Is the Tundra’s Bed Bounce Problem Overstated?
Jason Lancaster | Apr 15, 2009 | Comments 36
On August 30th, 2007, we wrote a post about “Bed Bounce,” a problem that we heard a lot of new Toyota owners complaining about at the time. We laid out a reasoned analysis of the problem and the likely causes, and many people who read the post seemed genuinely concerned and/or effected by the problem. At that time, we weren’t completely certain about the actual size and scope of the bed bounce problem, so we decided to send an email to Toyota. After a lukewarm response, we realized that we needed some hard data if we were going to have any hope of getting a sense of the size and scope of this problem.
We pulled together a quick Bed Bounce survey (now closed) that asked Tundra owners to tell us what model of Tundra they had, the severity of their bed bounce problem, etc. We asked for a VIN number as a form of verification because we reasoned that we could dismiss fake survey results if the VIN numbers didn’t match up. Our initial survey results led us to conclude the following:
- The overwhelming majority of people who complained about Bed Bounce had never bothered to call and/or email their complaints to Toyota.
- We tossed out 15% of the survey results because those participants couldn’t supply a valid VIN number to match their vehicle description. 1 in 6 responses were fake.
After the survey, the storm surrounding bed bounce continued to grow. Over the next year we offered a reader submitted bed bounce cure, encouraged sufferers to email Toyota, published more information, and we maintained contact with some Tundra owners who were trying to get Toyota to buy back their Tundras because of this problem.
In December 2008, one of our readers Jeff sent us some data that indicated changing the Tundra’s shocks would have an impact on bed bounce. While that post got some response, it definitely seems like the bed bounce problem has died down.
Today, about a year and a half later, we’re not seeing nearly as many emails about bed bounce. Could it be that this problem was blown out of proportion by the internet community? Here’s what we’ve come to believe about bed bounce and the bed bounce problem:
1) It’s real, but it’s rare. Most people who have the problem drive on concrete highways at 55mph +, and Southern California seems to be the epicenter.
2) Weight in the bed – either from sand, a water bag, or something custom made like the Willy Bar – reduces bed bounce significantly. The Tundra is a heavy duty half ton, and it was made to haul stuff. Driving it around empty doesn’t always result in a good ride, especially on bad and/or bumpy roads.
3) Tundra haters were very busy trying to tear down our truck. Our survey results showed that almost 1 in 6 survey respondents were fake. Considering that our VIN validation method was hardly fool-proof, it’s entirely possible that fake surveys were counted in the real results. Call us paranoid, but it seems likely that many of the comments like “my Tundra’s bed bounce is awful” were fake as well.
4) Consumers are aware of this issue and some of them are staying away from the Tundra. A quick internet search of “Toyota Tundra problems” will inevitably lead to a discussion about bed bounce. If potential consumers followed our advice and thoroughly test drove the Tundra before buying, they might have chosen not to buy the Tundra.
5) Toyota has quietly made some headway on this problem. Toyota never acknowledged this issue in the first place, so they certainly aren’t going to talk about how they “fixed” the bad ride. Still, the number of bed bounce complaints about 2008+ Tundras that we’ve received pales in comparison to the number of complaints we got on the 2007.
So there you have it. We’ve been at or near the forefront of documenting this problem for a while now, and it seems like this issue is better than it’s ever been. It’s occured to us before that this entire problem might have been overblown, and the relative quiet now would seem to reinforce that. Do you agree – was the Tundra bed bounce problem overstated?
Filed Under: Tundra Recalls
I expressed my opinion, as well as my disbelief to the bed bounce issue approximately a year ago with the bed bounce survey. I, as well as multiple friends have TRD DBL. CAB and CREW MAX 07′ Tundras, with zero complaints.
At this point in time I am not willing to express any opinions on any trucks, whether it be Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Nissan. My reluctance to express an opinion spares me from people that are only intent on bashing the Tundra. But YES, I do believe that this problem was overstated!!!!
Furthermore, my 07′ TRD 5.7L DBL CAB replaced my 01′ 4.7L EXT CAB, that’s 8 years of tundras with zero problems!!!!
[…] article. Is the Tundra’s Bed Bounce Problem Overstated? | Tundra Headquarters I have never experienced any shaking or bouncing or any type of vibration in my truck. I hope […]
The issue was WAAAY overstated and most of the videos showing bad bed bounce trasfering to the cab were proven as fakes. How sad all the little people with their tiny brains want the smart people to suffer because they are idiots. Stupid kills, but not nearly fast enough. The truth is out there, you keep digging while I go drink my latte before it gets cold.
