Towing with Firestone airbags and WDH a good idea?

You'll love how adjustable they make the ride even after the move. Good luck and drive safe.

 

https://andersenhitches.com/Catalog/andersen-nosway-weight-distribution-hitch.aspx
Can handle up to 1400lbs tongue weight, but work fine at 300-500lbs. They are pricey, but I plan on getting one.
That being said, my HF hitch did very well. However, my trailer already had holes drilled for the sway control. I would not use it on a new trailer.

 

Ok, I didn't realize it will work for a tongue weight like mine. I thought mine would be way too low for its range. So far this WDH is my favorite one I've seen. I appreciate all the help

 

No problem. Yeah, with a 2" shank and 2" ball, they get used on a lot of travel trailers with tongue weights well below the max rating. If you decide to get one, and get it from a dealer, open the box and verify it has the black cone and not the red. The red friction cones wear out fast and were replaced with the black. Anderson replaces the cones if needed, but if the dealer has one thats been sitting around a while, they may not mention it.

 

Ok, what about for a 2" shank with a 2-5/16" ball? Hoping it would still work. I'll try giving them a call in the morning. Etrailer recommended a Reese or Fastway, but I'm hoping the Andersen one will work. Just want a solid one that will last a long time. I try to buy quality once as much as I can..

 

Itll work fine. When you talk with them, they can tell you how/where to measure for the drop and trailer frame brackets. And once you have those measurements, they can tell you which kit will work. Also, if you change trailers or get another, you can get a new ball that can be swapped.

 

I bet, it'll probably make the world of difference throwing weight in the bed of the taco. They definitely weren't built for big truck stuff.. then again, mine has done some good work for me.. haha

 

Awesome, hopefully I'll have one here towards the end of the week!

 

That California sun sounds pretty sweet compared to the snow and cold in Michigan. You seem like you know what you’re doing but I’m gonna throw this out there anyway. I bagged mine and have no regrets. So nice to have that adjustability. While you’re under there take a good look at your hitch. These tacomas rust like old tin cans. Stay safe man.

 

Ha, you ain't kiddin man. I miss my southern weather. Then again, they got pelted by snow this year compared to normal back home. I've been spraying off the tacoma almost religiously the past year since I moved up here. I keep checking it out and have a little surface rust underneath so far. Appreciate the heads up though, I'll check around the hitch area real well while I'm under there.

 

Figured you had it covered but hey you never know. I didn’t give it much thought until they found holes in my frame. My rusty old hitch is sitting next to my shed now. Picked up a nice take off from AZ and had toyota install it with the new frame. Just curious, is that some kinda grinder getting loaded in your truck?

 

Luckily I haven't been in the great white north too long. Hoping to leave with minimal permanent rust.. heard a bunch of horror stories from folks up north though. And no, it's a CAT C13 block, crank and front/rear covers. We had a bunch of old engines when I was at diesel mechanic school, so we disassembled a bunch of the old ones and took em to the scrap yard. The taco got a good workout that day.

 

Cool thanks. It’s obvious now. Have a good trip.

 

I'm 5,500lbs loaded and use just a WD hitch. Airbags are okay for leveling a load or addressing weight in the bed but not a good solution for towing IMO.

 

Nice setup man. And yeah, I'm trying to order the WDH right now. Bags are already on their way, so I'll put a little air in them and have the WDH doing what it's supposed to during the move. That way I'll have both for whatever situation might come my way.

 

Not sure what your load is like in the trailer but I would redistribute some heavier items over the trailer axles too. I run the Anderson WDH, its pretty sweet bur pricey.

 

Yeah, I've got the toolbox and all my tools over the axles and stacked forward from there decreasing weight. I'm sitting right at 10% tongue weight as pictured there. Just a lot more weight in the trailer than I had anticipated. I just ordered the Andersen WDH. Jason was very helpful selecting the right kit for my application. Can't wait to get it on the truck/trailer!

 

Sticky Taco, what model is your trailer? I'm looking at the Jayfeather 23RBM which has a 4895 dry weight. I have air bags and power brake control. Do you have any issues towing, I'd be about the same weight as you loaded?

 

Its the Jayfeather X213. It has been a great trailer so far. The Tacoma tows it well but I wouldn't want to go any heavier (not to say the truck can't but I tow at elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains so I don't want to make the truck work any harder than it does now).

I towed it for the first season with stock suspension, using a WD hitch and it was okay but felt weighed down. The second season I installed Dakar leaf springs and Fox coilovers/shocks. The tow vehicle handles much better now...only thing it is lacking is power at +5,000ft elevation. It'll pull 55mph in the passes (automatic in 2nd gear) but you can't be afraid to make the truck work. The transmission heats up so you have to watch temps. I installed a larger transmission cooler in the fall but haven't towed with it yet to see how much of a difference it makes.

 

Thanks for the response. Played hockey in Reno and that elevation effected my motor too. I'm in British Columbia so anywhere from sea level all the way up depending on direction of travel. I really want the room the camper I looked at has but might be too heavy considering the terrain up here. I've got two fifty pound dogs and a 120 pound wife to fit in a camper and the lighter trailers are going to be cramped.