Driving Loaded!

Just wanted to write up a quick comparison between driving my 2009 AC 4x4 6spd Manual (with rear spring TSB) loaded up with a full bed of wood...compared to empty.

Empty (unloaded bed):

The truck drives okay, a little stiffer after the rear TSB, but like a truck should feel. Not a mall crawler. I have been noticing a clunking noise towards the rear of the truck/bed when going over bumps. Been doing some research here and some have said this could be the rear wheel well plastic liner, or the composite bed itself? Also noticing a slapping around under the truck (maybe from the driveline or rear springs) when going over bumps with the drive train unloaded (clutched in or in N).

Loaded (with a bed full of wood):

The trcuk actually drives smoother! Shifts smoother, rides smoother, and the gears feel like they are a better ratio. ALSO no noise coming from the rear!!!


Has anyone else noticed this?

 

with no TSB in my truck it doesn't take much load for my truck to ride like crap and hit the bump stops on every bump.

Went snowboarding today with 4 people and gear and was hitting the rear bump stops on big bumps.... its even worse with my tools in during the week

time to buy an AAL I guess.... just have to save up some money after spending $1200 on a wheel bearing

 

anyone else notice that there truck drives better with weight?

 

I think it rides better with a few hundred lbs in the back. Much better two wheel drive traction too. I'm thinking about building weight boxes the bolt under the truck.

 

Drives better as in smoother more car like over bumps? I prefer mine empty as I find it handles better.

 

Correct- drives better as in smoother.....but it does not "handle" as well.

But mainly it makes NO noise when the drive train is slack (in neutral or clutched in) while going over bumps....

does this mean the noise I'm hearing while unloaded is related to the leafs not the trans?

It also shifts smoother while loaded and the gear ratios seem better...this can be fixed with larger tires right?.

 

The stock rear leafs are crap as far as loading goes, or the bumpstops are way too high. With 4 people in the truck the thing bottoms out of the tiniest of bumps. Even with just myself in it driving, it'll bottom out when I drive aggressively.

 

My 4 leaf Canadian taco definitely likes a couple hundred pounds in the pack to slightly compress the leafs , I hear ya OP ,

OZ