Let's talk trucks

[e30addict]

The turbo diesel is though, spec says 13k!!!

Become a bit of a Toyota car convert. Although I find the new Tacoma a total turnoff in about 3-4 different ways. Is the Tundra work a damn? I guess the 3rd gen Tundra has been out long enough to consider.

The max tow on the baby Dmax trucks is 13k, which most don't have. You'd be looking for package NHT on the build and they come with 3.73 gears as well. Supposedly no real difference in MPG real world. Standard tow capacity is somewhere in the 9k range, but you run out of payload pretty fast in a high content crew cab. My double cab midgrade has a payload around 1500 lbs for example. The rear suspension is soft as puppy shit. I'd want airbags to tow heavyish.

I would think the hybrid tundra would be a solid tow vehicle (437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque), but no actual experience with it. Cabin is large and nicely updated. I think they only recalled the non-hybrid engines.

I passed on the Tundra Hybrid because the mileage is shit. If it came close to the baby diesel GM has I'd most likely have bought it, but a 5.3L gas gets similar mileage. Toyota chases HP in the hybrid trucks instead of MPG, where I feel like they could do both if they really wanted. I still kinda want a last gen with 5.7L if I don't care about MPG.

The twin turbo six they recalled is used in both versions of the Tundra, among other TM models as well.

[xrocket21]

Whipple has been ordered!!! 12-14 week lead time....

[ZX-12R]

Whipple has been ordered!!! 12-14 week lead time....[/IMG]

I'll be interested in how this turns out for you as it's been floating around in the back of my head even before I bought my F250. Do you have a twin battery, twin alternator setup? My truck has them and I'm concerned about fitment.

[xrocket21]

I'll be interested in how this turns out for you as it's been floating around in the back of my head even before I bought my F250. Do you have a twin battery, twin alternator setup? My truck has them and I'm concerned about fitment.

I do not have dual batts or dual alternators. I'm not looking forward to the install, I believe it will take an entire weekend of pretty hard work. I ordered a topside creeper to help. Definitely gonna need to find some help to lower the blower on top of the motor! I do not look forward to wiggling it in and hoping that nothing falls in the motor or a line gets pinched or a gasket slips....

Will also be a bummer to have to run 93 exclusively again, but oh well. I really look forward to the extra power for fun and towing! I'm curious how gas mileage will be affected too. Gonna be a long wait till I get it this fall.

[RandyO]

Yeah, what a beast! 255 HP! Wowee!

-there's Clydesdale horses and there's Thoroughbred horses. I don't think 454 is available anyway unless old

[nhbubba]

I am putting air helpers in everything I ever own again ever. Pickup or econobox, it doesn't matter. I am dumb with trailers and loads. I tear up struts, then tires. Firestone bag kits are too cheap not to bother with.

Am I wrong that 1500lbs payload for this is plenty? With a double axle trailer I don't expect to put that much load on the trucks axles.

Seems like plenty of 5.3L Silverados out there to pick from. I hear they were popular.

[RandyO]

I am putting air helpers in everything I ever own again ever. Pickup or econobox, it doesn't matter. I am dumb with trailers and loads. I tear up struts, then tires. Firestone bag kits are too cheap not to bother with.

Am I wrong that 1500lbs payload for this is plenty? With a double axle trailer I don't expect to put that much load on the trucks axles.

Seems like plenty of 5.3L Silverados out there to pick from. I hear they were popular.

most stress would be on brakes, even with controller & trailer brakes

[e30addict]

I am putting air helpers in everything I ever own again ever. Pickup or econobox, it doesn't matter. I am dumb with trailers and loads. I tear up struts, then tires. Firestone bag kits are too cheap not to bother with.

Am I wrong that 1500lbs payload for this is plenty? With a double axle trailer I don't expect to put that much load on the trucks axles.

Seems like plenty of 5.3L Silverados out there to pick from. I hear they were popular.

Depends on what your plans are. With 4 adults and a 3k boat on the hook I don't have much left for other gear in the bed, technically speaking.

I've had 7k on a trailer behind it and the power and brakes aren't the issue, the suspension is. The bags would be a game changer there.

I also did an experiment with a 2k pallet of pellets in the bed. Yeah, not doing that again.

My experience coming from a 2500, that i could do whatever I wanted with, was that a modern 1500 needs upgrades and watching what you do to make it enjoyable for me to load it and use it to the max.

