Custom spring pack/ airbags/ helpers/ or something else?

[dudeandadog]

My current set-up is pretty sketchy, it consists of a bone stock 2018 tundra with a 1500# (roughly) pop up camper thrown in the back kinda willy nilly. I'm slowly building up the rig as my budget allows and I'm at the point where I have too many options and it's getting overwhelming. For reference the truck is about 5300 lbs empty and around 6880 loaded with a 7k GVWR. So I'm not overweight total, just a bit over payload and rear axle rating. The truck supports the weight okay, I'm not super squatted or resting on bump stops (although it's kinda close, like 3") I'm just looking to improve ride quality, like eliminating the bucking from the rebound and reduce body roll/ improve stability.

Picture to show the level of squat as it currently sits.

 

[SimplyAnAdventure]

I have Logiq Air Bags on my F350 Tremor with a Supertramp camper in the bed. I’m WAY under GVWR and honestly didn’t think I needed bags until I camped with a buddy who had them.

Should have been the first thing I did, once I put them on, the truck handled so much better on the highway and honestly the ride height looks much better too.

Biggest benefit…. When camping I can park and level my truck with the bags! It’s freaking AMAZING.

I am super happy with my Logiq system since it’s plug and play but any independent air bag system with compressor would be equally useful.

I don’t think you’d be disappointed. I also had bags on a Tacoma with a heavy camper and they worked great, but being able to adjust via remote or phone with the onboard compressor really sets these apart.

 

[dudeandadog]

I have Logiq Air Bags on my F350 Tremor with a Supertramp camper in the bed. I’m WAY under GVWR and honestly didn’t think I needed bags until I camped with a buddy who had them.

Should have been the first thing I did, once I put them on, the truck handled so much better on the highway and honestly the ride height looks much better too.

Biggest benefit…. When camping I can park and level my truck with the bags! It’s freaking AMAZING.

I am super happy with my Logiq system since it’s plug and play but any independent air bag system with compressor would be equally useful.

I don’t think you’d be disappointed. I also had bags on a Tacoma with a heavy camper and they worked great, but being able to adjust via remote or phone with the onboard compressor really sets these apart.

This does sound very convenient. I also like the idea of being able to deflate a bag when unloaded to soften things back out. Is the system independently valved? My only experience with any air ride was some adjustable shocks on a 76 Torino that I had hooked to a schrader valve.

 

[MotoDave]

I ran the following on my 2012 Tundra Double Cab 6.5' bed, with FWC Hawk. Generally happy with the ride and performance on an off road, if anything it could have used better shocks. Truck was on 285/75R17 tires (small 34")

Bilstein 5100 shcoks with front spring perch at the middle setting
ICON rear leaf spring kit (https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com...toyota-tundra-rear-spring-expansion-pack-kit/)
AirLift airbags isntalled with Daystar air bag cradles

I started out with just air bags, but ripped a bag after it got over-extended, which made me add the daystar cradles. The cradles eat into uptravel, the ride was harsh until I added the leaf spring kit. I ran this setup with the camper on and off the truck for ~50k miles with no more issues.

 

[rruff]

For reference the truck is about 5300 lbs empty and around 6880 loaded with a 7k GVWR. So I'm not overweight total, just a bit over payload and rear axle rating.

Did you measure the weight? Curb on yours should be 5,700 or more with options, GVWR is 7,200, and axles are 4,000 front and 4,150 rear. Staying under the axle ratings is a good goal...

Since you said "bone stock", I'd recommend LT tires, better shocks with a < 2" front lift, and... springs, rather than bags. Tried bags; they were bouncy, and the cradle limited up travel like MotoDave mentioned.

I bought a kit from Boise Spring that replaces the thick overload spring with a pack of 4 leafs on each side. They supposedly make a set for +1500 lbs added which is what I ordered, but they didn't reduce the sag much... which isn't surprising considering how thin they are... 8mm 9mm. Anyway, I ended up buying a pair of long 10mm leafs from Michigan Truck Spring and installed those. Now I'm about where I want and the ride is nice... but I bet I only have ~1,000 lbs added to the rear axle and I plan to increase that. So I may be adding yet another leaf for 9 on each side!

Basically it looks like a Alcan or Deaver pack now, with many thin leafs. That is what you want. Thicker leafs or ones with more curve will increase your ride height, but they will get over stressed and sag if you really use them. More leafs with the stock curve is best. With hindsight I wish I'd bought a 2nd gen Tundra take off leaf pack and cut them to taste (no overload). Or maybe bought full packs from MTS and cut those; ~$500 with shipping. Their overload appears to curve down quite a bit more than OEM, so it might be useful. Or if your springs are old and worn, your could start with their HD pack (~$650), and see how that does. Or if you don't wish to fiddle, and money isn't too tight, see Deaver or Alcan and spend ~$1500.

