Bed Bounce

[Dan Clausen]

I am currently shopping for a 08 Tundra Double Cab Limited 4x4. I saw on the Tundra HQ site some post about bed bounce. Needless to say this issue has my deeply concerned.

First, is this still a problem on new Tundra's or have they resolved the issue yet? Second, it was mentioned that this problem affects less then 5% of Tundra owners. Is this becuase so few trucks have the issue or just due to the few concrete highways that cause this issue. if I get a new truck that doesn't have this issue is it likely to appear a few months down the road? Does this problem seem to be on 2W/4W or both? Also does the TRD suspension have any impact on this issue?

Thanks to anyone that can provide feedback.

[JimS]

I have not had any bed bounce in my 2008 CM 4X4, and I have driven it over some of the famous So. Cal. imbricated freeways. The truck bounces so much that I can hardly hold my head still but no bed bounce. I know the bed in the DC is longer and that might make a difference. I also have the TRD Offroad package / suspension. From what I have read, it is stiffer than the regular suspension, which will lead to a stiffer ride. I don't mind it, some do. My 2 year old son loves it. He sits in his car seat and giggles the whole time.

[Jason Lancaster]

Dan,

We did a bed bounce survey a few months back when this issue came to our attention. You can see the results here. Basically, here are my answers to your questions:

The issue is not resolved. Interestingly enough, we're hearing a lot less about it now than we did 6 months ago. It seems like some people that didn't own Tundras were complaining on our blog posts. The survey data supports that conclusion - we had to throw out quite a few responses because the VIN numbers didn't match the vehicle described.

The 5% number is a guesstimate. Could be high, could be low. My guess is that it's high - when I talk to Tundra owners, I ask them about it and most of them say they've never had a problem. But it's just a guess. My advice to you is to drive the truck on your normal commute routes - that's the only way to know if you're going to experience it.

The issue is when the geometry of the truck and the geometry of the highway match, the truck gets a wicked harmonic vibration. Most of the time, this is a concern on concrete highways. According to Toyota, it's mostly in Southern California. When we talk about "bed bounce" on the website, we're talking about bounce that you can feel. Some people can't feel any bounce, but they can see it in their back window. That's not the same - most truck beds "bounce" in that manner. The issue is that in some situations, on some roads, the truck bounces so bad it's uncomfortable to drive.

Some people have said that changing tires, adding weight, adding helper springs, etc. all improve bed bounce. We've even had a couple readers add foam pads to their spare tires. All of these measures improve the problem.

Finally, the survey data we gathered did not show any correlation between the TRD package and bed bounce. Same goes for 2wd/4wd.

My recommendation, if I can be so bold as to offer it, is to test drive the truck where you would normally drive. It's mostly a function of the highways in your city. If you don't have to deal with S. Cali's big expansion joint concrete highways, you should be very happy with the truck. In all other respects it's top notch.

[Dan Clausen]

Thanks for the information and breaking it down for me. I live in Oklahoma City and we do an old concrete highway or two with expansion joints. I do plan on taking the truck on a test drive that includes my commute to work.

I've also heard some rumblings that newer Fords are having this same issue. Some people are pointing to this being a side effect of the Tundra being designed around hauling heavy loads and driving them around without any weight in the bed.

Thanks for the thourough coverage of this issue. There seems to be so much disinformation both ways around this issue. It is nice to see a site where somebody is covering the issue with reasonableness and a level head.

[Jason Lancaster]

Dan - thanks a lot. I think you're 100% correct about the stiff suspension being to blame. Some official documents we've seen quote Toyota as saying that the problem goes away once a "few hundred pounds" are placed in the bed.

[dicksneeed]

Problem is, who wants to put a few hundred pounds in their truck and suck up even more gas than it already does. I know first hand that doesn't work either, though. I go to the track w/ 2 motorcycles weighing approx. 1000 and the bed still bounces. It definitely is worse without the weight, especially on the way to work and my F**** coffee splashes or burns the crap out of me when trying to take a sip. Would an after market suspension kit solve the problem???

[Jason Lancaster]

I think it might, but in the process you'd have to spend a bunch of money (or reduce your truck's payload rating).

It's too bad that this problem exists, and it's too bad it's so limited in scope. It's the worst possible situation for people with the problem - there's not enough of you to get Toyota to act, but it's still severe enough to be a real drag.

[Mike]

Dan see my post below, I live in Tulsa. The problem is horrific on highway 412 / 64 when I travel to Stillwater. The concrete highways (new toll roads in OKC). Find an older highway around OKC, maybe the loop heading down to Lawton and give that a try.

[Dan Clausen]

Yesterday I went for another test drive, this time taking the truck along several local highways. The ride was pretty good. I did hit one overpass and noticed a odd vibration, but it was quite mild and still not a bad ride considering it is a truck. I've been in many trucks with a much worse ride.

The dealer is currently trying to get me the truck that I want and hopefully this time next week I'll be aTundra owner.

Thanks!

[Mike]

Dan,
It happens on all Tundra models. But it only happens on concrete highways where there are clear expansion joints (especially older concrete highways).

On the positive side - if you don't travel or have these types of roads in your area then you probably wont have the issue. I recommend you take it for a long test drive on the roughest roads you travel to be sure.

On the negative side - if you do travel on these types of roads the bed bounce is a MAJOR issue. It is absolutely terrible and violent to point of not being able to carry on a normal conversation without losing your breath during sentences - No Joking. My passengers have complained of feeling sick, at least I have the steering wheel to hold on to.

Also, its not a come and go thing on the suspension its the roads you travel.

[Art64]

That's true. Bed bounce is still an issue. According to another forum, Toyota is not going to have a fix for this cause it is going to be very costly for them. Hopefully the next generation Tundra will eliminate this problem. I do have a bed bounce, the bed jiggles like a paint shaker, on expansion joints, the whole truck bounces up and down. I've tried a lot of things like replacing the leaf springs with softer ones, replacing shocks, putting sand bags on the bed, airing down rear tires, airing up rear tires, adding anti-sway bar. None of these solved it 100%. But I found out that by adding weight to the bed, next to the tailgate minimized it, along with softer leaf springs. Now, I have to add Firestone Air Bags so I can haul heavy. One forum member (from another forum) is fabricating a bracket that will bolt on to the frame. It'll bolt from the existing holes on the frame, located above the axle and is supposed to stiffen the rear frame. From what I understand, these holes are the same ones where the 5th wheel mounting brackets goes. Hopefully, this works. A stiff suspension and a flexing frame is causing this. So far I have soften the suspension. And it is working great. I have an RCSB with SAP.

[mike k]

I have an 07' double cab SR5, 6 1/2' bed with the TRD off road package which has the stiffer suspension than normal. If I had to do it all over again, I would have chosen the standard suspension with no TRD package. My bed bounce is tolerable, but noticeable especially over concrete sections. They all will have some bed bounce, but like mentioned above, drive the truck you want and take it for a 50 mile trip where you normally drive and see for yourself if you can live with the bed bounce. Like mentioned, you can add 200-300 lbs. in the rear bed of the truck, not get the TRD stiffer suspension, keep a full tank of gas in the truck, and lower your rear tire pressure to around 30 psi instead of recommended 33 psi, and all of that will help a little, but you still will notice a little bed bounce. You have to remember it is a truck and not going to ride like a car though no matter what.

[Bryce]

I got a Standard 08 Crew Max and am not using my stock shocks if you want to try them out?? They should be the same.