You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
TowingDiscussions related to towing and towing products.
This is a discussion thread titled "05 Tacoma Towing upgrades", within the Towing forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Does anyone know of any companies that are currently manufacturing either air bag suspension or "helper springs" for the 05 DC Tacoma Prerunners?
I'm currently towing a 22' Terry LW enclosed trailer and I'm not very pleased with how soft the rear suspension feels when towing.
Check with Wheeler's off-road in Oregon. He advertises over there to the left so just click away. If you don't see an '05 specific part there, just drop Gary Wheeler an email and ask if he can get one or point you to where you can.
__________________ "Si vis pacem, para bellum"-Vegetius
2005 Tacoma Doublecab TRD Offroad 4X4 shortbed - Modifications - Fog light mod, Debadged, Black Toyota grille emblem, Map Light Mod, DRL mod
Factory Accessories - Tacoma Bedmat, Extra set of D-rings installed in front bed bolts, Extra set of factory tie downs
Optional Options - FilterMag, Fumoto valve, Westin Suregrip running boards w/LED lights, WeatherTech Floorliners, WeatherTech window visor vents, Prestige remote car starter w/keyless entry, SilverStar headlight and turn signal bulbs, Toytek 2" lift, Muth heated signal mirrors, WAAG grille guard (center only, I'm old school), Taillights tinted by JonsTintedTails.com, Anthracite FJ Cruiser wheels w/ 265/75r16 BFGoodrich A/T
Does anyone know of any companies that are currently manufacturing either air bag suspension or "helper springs" for the 05 DC Tacoma Prerunners?
I'm currently towing a 22' Terry LW enclosed trailer and I'm not very pleased with how soft the rear suspension feels when towing.
The most dangerous thing you could do is firm up the rear suspension with an airbag or other suspension enhancement.
When you hook up the trailer, 3 things happen to the truck's suspension (not just the one thing you think is happening). First, all the tongue weight goes on the rear (that's the one most people think of). Second, that tongue weight actually takes weight off (unweights) the front suspension through a teeter-totter effect with the truck's rear axle acting as the pivot. Finally, the weight that comes off the front suspension gets transferred back to the rear suspension and compounds the problem in the back. Soooo, what you are seeing is the result of a lifted front end and a very badly overloaded rear suspension. What you aren't seeing is a front suspension that has much less weight on the front tires so steering capability and front braking are substantially diminished.
If you try to combat what you think is only a rear suspension problem with air bags, you will only lift the rear up to be level with the front. But you will not be doing a thing to combat the lifted front or transfer of weight from front to rear. And because the front is actually higher than before you hooked up the trailer, the rear will be higher than normal as well when you get the truck "level". Because the rear is higher than normal, the Brake Proportioning Valve on the rear axle will almost completely be closed. That in turn means the truck's front brakes have to do nearly all the braking...and they have to do it with greatly reduced tire friction to the road. Sooo you now have a truck with an overloaded rear axle, braking only from the front tires (means greatly accelerated front brake wear and potential for overheating) and greatly reduced steering effectiveness and braking power. I don't think you could come up with a more dangerous combination if you actually tried.
The proper way to handle the trailer induced sag is to use a Weight Distributing Hitch. A WDH has spring bars that, when properly adjusted, transfer about a third of the tongue weight to the truck's front suspension, a third to the rear, and a third back to the trailer. So, given a trailer tongue weight of 750 lbs...instead of having about 1000 lbs on the truck's rear suspension (no wonder it sags!), only about 250 lbs goes on the rear and another 250 lbs goes on the front (instead of 300 lbs being taken off). The truck does drop...but only a small amount...and it will drop equally front and rear so it stays level. And because there's more (instead of less) weight on the front tires, steering effectiveness and front braking are improved. And finally, because the rear suspension is somewhat compressed, the BPV opens more and the rear brakes do more of the truck's braking and your poor front brakes don't get overheated. Bottom line is that using a WDH is a win/win/win solution.
