First Tow with Air Lift Bags.

[fivecodys]

Well after two trips towing with my stock 5.7L DC I took the advice of this forum and I installed a set of Air Lift bags. What a difference!

We pulled our fiver up to Shaver Lake which is about 60 miles from where I live and is at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.

There are several very steep and winding roads and I am happy to report that the truck performed very well. The grades are anywhere from 6% to 11% and the truck didn't struggle at all. The tranny and coolant temp gauges stay right at dead center the entire trip.

I have been 'playing' with the Prodigy brake controller, trying to get it set up just right, and I think I finally have it where I wanted.
I had to set the voltage at 12 with the boost set to B1. This seems to be the magic combination for my trailer.

The Air Lift bags I installed really helped stabilize the rear of the truck and all but stopped the 'bounce' I had experienced on previous trips.

I inflated the bags to 30lbs before hitch up and as you can see by the attached pictures there is no sag.

A big THANK YOU to d-lo and the other who convinced me to order the bags.

Bill

[ddbrown17]

Originally Posted by fivecodys

Well after two trips towing with my stock 5.7L DC I took the advice of this forum and I installed a set of Air Lift bags. What a difference!

We pulled our fiver up to Shaver Lake which is about 60 miles from where I live and is at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.

There are several very steep and winding roads and I am happy to report that the truck performed very well. The grades are anywhere from 6% to 11% and the truck didn't struggle at all. The tranny and coolant temp gauges stay right at dead center the entire trip.

I have been 'playing' with the Prodigy brake controller, trying to get it set up just right, and I think I finally have it where I wanted.
I had to set the voltage at 12 with the boost set to B1. This seems to be the magic combination for my trailer.

The Air Lift bags I installed really helped stabilize the rear of the truck and all but stopped the 'bounce' I had experienced on previous trips.

I inflated the bags to 30lbs before hitch up and as you can see by the attached pictures there is no sag.

A big THANK YOU to d-lo and the other who convinced me to order the bags.

Bill

Hi Bill,
Glad to hear everything worked out well for you. I am curious - do you have the P3 brake controller? We're still trying to fine tune ours and currently have it set to 8.2V and Boost 2. Your trailer looks like it might be a little heavier than ours. Ours is 7500 lbs empty and pin weight 1150.

[fivecodys]

Originally Posted by ddbrown17

Hi Bill,
Glad to hear everything worked out well for you. I am curious - do you have the P3 brake controller? We're still trying to fine tune ours and currently have it set to 8.2V and Boost 2. Your trailer looks like it might be a little heavier than ours. Ours is 7500 lbs empty and pin weight 1150.

I have this one: Tekonsha
I don't think it's the P3.

My trailer weighs 7,200 lbs with a 1,000 lbs of pin weight.
One of the reasons we chose this trailer is because of it's light pin weight.

Bill

[JBK23]

Nice glad the tundra can do it's job and do it well

[fivecodys]

Originally Posted by JBK23

Nice glad the tundra can do it's job and do it well

Yep. I got a lot of looks in the campground. I think many were surprised that I was pulling a fifth wheel with the Tundra.

Bill

[Marazzito]

Originally Posted by fivecodys

Yep. I got a lot of looks in the campground. I think many were surprised that I was pulling a fifth wheel with the Tundra.

Bill

I bet I get more looks when I pull up places like the Rubicon or Hollister Hill's where everyone is towing their J**ps with 3/4 ton diesels and I am pulling my FJ40 with my Tacoma (my FJ is heavier than most Heeps, especially the newer ones).

A lot of times they come up to me and ask me how my Tacoma pulls my 40. I even had one guy say "You were behind me the entire way through the mountains... and I was shocked that everytime I looked in my mirrors you were right behind me on those mountain passes." He probably didn't know I was in 3rd gear, but he was still impressed!

You Tundra guys make me want a Tundra. I have a feeling I will trade up if I ever get a travel trailer or a fifth wheel after hearing you guys talk about how well the truck pulls them.

[d-lo]

Lookin' good!