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You can come and take a ride in mine and experience the bed bounce first hand when I have nothing in the box and I live in WI. Just find a road with bumps larger than pavement cracks and viola! Find a road with potholes and hold on! Now you know why they have those annoying seatbelt beeper to ensure you stay in the seat.
I have an 07 double cab with the TRD package. With an my atv in the back it rides remarkably smooth. 300lbs of sandbags in the winter offer a pretty good ride too. Empty, no one wants to ride in the bounce machine. I have ridden in 07 extended cab f-150 & silverado and they ride 100x better with an unloaded bed. The rest of the truck is awesome, but how good really is a vehicle that rides like a horse drawn carriage? Since the purchase of the truck in Nov 07 I have put on 18,000 miles, should be more but no one wants to ride in it on road trips. I’m sure this is related to the amount of movement in the box which is attached to the frame. As much as I don’t want to admit it as a Tundra owner, there is some validity in the Ford bed bounce video, it’s just an extreme example, but not to far off of how bad it actually gets.
No other brand of truck manufactured in 2007 exhibits this terrible ride quality, 1/2 ton or 1 ton, that I’ve ridden in. I’m optimistic someone will come up with a fix, just disappointed I have to perform this “mod” on my $34,000 truck. Just as disappointing neither Toyota or my dealership have no interest in doing anything to help resolve this problem. It’s discouraging that I can’t ride in relative comfort as far as trucks go to go and pick something up. I mean, I have to have my bed empty if I’m going to go somewhere and load it up. I don’t like loading and unloading 100’s of lbs of sand whenever I want to put anything in the bed. One whopper of a first year of production issue for some of us owners.
Again, the truck has many remarkable aspects, just do yourself a favor if you are considering one. Take it for a nice long test drive, especially down the routes you travel most. This will be a good truck for many, I’m sure. I will not be buying another Tundra as I personally value ride quality over HP and looks. Ford seems to be able to tow more & haul more with less hp & tq these days.
how long can u complain about something? People have either excepted the problem by now, or gotten rid of their trucks. I’m not saying that lots of people got rid of their tundras, I don’t know how often that has happened. Anyways, that’s my point, people got over it/lived with it and have stopped complaining.
ps- I own a 2007 crewmax 4×4 and like the truck alot. I have noticed that the tundras bed does move more over the bumpy parts of the road when compared to the new ford or chevy. that being said I have never experienced the out of control bed boune.
I have a 2008 Crewmax Tundra Grade; live in Layton Utah with a daily commute into Salt Lake City on I-15 which has both concrete and asphault lanes. I have noticed the bed bounce; this morning one particular lane at a spot, running around 68mph, created a very noticable bounce that, in my estimation, appeared to be upwards of 3 to 4-inches of movement, but changing lanes quickly resolved the issue to a point. I’ve been considering the various posts about potential solutions, from Bilstein shocks to Timbren to Supersprings, with the intent of finding one that will dampen the bounce while not affecting ride quality. Although the bounce is annoying when it occurs, and Toyota should do something (make an add-on dampener) about it, I’m still a pleased owner knowing that reliability and overall quality will pay me back for years. My 2001 Sequoia Limited has given me over 180,000 miles with rock-solid reliability (other than the brake rotor issue), while many relatives and friends with other makes continue to visit service centers for failures of various things. I still think I have the better bargain in the long run.
Steve – Here here. There are a lot of bashers just itching for an excuse.
Jeremy – As you say, the Ford produced bed bounce videos were never “proof” in my eyes. I agree – the people who pretended to be a Tundra owner to amp up the hype are stupid and sad. The legitimate owners who are complaining, however, are absolutely correct. This is a real issue.
Joe – Good advice. Test drives are key.
Patrick – Good point – perhaps people have stopped complaining because they’ve moved on. Still, I wonder if the reason might be that Toyota has adjusted the 08′ and up.
Jon – I agree. The Tundra, like anything man made, isn’t perfect…but it’s pretty damn good.
I’ve felt it and it’s only been in Southern California and some areas near Oakland. I agree it’s annoying but would I sell my truck because of it if I lived in an area where it is prevelant? Maybe. If I have to complain about something that much I’m going to do something about it. You hate your job…do you sit there and continue to complain or get off your ass and look for a new job? I’m not saying it doesn’t happen – I’m just saying there is more than one way to handle a situation. Griping usually gets you nowhere, even if you are right.
