How does rear tire-carrier/weight impact ride?

[BetoLC]

Question for those who have installed heavier rear bumpers, tire carriers, Jerry cans etc etc

I’m new to the mods game and am looking at options and have been wondering: how do they impact the “ride” quality?

Obviously you can compensate for the extra static load with stiffer springs but what about the dynamic loads over the bumps? That’s a lot of weight (extra 150lbs?) several feet behind the rear axle - a big moment...

I assume that’s why the go-fast Tundras and Raptors put the spare and gas right at the front of the bed. I’m not planning to race those guys but it is nice to pick up the pace sometimes!

Will adjusting the dampers and spring stiffness compensate or is there a sacrifice in ride for practicality? Any thoughts or observations greatly appreciated.

I am currently running a pretty much stock LC200 except Icons front and rear.

Thanks!

 

[Markuson]

This would seem obvious, but it’s still amazing how much the height of the load makes such a huge difference. The higher the weight sits, you really begin to feel it in driving characteristics. This is why I’ve been avoiding a roof rack for so long.

Obviously As you mention, simple added weight is compensated by proper spring rates, **but** when I fill all three water cans on my basket, I feel it in turns more that one might expect. -Even though empty vs full is just 15 gallons water weight, it’s height really makes a difference in COG.

Along those same lines, the LRA tank’s super low position has amazingly lesser impact on the drive than filling my much smaller & lighter jerry cans because it’s barely above the rear axle.

To me, these are huge “hidden” advantages of drawer systems and sub tanks. Center of gravity is kept as low as possible with heavy tools in drawers, fuel kept low, and little or nothing on the roof.

But anyway—what you carry and where you carry it really makes a difference.

The real downside of carrying water, fuel and heavy stuff on a bumper is that it’s raised and at one one end of your truck. I carry water in back because I usually need the interior space. But weight distribution wise, I’d be better off with my heavy water low and in the 2nd row, lighter stuff higher on my bumper. It’s just that it’s hard to put sleeping bags on your bumper swingout.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Generally... negatively.

This thread recently popped up on TacomaWorld: Relentless Fab Tire Carrier Causing truck "bounce" on concrete highways

 

[BetoLC]

Yeah, that “bounce” was my concern (summarising 5 pages of sometimes angry Tacoma thread)