suspension guidance - handling washboard

Soliciting advice, thanks in advance for any comments. I've got a 2021 ORAC, stock suspension and tires, love my truck in every way with one exception - not thrilled with how it handles washboarded roads - got some weight back there with a cap and usually 50+ pounds assorted gear - still wondering if I can do something else to keep the rear end planted better on washboards at moderate speeds. Not looking to lift. Any suggestions appreciated ...

 

What do you mean by planted? You are probably under sprung with factory leaf pack and extra weight and bouncing off the really hard bump stops. Not sure of options without lift other than custom springs. You could add sumo springs but they probably wouldn’t be ideal either. While softer than factory bumps they have some recoil. Probably look at Alcan or Deaver to build a stock height pack with more capacity than factory and find some softer bump stops.

 

sounds like you're oversprung. try adding more weight to the bed to see how it handles.

 

Thanks for the replies - I am definitely not bottoming out, on washboard roads at 25+ miles per hour rear end gets loose / starts sliding around in turns- a challenge for any truck presumably - was hoping tacoma would be better than my previous GMC canyon - it is in all other respects except this (about the same) - I was thinking maybe different shocks or something might help, idk pro shocks or soemthing. thanks though.

 

No way is he over sprung with a long bed and a cap. The cap alone will make the back sag. Add another 50lbs that Opie said he’s carrying and he’s likely bouncing off the hard ass bump stops. My cap weight had me hitting the bump stops on regular dips in the road etc.

 

I've experienced the same OP. Loaded with camping gear the taco handles washboard like a dream.

 

You could try adding more weight then lol. I’m slightly over sprung now with Deaver stage 2s 400-700lb springs and typically about 350lbs with cap, rack, and daily load with Eibach rear shocks and mine rides WAY better than before but it is lifted about 2” (Eibach pro stage 2 coilovers up front also help improve my trucks feeling). The OR shocks are supposed to be valved soft to make it more “floaty” I just felt like they had too much brake dive, body roll etc but I have a little more weight than you.

 

The rear leaf hangers are flexy garbage, get Archive Garage Hammer Hangers to really plant the rear, I wasn't happy with my rear no matter what shocks or leafs I had until I got AGHH'S.

 

A good adjustable remote reservoir shock, like the MRA, can help a lot! That, and a replacement leaf pack, correct coil-over springs, and HH's as Key mentioned. Tire pressure can make a difference too.

They talk about compression buck and adjustment @4:30 here, but that's more for whoops:

 

Do those decrease lift slightly too (had read that somewhere) and increase articulation or just replace the flimsier factory hangers with stouter hangers? A guy I bought my skid plate from a year or so ago was raving about them, but I didn’t get those when I did my lift (a little pricy for what they look like IMO) but if they offer advantages beyond being beefier it might be worth considering for me.

edit to add this guy spared no expense lol. I bought a brand new TRD skid as he decided to go with steel. He also had a complete fox suspension I could have bought because he upgraded to custom valved fox suspension before even installing it lol.

 

There's three versions I have version 3 with the high clear cross tube and AG Fab shackles
the original was 3/8" drop pretty negligible but the v3's are no lift lost.

They turned my rolling boat into a sports car on rails man!

They are expensive no doubt even I skirted them for a long time till I got a killer deal on used and have been singing their praises and kicking myself for not getting them sooner ever since definitely would have been worth full retail and Eric (the owner) is a very chill dude.

So much wasted time and money trying to solve shudders vibes and sway that's just *gone* now.

They are beefier for sure, and do offer more droop off road especially with the fab shackles but also do so so much to improve the handling off and on road as well as eliminating a weak link off road that gets torn up.

No worries about the HH's pounding rocks on the trails like the stamped factory crap.

 

I'm sold. Key AG should pay you a commission.

 

Very nice, much appreciated your detailed response. I wouldn’t mind losing a touch of lift in back either way.

 

the stock springs are pretty heavy duty. and my truck rides a lot smoother with 500 pounds in the bed. like butter over speed bumps. empty, it's super harsh

 

Wow maybe they changed something then. Most of the trucks I’ve seen 2019-2020 range (people I work with and my truck) sagged with 200lbs topper weight and had negative rake.

 

Buy an air compressor and air down. It will improve the ride better than any other modification.

 

Amazing it took 16 posts to mention the most obvious of things. Best to start with this.

 

^
Yep

 

If you don’t want to spend the $$$ on tacoma specific super bumps do a U bolt flip and run GM progressive bump stops.

For less $$ than just the super bumps built for these trucks you get the same performance boost from the bump stop swap and the added ground clearance from flipping the U bolts!

 

Seriously. Before you mess with anything that costs money or has you taking perfectly good parts off your truck, lower your tires to 20 psi, put it in 4 Hi, and drive faster. You can always buy more, the key is buying what you need.

This little air compressor does great for stock size tires. Just be careful because it does get hot.

$81 VIAIR 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable On/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V Heavy Duty Pump 120 PSI, Alligator Clip, Twist Chuck

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I