If you like to camp in remote places, then get larger diameter LT tires for ground clearance. There are sizes that fit well on your stock rims, like 295/70r18 and 285/75r18.

Bilstein 5100s are a good low budget choice for shocks. I like my Ironman FCPs a lot, but they changed them and I don't know about the new ones.

 

[SimplyAnAdventure]

This does sound very convenient. I also like the idea of being able to deflate a bag when unloaded to soften things back out. Is the system independently valved? My only experience with any air ride was some adjustable shocks on a 76 Torino that I had hooked to a schrader valve.

Super convenient! It’s definitely nice to be able to run the bags @10# with the camper off and 60# loaded up. They are valved separately (the Logiq compressor takes care of that). I would recommend never recommend bags that are linked, they do the opposite of help you in corners. You definitely can do two individual schrader valves (that’s what the Tacoma had) but hooked to a compressor is beyond convenient.

 

[Datsun Man2]

I need a little more information. I understand what you want to do, but I need more information. To specify I need to know how big the Camper is. Does it fit perfectly in the bed where you can close the tailgate? If not how far does it hang out? Pictures are great too.

 

[Gravelette]

I need a little more information. I understand what you want to do, but I need more information. To specify I need to know how big the Camper is. Does it fit perfectly in the bed where you can close the tailgate? If not how far does it hang out? Pictures are great too.

Why?

 

[dudeandadog]

It rolled the scrap yard scale at around 5500 unloaded iirc and 6880 is for sure the loaded number with the camper, myself, all the gear, the dog. and a half tank of fuel. I was definitely trying to stay under the 7k GVWR the door sticker says is allowable. I have a set of E rated 285/75/18 A/T tires waiting in the wings for my current Chinesiums to wear out. I definitely looked at the 5100s and was recommended to OME so more research is probably involved. I'm concerned about supporting the weight and eliminating the squat more so than ride comfort. I drove a mack superliner, it can't get much rougher than that
I'm gonna start with the Firestone ride bags and take it from there.

 

[dudeandadog]

I need a little more information. I understand what you want to do, but I need more information. To specify I need to know how big the Camper is. Does it fit perfectly in the bed where you can close the tailgate? If not how far does it hang out? Pictures are great too

Here are the specs. It hangs out about 6" beyond the box but I have it resting on 4X4 that are placed over the bed supports so the tailgate is not taking any of the weight. I've also removed a few things like the water tank so the wet weight it gives will be a little heavier than what I'm working with.

 

[Datsun Man2]

Here are the specs. It hangs out about 6" beyond the box but I have it resting on 4X4 that are placed over the bed supports so the tailgate is not taking any of the weight.

So I can't speak for the Tundra, but I would highly recommend two things. First and foremost look in the Owners Manual and see what Toyota states for putting slide in campers in the bed. Depending on the configuration it may be a bad idea. Second I would see if you can get a different model where it doesn't hang out. This will help ensure less weight hangs behind the axle(look at how the Ram Trucks have handled the slide in campers as to why I say this stuff).

As for what you are wanting to get the ride quality up there while keeping things simple, I would consider Road Active Suspension for a start. I stead of relying on Air to hold, you have an active spring helping the load. Many that have used them have been happy.

 

[dudeandadog]

look at how the Ram Trucks have handled the slide in campers as to why I say this stuff).

Oh I'm familiar, I was terrified at 1st after seeing the carnage. The COG is actually just off center of the axle with the way it sits so I'm not too concerned, and I've talked to a guy with a much heavier (9k total) setup on the same truck and he's doing okay so I put those worries to rest since I'm technically still under max GVWR, I know I'm probably cooking bearings in a half ton axle but it is what it is, I'm not really in a position to purchase a bigger truck. I looked in to the RAS but it seems like it would be 1 step forward and 2 steps back, meaning it will help support but it will also be much stiffer. I think when it's all said and done I'll probably end up with a progressive spring pack from Alcan but im going to try the bags 1st.

 

[rruff]

It rolled the scrap yard scale at around 5500 unloaded iirc ... I was definitely trying to stay under the 7k GVWR the door sticker says is allowable.

4wd with the 5.7? It's odd that your GVWR would be lower, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of logic with the ratings.

There are reports of rear axle bearing issues with Tundras, but from what I could make out it doesn't have anything to do with load... it's just as likely to happen on a vehicle that never carried a load. Tolerances causing preload, probably. There are many people who've carried bigger loads than we have without issues, anyway. Basically the same truck from 2007 to 2021, so lots of data.

 

[dudeandadog]

4wd with the 5.7? It's odd that your GVWR would be lower, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of logic with the ratings.

2WD, 5.7 crewmax I call it the SR5+ because it was ordered with very random options that I've only seen on higher trims

 

[dudeandadog]