How to Correct for Rear-End Sag in 2013 Toyota Tacoma When Trailer is Hitched

Question:

I have a base Tacoma 2013 two wheel drive. When I put my 70 tongue wt trailer on it the hitch sags just enough I cant get the tongue wheel off to tow. I already have a ball with a rise. My problem is that initial 1-inch sag when trailer is dropped on the hitch. Question: will TTORXR still allow enough I will have an issue or Will the SSA7 springs be a better choice?

asked by: George

Expert Reply:

It is normal for a trailer's tongue weight (TW) to cause some sag in the tow vehicle's rear suspension. Ideally the top of a trailer ball will be about 1-inch to 1-1/2-inches higher than the top of the level trailer's coupler before the two are hitched. This provides some compensation for that normal sag and usually allows the hitched trailer to remain level, which is important for good handling.

You may simply need to use a ball mount with a bit more rise in it to allow the trailer frame to remain level when it is hitched to the Tacoma.

We offer both fixed ball mounts like # C45070 from Curt (4-inches of rise) and adjustable ones like # C45900 that you can see by clicking on the link provided. I also linked an article that will illustrate how to select the ball mount with the correct rise to keep your trailer level.

If you still find sag is an issue then you might want to consider a weight distribution system to help shift some tongue weight forward onto the Tacoma's front axle. I linked an article on such systems.

expert reply by: Adam R