__________________ Ray
Natural White '03 Access Cab V8 SR5 4X4 with TRD Off Road Suspension, Limited Slip Differential, and Towing Package
Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Hellwig Anti-Roll bar, Prodigy Trailer Brake Controller, Autometer Z-Series Transmission Temperature Gauge, Magnefine Transmission Filter
Utility & Misc Mods: Genuine Toyota OEM Step (Nerf) bars, Peragon Tonneau Cover, TracRac Rack and Rail System, Muth Signal Mirrors, Pop&Lock tailgate lock, TruSpeed speedometer calibrator, "$20" RS-3200 Upgrade, Auto-Dimming mirror w/ Temp and Compass, Clear/Red/Clear Taillights with Silverstar Signal bulbs, 3M Clear Bra
I second the recommendation for the WDH... I use my V6 4Runner to tow a 5000# trailer/race car. With the stock hitch, it would lower the back of the truck and raise the front. Other than looking goofy, it handled like crap, stopped like crap, and did I mention it looked goofy? With the WDH, it leveled the truck out and greatly improved the feel of the truck/trailer. Definately money well spent.
I second the recommendation for the WDH... I use my V6 4Runner to tow a 5000# trailer/race car. With the stock hitch, it would lower the back of the truck and raise the front. Other than looking goofy, it handled like crap, stopped like crap, and did I mention it looked goofy? With the WDH, it leveled the truck out and greatly improved the feel of the truck/trailer. Definately money well spent.
I recently sold my 19FT Starcraft TT that I pulled mant times with ease behind my V8 Tundra. Previous to the TT and Tundra, I had a 99 Prerunner. I towed a small tent trailer up to 7500 ft elevation no problem. When I shopped for the TT, I inquired about WDH for the Taco. The owners manual said not to do it. I talked to a Toyota tech and he had seen broken Taco frames from WDH's. Best check your owners manual regarding WDH. The frame on the 4 Runner may be a bit stronger though since it has more body to deal with.
Best check your owners manual regarding WDH. The frame on the 4 Runner may be a bit stronger though since it has more body to deal with.
BTW, it is recomended with the 2005
I've got an '03 4Runner, so I should be okay as well.. same frame as the new Tacos... but I'll check my manual...
But broken frame or not, it sure tows a lot better with the WDH...
edit: found one, but I still don't see how it works.
Those long things that stick out rearward from the ball mount of the WDH are actually springs (formally called spring bars). When you hook up a WDH, those spring bars are pulled upward toward brackets on the trailer's tongue by the short chains you can see in the picture.
These spring bars sorta act like the handles on a wheelbarrow...when they are lifted upwards by the chains they lift the rear of the tow vehicle upward (taking weight off the rear suspension...which is good) and push the front of the tow vehicle downward (which is also good). The force on the trailer's tongue from lifting the bars gets put on the trailer tires (which is usually not a problem).
The net effect is that instead of all of the tongue weight going on the rear suspension of the tow vehicle, that tongue weight is distributed about equally between the tow vehicle's rear and front suspension...and the trailer suspension.
Hope this answered your question...if not ask again.
__________________ Ray
Natural White '03 Access Cab V8 SR5 4X4 with TRD Off Road Suspension, Limited Slip Differential, and Towing Package
Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Hellwig Anti-Roll bar, Prodigy Trailer Brake Controller, Autometer Z-Series Transmission Temperature Gauge, Magnefine Transmission Filter
Utility & Misc Mods: Genuine Toyota OEM Step (Nerf) bars, Peragon Tonneau Cover, TracRac Rack and Rail System, Muth Signal Mirrors, Pop&Lock tailgate lock, TruSpeed speedometer calibrator, "$20" RS-3200 Upgrade, Auto-Dimming mirror w/ Temp and Compass, Clear/Red/Clear Taillights with Silverstar Signal bulbs, 3M Clear Bra
Hello Taco 5: New to these forums but i found air bags on the web that sure make a differance. They are made by firestone under the brand of air rite i believe. They are a bolt on unit that dosen't take much effort to get accomplished. Good Luck Dave
Taco 5 me again. I am using the air bags in conjunction with the wdh and they sure help on the cornering and sideways sway. I too would never rely solely on air bags with so much energy available at the hitch when hooked up to a travel trailer or the like. Good Luck Dave
05 Tacoma Towing upgrades
NEVER use air bags to combat trailer induced sag
I forgot the 4-Runner has 2 years on the Taco. I did like the WDH. It made it feel more like one long vehicle instead of pulling a load.
Linear Mode
