New Towing Issue...Input Please

[AVService]

I have an 01 Long Bed V6 basic working Tundra and I love it.
I tow small Fiberglass Trailers as they are very light and durable and seem to be a good match for the Tundra.

I keep upgrading though and now I am up to a 17' Casita unit that of course weighs in as the heaviest one I have yet had.
The tounge weight has gone up considerably with this one and the trailer wants to pull the rear end of the Tundra down.
I put on an inverted tube and ball to level it out some but it still is a little too much for the rear of the truck.
I think I am on the edge of needing a WDH and really do not want to go there if not needed.

I have the stock shocks and wonder if I can augment my capacity or achieve easier level towing by going with some better/heavier duty shocks?
I also would look at Airbags but I am not thinking it is my first step?

Any Thoughts?

I have also been looking for V8 Tundra longbeds as another option but they are not too easy to find.

Thanks
Ed

[music]

You either need supplemental springs (air bags, overload spring, etc.) or a WDH system. For a ball-mount trailer, the WDH system is preferred, since it redistributes the weight. Shocks are dampening devices, not "load carrying".

[JD and Beastlet]

Remember too that your rear axle is essentially the fulcrum of a big lever... the more tongue weight applied, the less weight on the front suspension. Airbags or stiffer springs may help level the truck but will neither lighten the load on your rear suspension nor increase the load on your front suspension... to do that you need WDH.

[nomadic]

i would say WDH i don't know much about 1g but you have to many pounds on there. i would say between air bags and WDH you might be able to do the WDH for less going used. i find a WDH makes the trailer tow better, and if you do not have a sway bar it is a good time to get one. i looked up the Casita TR they are very nice looking.

[lswartz]

To much tongue weight is a problem unless you use a WDH. I have a WDH (Reese) but don't use the bars as my front bumper only rises 1 inch. Better yet, weigh your boat & also weigh just the tongue weight & check with you truck specs.

[AVService]

Thanks for the replies so far.
I am somewhat confused though as my Tounge weight does not seem over the top from the spec?

Anyway,I stumbled across a used 01 reg cab with under 50k and a V8 and 4wd and traded in my beloved v6 this week.
Hoping the extra stoutness of the new truck helps my towing?

Also is it conceivable to anyone here that my mpg may increase with the bigger motor having to work less hard?
Many have suggested this can happen.

Thanks
Ed

[Tankerhank]

I pulled with my '00 Tundra 4.7 V8 for years, I also added over-load springs to keep the truck on the level. Check out Hellwig springs, for a couple hundred bucks you can fix your leveling issue.

As for gas mileage, it was never great with the 4.7.