Good job! I’d like to see follow ups talking about differences in shocks, difference between off-road vs stock trucks, and other off-road suspension topics.
I thought TRD PRO came with red painted front and rear sway bars?? Your front bar is black and I didn't see the rear bar at all. So the only difference between the standard 4x4 and the TRD is the shocks an slightly larger wheels?
I don't know how I came across your video, but I am glad I did. Thank you so much for great and useful information! Really! Keep them coming, please. Subscribed!
Tim Johnson The TRD OR package adds the BILSTEIN 4200 series mono tube shocks and slightly different coils vs the SR5/Sport/or Limited/platinum trims... these shocks are still quite capable and arguably more durable than the standard equipment, they’re also tuned slightly softer as an assembly than the Sport or standard models. Keep in mind in comparing them to the Pro suspension system that you’re looking at a 40mm digressively dampened monotube shock vs a 65mm bodied, remote reservoir, internal bypass system. So right off the bat, we’re talking more than 300% more fluid volume and piston surface area if you don’t even account for the remotes... also, 2” less travel capability and only a few damping/rebound zones vs something like 7 dampin, 10 rebound zones in the Pro.
DirtE30 Thank you so much for explaining the difference in the shocks I have a 1794 with the TRD off-road package and I have been considering upgrading the suspension to the pro shocks and it is nice to know the exact differences thank you. But maybe you could help me if you install the TRD front shocks it is supposed to lift the front end 2 inches and I would like to keep the same Rake that the truck has now that means I would have to lift the rear of the truck besides just putting on the rear shocks if I wanted to keep the same rake. And what is the best way to lift the truck in the rear I don’t like lift blocks and I don’t really like changing the shackles. What do you think about adding a leaf to the spring pack this would also give me a little bit more capacity in the bed of the truck? But I am also worried if those shocks would work with that slight lift in the rear? I know we are only talking 2 inches but I don’t like that flat look when the truck is going down the road. Plus my truck only has 2 inches of rake in it right now and if you add the 2 inches in the front the truck will become flat. Thank you for any advice you may have. There is a cap on the back of the truck at all times and about 200 pounds of tools. I also installed a TRD rear swaybar.
Great video! I picked up some Fox shocks for my 21 Tundra. Curious - what kind of speed wrench is that? I’ve been looking everywhere for something like that. Thanks again!
Smashed the sub button. I have a 21 SR5 with a 2.5 levelling kit in the front with 33 12.5 20” tires. What would you recommend to eliminate the spacer kit in terms of suspension kit front and back. I’ll also be installing an air bag kit for the rear. I love the green colour.
And the BBS forged wheels save about 3lbs per corner... so at roughly double the cost vs the cast wheels, you can see how much toyota valued even 3lbs per corner in un sprung weigh shaving! The 2019 Pro I have personally is now sporting 295/70-18 Nitto G2’s in a P metric load rating. These were the ONLY P rated AT tires in that size (which is the largest you can run without modifying the ride height)! I searched long and hard to find these as I did want a larger tire but didn’t want to sacrifice any more than necessary in performance to get there. These tires weigh 50lbs ea in the P rated vs 63.5lbs ea for the LT! 13lbs per corner!!! The factory Michelin LTX’s weigh in at only 40lbs, so I gained 10lbs per corner vs 23 lbs. the difference was still noticeable although very much acceptable as a compromise.
Thanks Dan! You just schooled me on my 2020 PRO ! The suspension, TRD exhaust, and the rear window sold me on my Tundra. I test drove many F150's and RAMS, and once I felt this suspension over a dropped bridge span on the test drive..... I went back and dropped a deposit!
My wife loves her trd pro army green tundra. Mine is a 2017 Barcelona red trd pro tundra with the bilstein shock.can you do a video on the bilsteins shock
My impressions for why they keep doing that after all these years is likely to do with how the suspension rides. I wonder if Dan can comment on the geometry there and pros/cons of having the shock mounts the way they are. If you look under every Toyota truck, you'll see they do a good job of packaging everything to be tucked underneath and all you see is a flat plane under the truck. GM, if they don't hang the spare tires low, they want to make sure the shock mounts get hit first. I won't even comment on their reason for their dangling parking brake cables. They must have their reasons.
I think that Toyota has always included off-road use as a design principal going in. Other truckmakers are thinking towing and hauling going in, and they don't prioritize off-road in the same way. Look at the Tacoma. It sits higher, people gripe about its driving position, but they do it to get the frame up higher for ground clearance. Meanwhile, the Colorado has a a dumb air dam, shocks in the middle of the axle, and only the ZR2 has the clearance underneath that equals a normal Tacoma. It has a nicer cab, though. Ram, on the other hand, is miles ahead of everybody with their link-coil rear suspension. When they get serious about the TRX, we're going to see a lot of rear articulation out of that truck. I can't wait.
@@DanEdmunds when designing the rear, does the geometry of the mounts have an effect on ride, torsion, or payload? I want to believe there's gotta be a reason for GM to continue engineering things the way they do.
I want to purchase a tundra for my work truck. I currently have a ram 3500 diesel. I like the truck. It want something more reliable. I know I’m going down to a half ton truck but I want the reliably. I will be doing snow removal and pulling lawn equipment and sometimes my 40 hp compact tractor. My trailers usually weigh from 4500 9500lbs. What I’m asking is would the TRD suspension be better for a work truck or the regular SR5. Thank you. Eric.
