Help Me Set Up My Tundra

[rudhawk]

I just picked up a ’04 Tundra Ltd Access cab with 66K miles and want to set it up for my future purchase of a used Fleet or Hawk. Since reading several posts I think I have my requirements narrowed down but would really appreciate some of the expert 1st hand experience from forum members.

I will probably only have the fwc on the truck about 3-4 times a year for 7-14 day duration. The remainder time it will be my GFHD truck (golfing, fishing, home depot).


The Tundra came with almost new Falken Wildpeak H/T. I plan to run these for awhile with 45 psi when I have the camper installed. When they wear down I'll get some good E rated tires. It has Bilstein shocks installed with the factory tow pkg. In addition, I think I need:

Hellwig anti-sway & Firestone Sport-rite spring helpers. I hope I won’t need additional spring work because I don’t want too stiff a ride for my GFHD.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

My 02 Tundra Limited TRD 4X4,came to me with new Goodyear C rated 265 75 R16 Wrangler.I like them ,they are quiet on the road and some good tread on the dirt roads.
I have a ATC Bobcat on full time and just use the Firestone Ride Rites adjusted to about #30 left side, #20 right.
Tires are #40 front #45 rear.
I try to keep the tread from wearing on the crown.So far I get fairly even tread wear.
Truck handles well with the camper load.
I am sure other 1st gen owners will also post some info.
Sounds like you have a good set up.
Frank

 

[idahoron]

I have a 05 Tundra DC. I put on the Firestone ride rites. I had some C rated tires on mine at first and I took them off about 5 days later and put on my winter tires. When I went to put my summer tiers on I hated the way they felt. My winter tires were 10 ply D rated.
I put on a set of Michelin E rated tires and love them. I like the way my truck rides and handles the load. I put about 20 pounds in the bags and I do 50 PSI in the front tires and 55 PSI in the back. When the Ride rites were first installed they didn't cut the tube straight. I fought with air pressure dropping on a weekly basis. After I fixed it they never bleed down.
I have never tried the Hellwig. I keep my camper on full time.

 

[rudhawk]

Well, after hearing from you two - maybe I'll hold off on the Hellwig sway bar for now. I had Michelin LX M/S2 on the Frontier I just sold - too bad they wouldn't fit my Tundra.

Now I just need to find a used Fleet or Hawk - then it's "Start the Modding".

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Well, after hearing from you two - maybe I'll hold off on the Hellwig sway bar for now. I had Michelin LX M/S2 on the Frontier I just sold - too bad they wouldn't fit my Tundra.

Now I just need to find a used Fleet or Hawk - then it's "Start the Modding".

If you want input on the sway bar,I think Bill Harr and lighthawk have that addition.
Good luck with the search.
Frank

 

[Wallowa]

Well, after hearing from you two - maybe I'll hold off on the Hellwig sway bar for now. I had Michelin LX M/S2 on the Frontier I just sold - too bad they wouldn't fit my Tundra.

Now I just need to find a used Fleet or Hawk - then it's "Start the Modding".

Personal observation...'05 Tundra AC...the Hellwig bars made a huge difference in improving the handling, no wallowing and the FS RideRites seem to be the best way to level out the load with the Hawk..

Phil

 

[rudhawk]

Thanks, Phil - I had heard that about the Hellwig bar - so I guess I'll get started with the air bags ASAP.

 

[billharr]

Personal observation...'05 Tundra AC...the Hellwig bars made a huge difference in improving the handling, no wallowing and the FS RideRites seem to be the best way to level out the load with the Hawk..

Phil

Helwig rear bar works so good I wish I had put in on even before I got the camper.

 

[DonC]

I have a 2006 Tundra access cab and have started looking at sway bars. Camper is on full time, have E rated tires and Firestone air bags.
For the rear, are there advantages/disadvantages of the Hellwig vs TRD?
For the front, I heard that an upgrade to the Sequoia sway bar is a good way to go, a little more beefy.

 

[Wallowa]

Not certain on TRDs...but the Hellwig is I believe more adjustable for varying degrees of stiffness..I installed my Hellwig and it was straightforward ...check out You-Tube videos on the installation...they helped a lot to avoid the " ah crap " mistakes and to visualize the process...

I concur about improvements even without a load...while going to get our Hawk the Tundra with the Hellwig handled like, well almost like, a sports car...flat cornering and smoother turn ins....

Phil

 

[rudhawk]

Well - with these endorsements - I think I'll invest in Hellwig.

 

[DonC]

the Tundra with the Hellwig handled like, well almost like, a sports car...flat cornering and smoother turn ins....

Phil

before I got my Tundra/Fleet, my car was a Porsche Carrera, really...

It was fun but found that I seldom drove it because I spent my weekends in the desert or mountains with my old truck

You should have seen the reaction of my two grown sons when they saw what I replaced the Porsche with, priceless

looks like Hellwig for me and maybe I'll let my sons drive it if they are careful

 

[PaulT]

I concur about improvements even without a load...while going to get our Hawk the Tundra with the Hellwig handled like, well almost like, a sports car...flat cornering and smoother turn ins....

Phil

*2 on the handling improvement. I had the Hellwig installed on my 2010 Tundra for several weeks before getting my Hawk and was very surprised at the improvement especially on a very familiar road in the Oregon Coast Range.

Paul

 

[rudhawk]

For any 1st Gen Tundra owners viewing this thread in the future... Here's a link to 5 SPEED's - DIY Hellwig Installation post on Tundra Solutions forum:
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/1gen-tundra/76680-do-yourself-new-hellwig-rear-stabilizer/

 

[DonC]

great link. do you lose some clearance with this? hard to tell

 

[Lighthawk]

Personal observation...'05 Tundra AC...the Hellwig bars made a huge difference in improving the handling, no wallowing and the FS RideRites seem to be the best way to level out the load with the Hawk..

Phil

X2
I installed both on my 06 AC Tundra TRD. The RideRites can have issues, but are a good solution when you only mount the camper P/T.

 

[rudhawk]

I just ordered my Hellwig sway bar. Should be here in 3 days.

 

[DonC]

is it this one, the 7700, that first gen Tundra owners are using? I have 4x4, don't know if that makes a difference

http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-7700-Rear-Sway-Bar/dp/B004J3AHPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458668475&sr=8-1&keywords=hellwig+sway+bar+2006+tundra

 

[Wallowa]

For any 1st Gen Tundra owners viewing this thread in the future... Here's a link to 5 SPEED's - DIY Hellwig Installation post on Tundra Solutions forum:
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/1gen-tundra/76680-do-yourself-new-hellwig-rear-stabilizer/

This is the tutorial I followed...easy...note the bar is heavy so think it through...I did not remove my spare tire...dumb thing is that I have a veh lift and did not use it....

Carrera.. huh Don? Well my current yardstick is my '62 Corvette that I did a couple of Pony Express open road events with and which also has suspension work but the Tundra with the Hellwig is also fun to drive...just not a convertible nor quite as fast!

Neat to hear from so many with early Tundra 4.7L.

Phil

 

[Vic Harder]

x3
That said, the tundra with the Hellwig and new Koni's still is no Miata or M3... If I try and drive it like it is "tossable" then my significant other will "toss" her lunch!