Troubleshooting Trailer Sway with a 2015 Toyota Tacoma Towing Pop Up Camper

Question:

I drive a 2015 Tacoma 4wd and carry full-time a pop-up camper weight with gear: water, food, etc., around 1000 pounds. I have replaced factory shocks with Bilstein and have airbags with Daystar cradle. However, I have too much sway on highway for safety and too much sway on rough roads at slow speed when crossing washes, going through rutted areas, rocky areas, etc.. I do extensive backcountry travel so need articulation, so Im concerned that adding a rear sway bar would reduce articulation. To level the truck I added a 2inch lift to the front so that it matches the rear when the airbags are aired up to a proper amount, but in doing so I have increased the sway. Are there any other options? Would supersprings reduce sway significantly, that is enough to reduce unsafe highway driving? Can a sway bar be modified to minimize loss of articulation?

asked by: Don

Expert Reply:

To reduce sway your best options are going to be to remove the lift kit you put on the front of your 2015 Toyota Tacoma and then use a weight distribution system for when you are on the highway.

If you need the type of articulation you described for off-road situations you would need to remove the spring bars when encountering these areas.

The best way to pick out a weight distribution system is to base it off of the loaded tongue weight of the setup when it is loaded and ready to tow. This figure also includes the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. I attached a help article on determining tongue weight for you to check out as well. You will want the loaded tongue weight of your setup to fall right in the middle of the tongue weight range of the system you use.

Once you know your tongue weight you will want to check out the link I attached that has all of the weight distribution systems we carry. You will be able to select your tongue weight from the filters to see what would be rated for your setup.

Most likely your pop ups tongue weight would fall in the range of the part # RP66083 as it has a range that is 400-800 lbs. This system is great too because it has the only sway control on the market designed to fight sway before it starts.

expert reply by: Jameson C