Towing

Hi folks. Just want advice on a simple & reasonable cost solution for reducing sag & towing a travel trailer safely. Got a new 2022 TRD off road, electric trailer brake. Trailer is a Viking 16fb with a dry weight of 2600 pounds. On the first towing trip of 3 hours the truck rear sagged quite a bit- even with an empty trailer &truck. I have read the Towing Bible on this forum. Seems like the first thing is to get a weight distribution hitch thingy. Then adjust & level the truck/trailer by tweaking the hitch ball etc.
Do I still need to get an expensive lift kit or air bags? Any tips are welcome. Thanks, powdercloud.

 

Start with the weight distribution hitch and get that and the ball height setup properly. You shouldn’t need airbags for that weight but they’re a simple install if you decide you want them.

To be clear, you added an aftermarket trailer brake controller, correct? The truck does not come with one.

 

Hi Crazy. Yes, got an aftermarket trailer brake controller. works fine. Any recommendation on a weight dist. hitch? A cheap one okay, or get a better one.
Thanks.

 

I have out grown my helpers and will be upgrading to OME Heavy Leafs next month. The Hellwig 980 Helpers for my '21 DCSB TRD Sport did their job without issue but I am constantly carrying 800 to 1000# which is asking the helpers to do more than they were designed to do. Overall I am very pleased with how the helpers behave unloaded as well as how they help (pun intended) when under load. Unfortunately, my Taco is carrying too much weight on the regular for these to be effective - that is my issue not any issue with the product.



I am extremely disappointed with the packing job (all the parts were rattling around in the box) and there were no instructions but thankfully there were some YT vids out there. Only thing to know on the install is the driver side front bracket is the only one out of the 4 brackets that is different. Rather than the U joints facing down and threading from the bottom they instruct you to install the black bracket vertically and the U bolt on its side (pictured above). That is the only thing you really need to know.





PM me if you'd like to buy my used set of Hellwig 980 Helpers on the cheap and can wait until late next month when I have the new kit on my rig. If you are going with new Hellwigs be sure to only buy them from an authorized dealer as warranty claims will not be honored from some rando reseller.

 

get some Firestone airbags and Daystar cradles so you can tow and still offroad with full articulation. 2-3 hour install and can be quickly inflated with a handheld bike pump. I also have a dual sway bar hitch system

 

That's all good info- thanks!

 

An equalizer hitch will not only level the weight out on all 4 wheels, but when you hit crosswinds it will help there as well. Most brands are about the same in my experience, ie, Equalizer, Reese, Curt, etc. A pretty simple install. I am a bit shocked your trailer dealer didn’t talk to you about one.
I have been towing trailers from 13’ to 33’ since my parents bought one in 1955. Back then they emphasized that the tow vehicle needs to out weigh the trailer to have best control. Today that is greatly abused as in they advertise you can tow 3-4 times the vehicle weight.
Believe me when you get into high cross winds you will appreciate a good hitch!

Best of luck and enjoy that new tow!

 

Hi Ridgewalker. I bought the Viking trailer used- towing with a new Tacoma. My previous trailer was a fibreglass Bigfoot, only1875 pounds. I towed it with my 2003 Tundra. Never needed wdh or sway bars or nothin.
The Tacoma is a bit droopy in the rear with the 2600 lb Viking trailer. Just ordered a Fastway e2 hitch unit- should do the trick. Thanks for the info!

 

If you're using your truck for towing and dd and not hauling much generally, the WDH is the boring and smart thing to do.

I went with sumo for my pop up as when we tried to fit my brother's WDH, it didn't fit the pop up. It does feel like a hack and the WDH would help with things sumo don't. Sumos were cheap, but it's a cheap hack.

 

Start with a good WDH with sway control.
After that, you can/should consider air bags. I have and recommend getting the automatic leveling kit. Set it up once and it will automatically add or bleed off air to keep the back of the truck at the preferred height. If you off-road or lift, get bellows style bags instead of sleeve style and add Daystar cradles to maintain articulation (off-road) and spacing (lift).
Adding airbags is also an excuse to add onboard air as you can set it up to fill the bags from the tank rather than their own compressor. With that, you can add an air qd at the back bumper to add air to the trailer tires if you find they are low while away from a shop.

 

Do this incrementally. Start with a wdh for sure. Then if not satisfied go for for heavy duty leaf’s. Finally consider air bags. Although I don’t think you should need air bags for a 2600 lb trailer.
I’m surprised you are having much sag as that is not a very heavy trailer for a Taco. Can you post a pic? In any event I think
the wdh is the answer.

 

I used a Fastway E2- 600 lb model for my Satellite 17RB. My truck also has Wheelers 1.5 AAL to compensate for the drop I experienced after adding the topper, toolbox and bedmat.
The pic below is without the WDH since I was only borrowing a friends trailer to see if I wanted a trailer this big.