I rarely do that in reality with this truck, so I'm happy overall with the purchase, but it's a change from the older days/trucks when payload didn't really matter and if it fit it shipped. The new stuff is engineered to be so much closer to the limit to make the spec sheets look good.

[e30addict]

-there's Clydesdale horses and there's Thoroughbred horses. I don't think 454 is available anyway unless old

No, but the 6.0 and 4 speed in the older HD trucks is a beast of a workhorse, but thirsty. The new 6.6L gas with a 10 speed tis pretty sick combo too. Ford's Godzilla big block gives diesels a run for their money now too.

[Mustang]

Depends on what your plans are. With 4 adults and a 3k boat on the hook I don't have much left for other gear in the bed, technically speaking.

I've had 7k on a trailer behind it and the power and brakes aren't the issue, the suspension is. The bags would be a game changer there.

I also did an experiment with a 2k pallet of pellets in the bed. Yeah, not doing that again.

My experience coming from a 2500, that i could do whatever I wanted with, was that a modern 1500 needs upgrades and watching what you do to make it enjoyable for me to load it and use it to the max.

I rarely do that in reality with this truck, so I'm happy overall with the purchase, but it's a change from the older days/trucks when payload didn't really matter and if it fit it shipped. The new stuff is engineered to be so much closer to the limit to make the spec sheets look good.

Speaking of...just went from a 2024 Silverado 2500 diesel to a 2024 Silverado 1500 5.3L. Bumper pull 26' toy hauler ~8500 lbs loaded; using the same WDH on both. Obviously the 5.3 doesn't accelerate as quickly as the diesel, having less than half the torque - but I am shocked at how easily blown around the 1500 seems to be compared to the 2500. I experience, as expected, more wallowing on the smaller truck on California's lovely roads... Am I likely imagining being blown around more, or is the smaller truck that much more susceptible? Would airbags help the porpoising considerably?

[RandyO]

I also did an experiment with a 2k pallet of pellets in the bed. Yeah, not doing that again.
.

I bought a pallet of cement blocks, took me 3 heavy load trips, if there's ever a next time, the purchase will be from someone who delivers

[jimmycapp]

I am putting air helpers in everything I ever own again ever. Pickup or econobox, it doesn't matter. I am dumb with trailers and loads. I tear up struts, then tires. Firestone bag kits are too cheap not to bother with.

Am I wrong that 1500lbs payload for this is plenty? With a double axle trailer I don't expect to put that much load on the trucks axles.

Seems like plenty of 5.3L Silverados out there to pick from. I hear they were popular.

Ram and tundra have factory air bag option. Not sure about Silverado.

[e30addict]

Speaking of...just went from a 2024 Silverado 2500 diesel to a 2024 Silverado 1500 5.3L. Bumper pull 26' toy hauler ~8500 lbs loaded; using the same WDH on both. Obviously the 5.3 doesn't accelerate as quickly as the diesel, having less than half the torque - but I am shocked at how easily blown around the 1500 seems to be compared to the 2500. I experience, as expected, more wallowing on the smaller truck on California's lovely roads... Am I likely imagining being blown around more, or is the smaller truck that much more susceptible? Would airbags help the porpoising considerably?

You're 100% being blown around more, not imagining it. The towed load outweighs the tow vehicle by more then it did with the 2500 and the suspension is more compromised towards comfort then capability in the 1500.

My truck with just me and my normal everyday crap in it tips the scales at 6k, so figure yours is somewhere around there as well give or take. If you have 8500 lbs behind you then you have more energy trying to influence you from behind then the truck itself. Tail wagging the dog at play here. The other difference is that a 26' trailer also has a long lever arm for that energy to effect the truck through and a smaller truck is going to feel a bigger difference.

Airbags would help with control for sure. The way I look at it the constant weight changes on the steer axle as the rear moves around too much causes constant little corrections and that "busy" feeling as steering loads and geometry changes up front. Firestone airbags are a few hundred and a pretty quick install. Dunno if it's worth it for you or not since "feelings" and comfort levels are so subjective, but there is more to them then just marketing gimmicks.

[RandyO]

You're 100% being blown around more, not imagining it. The towed load outweighs the tow vehicle by more then it did with the 2500 and the suspension is more compromised towards comfort then capability in the 1500.

My truck with just me and my normal everyday crap in it tips the scales at 6k, so figure yours is somewhere around there as well give or take. If you have 8500 lbs behind you then you have more energy trying to influence you from behind then the truck itself. Tail wagging the dog at play here. The other difference is that a 26' trailer also has a long lever arm for that energy to effect the truck through and a smaller truck is going to feel a bigger difference.

