Roof Top Tent causing VSC to work overtime - fixes?

[Rtar]

I have a Roof Top Tent (RTT) mounted to the top of my 4R. When I drive roads with tight curves the VSC alarm goes off, kicks on the brakes and sends me into a straight line. I've gotten VSC to go off under 15 mph before, it is that bad. Doing the same roads without the RTT I can carry much higher speeds. You can imagine that I'm a bit frustrated by the VSC.

Yes, I know, the number 1 rule for overlanding is to keep all weight off the top of a vehicle, but I'm 6'3" with a really bad back, so trust me when I say that I need my RTT for camping! For now, the RTT will have to stay up top until I build my trailer.

ANYWAYS, I'm looking for input on ways to counter the amount of roll that is caused by a 110lb RTT. Backing up a little - I have a 2010 TE with Icons. Even before the lift VSC was an issue with the RTT (It doesn't seem to have gotten worse with a lift)

The first thing to come to mind that MIGHT help are Firestone Airbags - I'm wondering if simply stiffening up the rear while on the road would do the trick? off road, there are no issues, it is just getting to there that is the problem. Another idea was the Icon air bump stops, but the problem there is that the travel on those is probably not long enough - i'd be 1/2 way through the spring travel before they would engage and create any compression damping - vehicle roll would have already set off VSC.

I appreciate any ideas and help. Thanks!

 

[eddiebx]

Have you tried performing a ZPC? For some reason the TE is very sensitive to any front end height change and needs to be re-calibrated any time there is change to the front end...I would start with that and see if it helps. The RTT might've sagged down the front just a hair more with all that weight :noidea:

Check out this thread for info on how to perform it yourself, please don't pay anyone to do it because it's just too darn simple: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...celeration-sensor-zero-point-calibration.html

 

[Intruder]

I've got a RTT that I take off during the winter and haven't noticed VSC going off any more/less depending on the presence of the tent even on the highway with higher speeds. I'd do the ZPC like [MENTION=85512]eddiebx[/MENTION] suggested.

 

[Rtar]

Thanks for the tip on the ZPC, and the link. I wouldn't have thought that 110lbs could make that big of a difference.

When I get my 4R back from Luke at 4x4Labs at the end of the month i'll give the ZPC a try and post the results. Maybe this will be a solution for any other RTT owners down the road.

 

[Mikefj40]

I've had no issues with my RTT, but I'm still running a stock '14 TE suspension. I'm considering an Old Man Emu 3" lift and would like to hear more about this. I'll follow up after the lift is installed.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

After reading several threads on this subject over the past couple years, the culprit is usually the lift on the TE not the RTT. I haven't heard of anyone with an RTT having to worry about doing a ZPC, just the lift usually. Now your driving style may not have caused it post lift until you put the RTT on top and thus that appears to be the culprit. You should be fine after the ZPC but you may have to do it a couple times to get the proper result.