Towing with non-TSB springs

My wife and I are looking to purchase our first boat. We have our eyes on a 19' Sea Ray -- boat weights ~2500lbs + trailer and cargo would be over 3000. Anyway, I have a 2008 PreRunner with the factory towing package but I have the original spring pack. I know these are terrible.

My truck is part of the new recall they are doing (new spring pack maybe?) but who knows when/what the fix will be. I am looking at adding the Firestone Ride Rites air bags to the rear. Would they be sufficient with my original springs for towing a boat? Or should I purchase new spring packs instead?

Thanks

 

I would let Toyota do the recall first, then add ride rites if you still feel you need them (which you likely will, even the TSB springs are junk).

 

I cannot comment on the ride rite air bags, but I can comment on towing with the 2008 original spring pack. I towed a z28 camaro that came in at 6000 lbs on the dot with the trailer. I saw very minimal sag and the truck felt very stable. I was impressed.

Although, my 2008 was only 3 years old when I did that 4 years ago. Your springs may be a little worse for wear than mine were at the time.

 

This would be the ideal situation but my wife wants to make the purchase soon and Toyota is still dragging their feet with any real information on the fix and time frame.

 

Wow that's impressive. I've hauled a few heavy loads (mulch, wood, etc) and pulled a pair of jetskis in the past and it wasn't too bad .. I just don't want to take any chances with a boat.

 

The springs you have will work, you just might hit the bump stops more frequently than you may like. If you want to make the purchase soon, go for it and see how the truck does. You could have an experience like posted above and not need to do anything. People have had very mixed experiences with Toyota springs. You can always just add the Ride Rites later.

 

Add the air bags and your suspension will handle the boat fine.

 

We pulled our Hideout with non-TSB 3 leaf packs last year, it did fine. Bottomed out on any speed bumps but made it where we were going.

New frame should come with tsb pack this month, we'll see about airbags after this summer.

 

Your stock leafs will work. Just gotta make sure the tongue weight is good.

 

We pull a camper with tongue wt. of probably 400+ lbs using the stock springs on a 2007 Pre-Runner. It definitely requires a WDH hitch. That or airbags, but the I preferred the WDH so as to lessen risk of overloading on the rear axle with extra cargo and such.