Airbags would help with control for sure. The way I look at it the constant weight changes on the steer axle as the rear moves around too much causes constant little corrections and that "busy" feeling as steering loads and geometry changes up front. Firestone airbags are a few hundred and a pretty quick install. Dunno if it's worth it for you or not since "feelings" and comfort levels are so subjective, but there is more to them then just marketing gimmicks.

how do airbags work ? do they add preload ?

wondering, I've been known to trailer quite a bit behind my UTV that weighs in at 1050 + driver, cargo maybe 1400 or so, is rated to tow 1500, but I assume they were thinking slower speeds, not the 45mph on the street I have done, under acceleration, no real issues, but slowing down, especially downhill steep grade on a gravel road, ya get pushed around a bit

[e30addict]

how do airbags work ? do they add preload ?

wondering, I've been known to trailer quite a bit behind my UTV that weighs in at 1050 + driver, cargo maybe 1400 or so, is rated to tow 1500, but I assume they were thinking slower speeds, not the 45mph on the street I have done, under acceleration, no real issues, but slowing down, especially downhill steep grade on a gravel road, ya get pushed around a bit

Think of them as adding helper springs except you can easily control the spring rate by adjusting air pressure. You can have the "stock" ride empty if you wish and then you can add air as desired if you're going to load the vehicle up and want the extra help they'll provide.

[RandyO]

Think of them as adding helper springs except you can easily control the spring rate by adjusting air pressure. You can have the "stock" ride empty if you wish and then you can add air as desired if you're going to load the vehicle up and want the extra help they'll provide.

ok, so instead of preload, it changes the rate, can you get them for struts ?

[e30addict]

ok, so instead of preload, it changes the rate, can you get them for struts ?

https://www.firestoneairide.com/automotive/aftermarket/

[loudbeard]

ok, so instead of preload, it changes the rate, can you get them for struts ?

Typically on a solid axle they’re installed on top of the axle and bolted to the frame rail above it.

[nhbubba]

On coil sprung cars like my old VW they were a ~$100 kit that took maybe 30 minutes to install. In a few minutes with a bicycle pump I could put the car back at correct ride height after loading the everlovingshit out of it. I believe they would have extended the life of my shocks too. It seems they don't have that kit (coil-rite) for strut cars or our van... which I didn't think was struts in the rear. :headscratch:

Looking again the solution for half ton pickups is a much more substantial kit @ ~5x the price. Still, for $500, seems maybe worth it. Dunno if you can inflate those bags with a bicycle pump. Guessing a gas station inflator would do though.. ..or are you intended to have an onboard air compressor keeping them inflated?

If $500 fixes it, I don't see any need to go for a Ram or specially equipped anything just for that. IIRC the Ram 1500's that had it were fairly select, fairly high-trim.

MPGes is not my primary concern. But I remember now how much Rada's truck chugged towing a simple box trailer. Cannot imagine it makes for an excellent camper tower. IIRC I have a few people I know that traded out of Tundras because of that.

Silverado/GM 1/2 ton still leads my list if for no other reason than it is what I know.

Or should I be looking 3/4 ton for this job? This isn't a forever vehicle. Only intend to own it for a few years and it may likely be a 3rd vehicle for us. We don't have use or space for a full-size pickup permanently.

[e30addict]

The options I've seen include on board air with remote adjustments on the fly to simple Schrader valve setups. Air pressure isn't high at all.

[loudbeard]

Yeah, you would definitely want to run with an OBA setup and remote control.

I want to add it to my truck anyway with a 5 gallon tank.

[Paul_E_D]

I like Sumo type springs. They act like airbags without the fuss and install easy.

[Mustang]

When I had airbags in my Wranglers, I just inflated them using the same DeWalt pump I used for inflating everything else...no need for onboard pump IMO unless you're frequently changing lots of PSI.

I like Sumo type springs. They act like airbags without the fuss and install easy.

Why sumo over airbags? Sumo, to me and based on what I've been reading/watching, seems like an "all the time" option rather than as needed (airbags or progressive spring helpers).

[xrocket21]

The progressive leafs from Denver I had on the raptor were super nice. I'd like to put them on this truck but they are pricey.

[xrocket21]

Whipple has officially shipped..... Not bad, 12.5 weeks into a 12-14 week lead time.