Do You Carry Weight in Your 4Runner to Smooth Out Ride?

[Pekoe1111]

I previously owned A 2001 4Runner and then purchased a 2011 Jeep Wrangler two door. I regretted selling my 3rd Gen so I sold the Jeep and bought another that is identical to the one I sold.

Like the first one, I installed OME 881/906 springs. I found the 906s to be to stiff and tall so I switched them out for 2007 progressive rate FJ coils. Same issues.

I found that both springs rode smoother and better when I had at least 160 pounds in the back over the wheel wells - the equivalent of somebody riding in the backseat.

Generally the Jeep drove smoother and felt more planted and less skittish than my 3rd Gens.

Curious to know if anyone else has deliberately put weight in the back of your 3rd Gen to smooth out the ride, and if so what springs are you running and how much weight?

 

[BunBun]

I have a 99limited with a 4 inch rough country lift and felt something similar, handled smoother in a way

 

[jgue467]

Stock and yeah the more weight the smoother the ride. I've carried up to 800lbs of corn in back seat and back area, Super Smooth and rear only drops 1/2", still looks level. Engine hardly feels it.

On a regular basis, I've got about 150 of tools/stuff back there and sometimes throw in 2-50lb sacks of corn, takes the edge off the jitteryness. :cowboy:

 

[pluton]

I wouldn't drive around with unnecessary weight added, but when I do put 400-500 pounds in the back, it gets way smoother.

 

[Pekoe1111]

I wouldn't drive around with unnecessary weight added, but when I do put 400-500 pounds in the back, it gets way smoother.

I just drove my friend’s V8 Range Rover, a tank, while he put in the FJ springs and it drove beautifully. Apples and oranges but clearly weight helps!

 

[jgue467]

I wouldn't drive around with unnecessary weight added, but when I do put 400-500 pounds in the back, it gets way smoother.

If it's smoother, why not? Fuel efficiency already sucks and I don't really care about that anyway..... Smooth ride is where its at! :cowboy:

 

[Pekoe1111]

If it's smoother, why not? Fuel efficiency already sucks and I don't really care about that anyway..... Smooth ride is where its at! :cowboy:

Agree-I might build a sleeping platform to hide the extra weight underneath. Makes it drive more like a Land Cruiser!

 

[Marcswhite4runner]

I previously owned A 2001 4Runner and then purchased a 2011 Jeep Wrangler two door. I regretted selling my 3rd Gen so I sold the Jeep and bought another that is identical to the one I sold.

Like the first one, I installed OME 881/906 springs. I found the 906s to be to stiff and tall so I switched them out for 2007 progressive rate FJ coils. Same issues.

I found that both springs rode smoother and better when I had at least 160 pounds in the back over the wheel wells - the equivalent of somebody riding in the backseat.

Generally the Jeep drove smoother and felt more planted and less skittish than my 3rd Gens.

Curious to know if anyone else has deliberately put weight in the back of your 3rd Gen to smooth out the ride, and if so what springs are you running and how much weight?

I usually don't carry weight just to make it more comfortable, but it's an interesting idea. I will start testing this

 

[Joelzy]

this is interesting and I'm gonna eventually test this too.

 

[96RedRunner]

Have OME 881's & 890's 90004 & 60073 shocks 12k mi on them. AOR plate bumper 11#'s heavier than stock bumper, Stock rear spare underneath.
Ride is good overall some types of bumps give off a jarring type ride.
Other day taking rear locker diff, ring and pinion set, master rebuild kit to shop noticed how much better rear felt, that load is right at 100#'s extra,
Still had jarring feel on front, winch I purchased for front 75#'s, think that will smooth out the front, not installed yet.
Till I get rear plate bumper built will be riding around with 100#'s of free weights in cargo area,

 

[Pekoe1111]

this is interesting and I'm gonna eventually test this too.

Just swung by Lowe's and put a 60lb. bag of tube sand in next to the four 40 lb. bags of pellets in for a total of 220 lbs. in the cargo area as low as possible right behind the rear seat. It’s the equivalent of having one big person in the back seat, with a lower center of gravity.

After feeling every little bump with no weight, I was exhausted when getting out of the car. The extra weight just makes the truck less jittery and squirrely and really like a Land Cruiser I recently drove - but quicker.

I may exchange the lighter pellet bags for fewer sand bags. Will let you know how it feels over the next few days.

 

[TonyB66]

I just installed 891s, and while I only drove about 5 miles so far, it feels great, with zero added weight in the back. Those with lifts, has the panhard and rear sway bars corrected back to being level with the ground? If not, I've heard that can make for some undesirable dynamics.

I just took these shots today that show those two bars being close to level or parallel with the ground...

 

[96RedRunner]

I've always adjusted swaybars parallel with frame rails with links. Have PCK installed with bar level.

 

[westdiablo]

I'm a couple months into having a gen3 as my daily driver. Stock...these things are way over-sprung for road or low speed forest road driving. I've been trying to source softer springs and haven't found anything yet.

Added weight is one way to soften the springs (in a sense) but softer springs would be the right way to do it.




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[Pekoe1111]

I agree but can’t seem to find soft springs that will give me a 2” level lift to match my OME 881s up front - again, not sure why this is so hard.

 

[Kanoe]

I agree but can’t seem to find soft springs that will give me a 2” level lift to match my OME 881s up front - again, not sure why this is so hard.

I think it is because the aftermarket springs are all intended to carry a load better than the originals. To get that soft OEM ride you might have to go back to the 99 Tall OEM springs with a spacer to lift the rear. That should be the softest ride available, but not great for weight.

Since there has been 3 or 4 threads about this, I have lost track. Did you change shocks? What are you running? Maybe they are part of the problem.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I think it is because the aftermarket springs are all intended to carry a load better than the originals. To get that soft OEM ride you might have to go back to the 99 Tall OEM springs with a spacer to lift the rear. That should be the softest ride available, but not great for weight.

Since there has been 3 or 4 threads about this, I have lost track. Did you change shocks? What are you running? Maybe they are part of the problem.

Yup. OEM is softest. Everything else is more harsh since that's what it's designed for, offroad performance.

 

[Pekoe1111]

Yup. OEM is softest. Everything else is more harsh since that's what it's designed for, offroad performance.

After a long drive on pothole and frost heave riddled Vermont back roads yesterday, the verdict is in for me - 220 pounds of weight - the equivalent of one heavy person in the backseat - behind the rear seat with a half of a tank a gas is ideal! I will take one of the 40 pound bag of wood pellets out and run the truck between a full and a half tank of gas. When it gets warmer and I will likely build a sleeping platform to hide the weight.

Will be putting my OME 906s for sale. What do you think is a fair price including shipping for springs that are less than a month old?

 

[Mudeprived]

I have 906's and carry approx 150 lbs of emergency tools at all times. It seems pretty smooth.

I have hauled a few loads of 1000 lbs of wood pellets and let me tell you it rode like a caddy!

 

[jaszmine9]

i have been wondering the same. thanks for the info!