Towing 4400lb with 6600lb capacity

Any tips on towing this semi light camper with my 2015 Taco with tow package. Added brake assist, WDH with sway bar. Tows okay locally, but will be going long distance every few months, 500 miles. Looks like the leaf springs are a little stressed. Any thoughts on adding air shocks?

 

Airbags between leaves and frame

 

Thanks, I love my Taco and don't want to go any bigger..like Tundra.

 

Put helper springs on my truck from Hellwig, went from squatting a few inches with a few hundred pounds to maybe an inch or two with the same, ride is still fine.

Many people complain about helper springs sacrificing ride quality FYI, but I barely notice a difference and I actually like the feel of it.

Most cost effective option even if not the best.

To be fair, I have one thing or another weighing my truck down most of the time and a cap on it 24/7. If you tow/haul very rarely and don’t mind the cost, airbags are the best because it will be like they’re not there until you inflate them, just added moving parts and more things to go wrong as a drawback.

Welcome to tacoma world.

 

Where are these airbags actually installed at? I am new to this towing with Taco, so looking for all info I can get. And what are you referring to when you say more things to go wrong, like what are you referring to that would\could go wrong.
Thanks much for info

 

As far as I understand it Airbags are installed on top of the leaf springs instead of the bump stops (which are the little rubber pyramids on top of the leaf springs directly above the axle and held on by the u-bolts that clamp the leaf springs to the axle).

They are inflatable so they can be actuated when you require extra load stabilizing support. This means an electrical outlet to power a motor to run an air compressor, all on-board, or at the minimum hoses and valves so they can be inflated with an off-board pump of the air compressor or bicycle tire pump variety.

The aforementioned is simply more complex than the helper spring, which is an installation of an extra piece of metal spring that augments your existing leaf springs. An inherently simpler design leads me to believe there is less chance of failure.

Also of note the instillation of the helper spring is simpler, but not by a whole lot depending on whether you opt out of the on-board air compressor.

Predominantly the helper spring is set-it-and-forget-it, yet also adjustable by tightening a few nuts if required. Approximately one third the cost of airbags.

Not plugging for helper springs by any means, they just work best for my application of hauling a lot often and having a very limited budget.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

A good go-between are probably sumo springs.

Those are a foam cell alternative for inflatable airbags and install in the same place.

They are %100 set-it-and-forget-it, yet I have heard complaints about stiffened ride quality on par with helper springs regarding those.

 

Firestone Ride Rite air bags and compressor from SDTRUCK Springs $560

 

Thanks much for the info

 

Welcome to TW!