08 911 porsche with 6 speed manual. It was great fun...till it wasn’t. I left san antonio one day and there was a wreck on I-35 in new braunfels. Stop and go till past the wreck. Never got higher than 3rd gear. 1,2-1,2,3,2,1, all the way. That cured my infatuation with mt’s

 

It is a truck much smoother then my F250 was.

 

Give it some time, my SR road like a full size HD pickup for the first 2-3k miles.

Eventually, I ended up with Bilstein 6112's and 5160's, excellent performance considering their price.

 

Takeoff OR suspension. You can get those for cheap. Just keep your eyes out.

 

I for one prefer the stiff shocks on the Sport, reminds me of the sports cars I had in my younger years.
Don't like that mushy Cadillac car feel, every time you take a turn everything shifts to one side of the vehicle.

 

Thankfully you won't ever find a Tacoma that rides like a squishy 1970's Cadillac, these trucks always get dinged by reviewers for riding like a truck, go figure.

 

My 2008 rides like a full-size SUV. That is among the reasons I haven't bought a 2020.