Question from a newbie.
Just bought a 2010 tundra 4x4 with the TRD off road package. I built a custom tent trailer so I can haul my RZR on it. The trailer weighs 2500 pounds dry and about 2800 with all my gear and water on board. The tongue weight is 780 pounds.
The question is, do I need to install air bags on the rear springs (I did this on my old truck, a 07 gmc sierra). I heard that a wieght dist. hitch is not good for off road travel. I also haul around 500 pounds of gear in the bed of the truck.
Any advise would be great!
I tow a 21' toy hauler with a similar tongue weight, maybe slightly more with two large four wheelers. I run a wd hitch and ride rite air bags (firestone). The air bags make the whole rig tow a lot better, the trailer doesn't rock the truck up and down with every bump. If you plan on towing at highway speeds, I would recommend the wd hitch with the air bags and then you can unhook and remove the equilizer bars when you get off road. I highly recommend the air bags though, especially if your load weight varies a lot like mine does depending on if I have four wheelers loaded or not.
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2007 4x4 DC with 5.7L, Linex Bed Liner, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Husky Floor Liners, and Zoomers exhaust.
Definitely get the airbags, for me they made the truck way better towing or not. I never off road and probably never will, well I have gone up and down roads like Pikes Peak. I would be concerned though about the suspension travel in the rear of the truck when towing a trailer off road. Looking at the picture of your set-up, it looks like under the wrong conditions your trailer could hit or get high sided, at least air bags can be inflated and raise the truck in the rear about 1 ½ inch.
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2008 DCLB work truck, diamond plate running boards , Firestone air bags
95 civic HB b18c1 “built” toy
I don't fully understand your setup and weights. That RZR must weigh in at about 1,000 lbs on it's own, and since it's ahead of the trailer axles, it's pretty much all on the tongue, is it not? If you add the trailer tongue weight to that, and 500 lbs in the bed of the truck, you must be in the 2,500 lb payload department. Which is probably do-able, but you clearly would need air bags for that, 10 ply tires, brake controller for the trailer.
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Proud Member CBTMA
Radiant Red 2007 Double Cab Limited w/Graphite Leather Interior
Factory Nav, Sonar, and 10 spkr 440W JBL stereo with Sirius (sweet) Cold Weather Pkg and Block Heater. Brushed SS Stepboards,
Tires: BFG All Terrain T/A KO LT265 65 R 18, Diamondback Tonneau Cover.
Curt Front Receiver, custom 8" extension, & Warn 8000lb winch back/front mountable,
Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller DSP 16,000 lb 5th wheel hitch Firestone Ride Rite 2445 Air Bags
First off nice setup, years ago i had thought about doing the same.
As others have mentioned i would change out the tires to at least "C" rated LT's, add some air bags and a WD Hitch setup. I wouldnt plan on any serious off roading, but with air bags you could disconnect the spring bars of the hitch when you get to the trail. Seriously i doubt that trailer would be much fun to drag around off road.
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old 2007 Tundra DC 8' bed 5.7 4x4
new 2008 ford f350 oil burner
1jeep makes a good point with the airbags and offroad. I have the wireless controller in the cab for my airbags. When I back my trailer into the driveway, I have to disconnect the WDH and deflate the bags so I don't drag the back end. Once the trailer tires clear the initial bumb and incline, I have to air the bags up to 75 psi so the trailer jack on the tongue doesn't drag on the driveway. Without the bags, I would scrape the all the stabilizer jacks off. Used the same technique when we went camping at an unlevel site.
Propbably won't work so well without the in cab controller for the airbags.
1jeep makes a good point with the airbags and offroad. I have the wireless controller in the cab for my airbags. When I back my trailer into the driveway, I have to disconnect the WDH and deflate the bags so I don't drag the back end. Once the trailer tires clear the initial bumb and incline, I have to air the bags up to 75 psi so the trailer jack on the tongue doesn't drag on the driveway. Without the bags, I would scrape the all the stabilizer jacks off. Used the same technique when we went camping at an unlevel site.
Propbably won't work so well without the in cab controller for the airbags.
Tom
That's an excellent rationale for my next upgrade maybe? You could also air up to 100 PSI, drop the stands, deflate and then unhook when the truck drops down.
__________________ [Frankenstein's Monster]
Proud Member CBTMA
Radiant Red 2007 Double Cab Limited w/Graphite Leather Interior
Factory Nav, Sonar, and 10 spkr 440W JBL stereo with Sirius (sweet) Cold Weather Pkg and Block Heater. Brushed SS Stepboards,
Tires: BFG All Terrain T/A KO LT265 65 R 18, Diamondback Tonneau Cover.
Curt Front Receiver, custom 8" extension, & Warn 8000lb winch back/front mountable,
Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller DSP 16,000 lb 5th wheel hitch Firestone Ride Rite 2445 Air Bags
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Thanks for all the input. I have Firestone airbags on the way.
I towed this same set-up with my 2007 Sierra and it pulled really nice (except the truck was a DOG) with the air bags.
BW
Tongue wieght??
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Linear Mode
