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1Gen-TundraGeneral discussion forum for the 2000 to 2006 Toyota Tundra.
This is a discussion thread titled "2004 Tundra Payload", within the 1Gen-Tundra forum, part of the Truck Forums category.
I have a 2004 Tundra Access Cab 4x4 and need to occasionally haul 1,800 pounds or so. And it needs to be in the bed, so a trailer is out. I've done some hauling with it already and it is an unnerving and scary experience. My question to the group is this: If I was to get airbags and LT tires, could I safely haul this amount of weight, or should I just look to step up to a new Tundra?
At this time, I have Firestone Destination A/T P rated tires and the stock springs. They are definitely not up to the task. My local Toyota mechanic told me that he has seen better springs on lawn tractors than on the first generation Tundra's. Is this truck up to hauling that kind of weight?
Thanks for any help that you can provide.
It depends on how frequently you haul this weight.
Even if you bought an 07 Tundra, with the extended cab configuration its going to eat into your payload.
I think going to the LT tires and air bags or maybe supersprings would be the way to go.
You aren't far above your max payload, so those two upgrades should be sufficient to keep your sanity.
__________________ The Tundra is a good single guy's truck. Its pretty, it doesn't rattle too much and its fast. Now I just need to find a woman who matches in all those respects.
My man concern with carrying that much weight would be damaging the frame. I assume loaded up the truck sits on the bumpstops? My truck sags a good amount when I hitch my trailer, and thats only 1100lbs. on the hitch. I say step it up to the next tundra, or reconsider a small trailer. Airbags will only help your truck stay level, they wont help the stress your putting on the rear of the frame.
FWIW, the '07 Tundras typically have the same or LESS payload capacity than your '04 model. Now that's changing everything.
A lot depends on how you're loading it. You want as much weight as you can get to the front of the bed. Weight in the bed is completely different than putting weight on the hitch. It sounds like you shouldn't be TOO far over the max payload capacity so the frame should be able to handle the weight, even if the soft suspension cannot. So airbags would likely help. You're probably also close to the specs on your tires (assuming you're close to the specs on payload) but LT tire will handle the weight better. You could try to stay with your P rated tires and just air them to the max.
I guess it comes down to how often you're going to move this much weight and how far. None of the 1/2 ton trucks can easily handle that much weight so you're really needing a 3/4 ton to do it right. But it would probably make sense to try to beef your truck up a bit if it's not a common occurrence.
I have an '04 TSS DC. Recently I bought a pallet of rocks ... go ahead and make all jokes about what kinda fool would buy a load of rocks---that would be me ... that weighed right at 2000 lbs. I removed the rocks from the pallet/wire cage they were sold in, and laid them in the bed of my truck with the greater part of the mass forward in the bed so that most of the load was forward of the rear axle. The truck was squatted pretty low, but everything rode just fine for the 40 miles or so I had to go to get home. It was the first time I discovered how the rear brake compensator works ... and it works just fine.
I've been eyeballing the Hellwig helper springs, states a 1500 load stabilizer spring for increased payloads in the bed. good luck and let us know how you make out.
You know, I re-read my original post and realized that I did a very poor job of explaining what I am trying to do. I haul about 1,400 pounds in the bed of the truck and about 400 or so more in the cab in the form of people, animals and various other things for a total load of about 1,800 to 1,900 pounds. I didn't mean to imply that the entire 1,800 pounds was in the bed. I was talking about the entire 1,800 pound payload split between the load in the bed and people in the cab.
Sorry about that. I guess that's what I get when I post when I'm tired.
You know, I re-read my original post and realized that I did a very poor job of explaining what I am trying to do. I haul about 1,400 pounds in the bed of the truck and about 400 or so more in the cab in the form of people, animals and various other things for a total load of about 1,800 to 1,900 pounds. I didn't mean to imply that the entire 1,800 pounds was in the bed. I was talking about the entire 1,800 pound payload split between the load in the bed and people in the cab.
Sorry about that. I guess that's what I get when I post when I'm tired.
i don't really consider that over loaded.
I often carry 20 bundles of shingles in my truck, they are about 80 pounds each, plus me, plus tools, sometimes a passenger and it hauls it just fine.
__________________ The Tundra is a good single guy's truck. Its pretty, it doesn't rattle too much and its fast. Now I just need to find a woman who matches in all those respects.
Well again I think it comes down to how you're loading it. If it's something you can't load toward the cab, then it's going to haul a lot different. I've had at least 1,400# of patio stones in my truck and they were mainly stacked forward of the rear axle. It actually felt quite fine and didn't squat it much at all. It's also possible you have well worn shocks which could be compromising your handling when loaded. Certainly doesn't require a truck upgrade IMHO, unless you're doing this all the time.
The easiest and cheapest upgrade to the rear end would be Timbrens. They simply replace the factory bumpstops with a larger, more flexible rubber stop. Reduces the sag quite a bit and only come into play with a very heavy load - the rest of the time your ride will feel just as comfortable as it is now.
1400 in the bed should be no problem, except for a little squatting. Do a search on the forum about airbags, I highly advise against it, one guy had airbags and put a heavy camper on the bed of his truck and snapped the frame in half, right behind where the airbags were mounted. If the squat bothers you that much I recommend some aftermarket leaf springs.
Thanks for the input on airbags. In fact, a slide in camper is exactly what I am hauling in my truck. The sticker on it says 1,280 pounds, but with other stuff put in it, I am sure it is around 1,400 pounds, and with people and other animals in the cab, the total payload is around 1,800-1,900 pounds. So, while the camper has most of it's weight forward of the rear axle, a fair amount is still hanging over the back of the bed. My fear is a bent or broken frame. I know the way it is now, it just can't handle the load.
Good thing I didn't listen to the camper salesman who tried to sell me an even bigger camper. I knew the truck couldn't handle it.
I think I may just have to get the new Tundra. I just can't bring myself to get one of the big three...
2004 Tundra Payload
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