SHOCK UPGRADES

We'll be towing a 20 foot travel trailer in the future. Asking for recommendations on some shock upgrades that won't break the bank. Truck is bone stock 2007 V6.Thanks.

 

Lots of decent shocks and springs to pick from that vary in price.

but most rear leafs are gonna compress under weight regardless

never towed anything that big, only Uhauls
Have heard it said a lot for bigger weight to put other things besides leafs and shocks
Like airbags etc

 

You might want to also consider a big brake kit. Or at least drive around a little to see how much the additional weight affects the braking. Not just around the block. Get it up to highway speed so the brakes are fully warmed up.

I helped my brother pick up some tool boxes he bought from Home Depot. The additional weight definitely made my wimpy 5 lug brakes feel inadequate.

 

Road Active Suspension

 

It's trailer weight, not length that matters. You don't say, but I'm guessing that one should be about 3500 empty, 4500ish lbs once loaded. If so, you should be able to pull that without a lot of trouble with your stock truck. But that's about the upper limit.

Tacoma's don't have the best brakes, but if you're pulling a trailer with properly adjusted trailer brakes it makes a huge difference. It's easier to stop with my trailer than when the bed is loaded heavy.

The problem is not the weight of the trailer, but the additional weight in the truck. You won't be able to pull that trailer AND load the truck with more than 200-300 lbs of additional weight. And even that depends on the weight of passengers. My wife and I are 360 lbs combined. Two skinny people would be 300 lbs and 2 large men could be 500+.

Put everything possible in the trailer. If possible, just have passengers in the truck. Every 100 lbs you move from the truck to the trailer reduces the weight on your suspension by 85-90 lbs.

Assuming my guess of 4500 lbs is accurate that will put about 600 lbs on your trucks suspension. MOST Tacoma's have around 1200 lbs payload leaving you about 600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck.

You'll just have to look up the numbers and do your own math. If the trailer is lighter, or heavier you'll have to adjust the numbers. Or if you have more or less payload. There is a sticker on the drivers door jamb with the payload for your individual truck printed on it.

 

Rear 5100's and 4600's are identical in size/valving, good replacement shocks just choose your color.

Throw some airbags in the back to handle the extra load.

 

A weight distributing hitch also helps a lot. If you dont already have one that is. I used one on my 19ft airstream and it helped a ton.
T

 

Thanks. Found some good shocks online.

 

I have these, with 5100s and they’ve been great:

https://www.superspringsinternational.com/product/ssr-610-40/