Toyota's TRD off-road packages don't come with lower payload and tow ratings, like some others. The Raptor and TRX are developed in a way that trades away a bit of work capability for extra off-road suspension travel. The TRD Pro doesn't take things quite that far because they want to lave payload/towing alone - the rear springs are the same, for example. It's not as much of a high-flying dune jumper as a result, but that doesn't matter to you, from what you describe. Now, I don't think I would say that you NEED the TRD Pro because, for a work truck, it is mighty expensive. The SR5 should do it as far as your work needs go. You can always split the difference and go for the TRD Off-Road, which is a milder (and cheaper) Off-Road suspension than the TRD-Pro. Or you could always upgrade your shocks later on if you want to upgrade the truck's off-road wheel control once you've owned it awhile.
Thanks for your video , 👍 Do u think that suspensions for daily driving and how soft and feeling when u driving it ( not off road ) Thinking about upgrade it to my 2018 tundra Thanks
The newer TRD Pro suspensions ride very well on the street. The internal bypass feature that makes them ride the bumps off road so well also allows them to be a little softer in the middle of the stroke where you ride around town. Win-win.
Wishbones? Stabilizer bar?? You must have been an engineer for an OEM in a past life. 😉 I feel like everyone else outside of industry uses language like control arms, sway bar, etc. I appreciate your knowledge & detail Dan!
You are correct. I worked at two different proving grounds over a period of 16 years. I'm starting a new gig selling test equipment, so I'll be back on that side and back at the proving grounds in a support role. Meanwhile, I can still do this.
eminye1 lb ft is correct for measuring power output, but in the case of tightening a bolt the correct measurement is ft lb...just a little something I picked up in my 40 year career as a design engineer for a major truck manufacturer
It's good to discover your videos. In your opinion is there a need for a TRD rear sway bar? The only thing I would change on the 2021 TRD Pro is the P275 tires. They allow room for more travel but too small to look good. That being said, my truck has new BF Goodrich P275s on it when I bought it so that will do for now. I'll get better economy with smaller tires but I didn't buy a 4x4 to get economy. I do get better mileage with a 5.7 Tundra (16+) than I got with my 3.5 Tacoma (14.5 - 15). That is seriously messed up.
I just watched your KDSS video. Which suspension is better? I just traded in my Taco TRD PRO for a 4 Runner TRD Off Road Venture. What shocks would recommend over the stock shocks. I thought we would be getting Bilstein shocks. Great videos for sure.
Really great video! Do you accept requests? Since you are a suspension engineer, how about a video for performing home alignments with strings or the like...
So not a word about the actual suspension specs. I know the diameter of the shocks increase to travel and at the front is supposed to give you about 2 inches of additional lift but no one ever talks about whether the rear springs have any lift. I have a 20 Pro and need airbags for towing and they either need a block for springs with a lift or nothing additional if the springs are factory or for the “regular” models
One thing I like about factory Fox from the TRD PRO is the lack of an exposed shaft closer to the ground. All aftermarket has their shafts at the ground and one rock that damages the plating, will damage the seals. Plus people don’t like wrapping their shocks cause…well it doesn’t look cool 😀
Great vid ...just got my 2020 Tundra Trd Pro love the truck but it has a nasty bed bounce felt at highway speeds on roads that have concrete expansion joints that is something I need to resolve , it is fairly severe. Any thoughts on how I should proceed ? Thank You John in Denver
Nice detailed walkthrough! I had to subscribe after watching! What are your favorite shock producing companies? Also what spring companies do you like? Thank you in advance. 👍👍
I HAVE A QUESTION IF I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THOSE SHOCKS FROM THE TRD FOX SUSPENSION FROM EBAY , TO INSTALLED IT ON MY 18 TUNDRA I DON’T NEED TO CHANGE THE CONTROLS ARMS OF THE TRUCK DO I.?
Why do you think a simple multiplication and summation is making you a nerd? Anyway I liked to see the actual tape measurement to see the actual diameter while on ground as the tire is not sitting completely round but a little flat at the bottom.
Thanks for the detailed explanation of your Tundra TRD Pro suspension. I appreciate the deep dive and 'geeking out' on the specifics! Look forward to the next one!
First let me say well done! Straight to the content, very good technical content without being over baked! To your comment on why TOYOTA doesn’t use an LT tire... if you’ll look at all the cost and engineering that went into the suspension development on this truck, and you understand that unsprung weight is the nemesis of suspension/brake performance, then you look at the same size tire in a D load range, you’ll see that you would be adding 10-15 lbs per corner in suspension fatiguing unsprung mass! Also, a little known nugget, a P rated tire in any given size has a higher load rating at 32psi (or whatever the Mfg’s recommenced pressure is on your half ton) than any LT tire will at the same pressure! The P rated tire far exceeds the load rating needed to meet max GVWR of the vehicle at the given inflation pressure. The LT is capable of using a much higher pressure rating (60 psi) and thusly can achieve a higher load rating but only at the cost of ride quality and suspension longevity and performance. In other words, LT tires would only serve as a detriment.
Yes. Those reasons are the reality behind it all. They could choose to do it, as Jeep and others have. The argument makes perfect sense from the POV of the standard Tundra. The TRD Pro would have had to be included in the initial design concept of the truck, but I think it came later and was independently developed by TRD with certain design restrictions imposed by TMC.
