Her rake's a little low but no time for 2 loads tonight...

SR4X4OffRoad overloaded by 635lbs @rideslikeacadillac

 

She whining a little bit on the highway with just over 1600 lb payload.

 

Nice, lets see a picture of those leaf springs!

 

Dang, I knew I was forgetting something

 

Always get the bump stop pic...I brought home a 1 ton pallet on my 2nd gen...and THEN they did a TSB leaf spring replacement

 

Anybody running 2k lbs payload on the 3rd gen without issues. At just over 1600lbs it was making a metallic whining noise at around 70mph and up.

 

Send it

 

1300 lb today in the bed. Not t bag

 

Leafs like a wet noodle

 

Nah the little Sr punches above its weight class

 

When my 2011 was new I complained about "harsh ride" they installed a much heftier spring pack. Thank you very much.

 

Went ahead and brought it up to 2,000 lb in the bed. Took back roads for about 30 miles home 40-50mph and she did fine. No metallic whining like before on the highway.

Still had good braking but it's nice to be able to use the handbrake as a backup if needed. None of that push button electronic emergency brake nonsense

 

Nope just rear drum brakes nonsense

 

Drum brakes are more resistant to dirt, mud, and debris, which is especially useful for trucks used off-road or in construction environments. The enclosed nature of drum brakes helps protect internal components better than exposed disc brakes. Drum brakes often have simpler and more reliable integrated parking brake mechanisms, which is another reason toyota stuck with them for so long on the tacoma.

 

Indeed they are. They’re also weak. Not the best choice for an overloaded truck.

 

the brakes are definitely tiny on this little guy

 

not sure what happened but after I dropped off this latest load I started getting a pretty significant shake in the rear coming home on the highway going 80mph. Feels like one of the tires is out of balance or something. What do you think I broke on it?

 

Also getting some metallic whine now on the highway at 80mph with no load.

AI says:

1. Metallic Whine on the Highway

This could be due to:

Differential Issues: Overloading or strain could damage the gears or bearings, causing a whining sound—especially under acceleration or at cruising speed.

Wheel Bearings: Excessive weight can accelerate wear. A failing bearing often produces a metallic whine or humming noise.

Transmission or Driveshaft Problems: If the drivetrain was overstressed, you might hear whine from the transmission or universal joints.



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2. Rear-End Shaking After Hauling Load

This could indicate:

Suspension Damage or Sagging: The Tacoma’s suspension may have been pushed past its limit. Check for bent leaf springs or blown shocks.

Driveshaft Imbalance: Overloading or sudden unloading might have thrown the driveshaft out of alignment.

Tire or Wheel Damage: If the tires were underinflated or overloaded, they might have developed flat spots, belt shifts, or damage causing vibration.

Bent Axle or Misalignment: Hauling heavy weight can stress the axle or rear alignment geometry.



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What You Should Do

1. Inspect the rear suspension and shocks for visible damage or sag.


2. Check the differential fluid level and condition.


3. Look at the driveshaft and U-joints for any play or noise.


4. Have the wheel alignment and balance checked.


5. Visit a mechanic or dealership for a full inspection—especially if it's under warranty.

 

Whoa!

I had the TRD Suspension Lift done last month...within a week, I loaded 30 bags of Top Soil which equated to about 600lbs.

My truck dipped about 1.5 inches at most but nothing like your first pic.

My suggestion to me is...if I plan on putting more than max allowed in the bed (990lbs) then I would get beefier leaf springs.

I also drove in S4 so the transmission wasn't always trying to get to 6th gear! lol

 

New Flooring - excellent...

Being old as the hills it took us an entire summer to finish off our place after doing the bedrooms years earlier.

We worked together on weekends and only had enough in us to do 5-6 hours a day.
Took us the entire summer but it's hot as hell here so we weren't missing any outdoor stuff.

If you've done this before you know that some Chris-Christie knee pads are in order.

*** special thanks to my know-it-all-wife who planned it, made special cuts, kept everything in order ***


Before...


After...