The bed bounce is noticeable as compared to riding in a Chevy Silverado. But, it is not terrible, just more choppy with an up and down movement felt on concrete slabs in sections going 45-60 mph or so. I think the bed bounce issue has been overstated and is not so terrible you cannot drive the tundra without your teeth falling out. I would be more concerned about the rusting, major components needing replacing well before they should be needed to be replaced like front differentials, 4wd’s, serpentine belts, tailgate issues, bumpers, lug nuts, paint issues, etc.. Get over the bed bounce and either live with it or sell the tundra and start worrying about the components failing that never should happen ever under warranty.
Hi, I just purchased a brandnew 2008 Tundra Crewmax Limited TRD with 112 miles. I am not new to Toyota’s, my last before my 08 Tundra was a 05 Sequoia and before that was an 05 Tundra. I think I understand the bed bounce issue, but forgive my ignorance but isn
Jason I’m glad you came on with whether it is overated or not. We know the areas that are affected by this. Again I don’t have the issue and with 55,000 miles on my 07 Crewmax Limited I would expect alot of bugs and issues but for once I don’t have any. I do feel for the ones who have the issue with the bed bounce and trying to get it resolved. I’ve been there on my 06 Chevy and 03 Ford trucks. Not with a bed bounce but other major issues that make you hate the dealer because of poor and shoddy workmanship. I can’t blame the trucks but the work performed on them and customer service is what did me in. I really did like my 06 design, interior, mpg’s. I wasn’t happy with the way the sunroof worked. It wasn’t like the Ford or the Toyota’s.
hey Jon Byrom i live in Roy Utah. i drive a white tundra. it got a toolbox with a sticker on it saying tesoro means treasures. i am at Star cafe around 415 or 430.
I purchased my tundra about 2 years ago, i have 16500 miles on it. I also filed a complaint to toyota about this bouncing issue. I live in LA and on only certain freeways do I experience the bouncing. While this is an uncomfortable problem I am willing to live with it. I purchased this truck to tow my yacht that weights approximately 9750 pounds. I have towed this 29 foot beast thousands of miles from chino to long beach and recently laughlin NV. The tundra is simply amazing as a towing machine. Thanks to toyota I didn’t have to purchase a costly diesel and two years ago i was able to get zero percent financing, sweet. The american truck dealers had absolutely no incentives. As a daily driver the tundra is light years ahead of any diesel, much more fun to drive. So I own a 1/2 ton that tows my yacht safely and fits in my garage. Thanks toyota.
Good to hear some positive comments even though you have that issue. I don’t have a yacht but my 07 Crewmax with 55,000 miles tow’s my 18.5 ft boat which both fit in my garage.
Andrew – Your comment touches on one of the nuances of this issue – “bed bounce” has different meanings to different people. The bed “bounces” differently than the cab, but that’s not what we’re referring to when we talk about “bed bounce.” Beds move differently than the rest of the truck on all trucks – it’s normal because the bed and the cab aren’t connected. The “bed bounce” we’re referring to is when the entire truck starts to do the jitterbug – bouncing that can sometimes be so severe that it’s difficult to hold a conversation. This is the “bed bounce” people are usually referring to, and it can be very frustrating. As you say, the stiff suspension is to blame…which is why a small load usually fixes or at least dramatically reduces the problem.
2007 tundra regular cab long bed 2wd…..bed bounce is verry noticeable in Las Vegas area, Phoenix and California.unless i put some load in the back,bounce is present …
is this bed bounce you are referring to the same as the tailgate rattling or something else? my 08 has the worst tailgate rattle, so bad you cannot roll down the back window and hear anything else. anyone know what causes this and how to stop it?
Marty – No – the tailgate rattle you speak of is not specific to the bed bounce problem we described above. Have your dealership check it out – perhaps one of the tailgate latches is out of alignment.
I have a 2008 Tundra Double Cab 4×4 TRD off road and I have significant “Bed Bounce” issues when on cement freeways in northern California. It seems fine on asphalt highways. It is very annoying when driving when the truck gets bouncing… I have had passengers laugh at my truck. I love the truck otherwise. Next time I buy I will be doing EXTENSIVE test driving. I wish Toyota corporate would acknowledge and fix.
Steve that’s long time waiting for that to happen. I don’t know why they sit idle about it.
Here here – this problem is well documented, and as we’ve shown some adjustment to the shocks could help immensely.
i own a 2009 crewmax trd rock pakg it rides smooth……… i drove frm kansas to virginia 1200 mile 24 time frame no load or any weight but me.. my 05 honda si is more of a ruffer ride. did they really resolve the issue??
Roadpirate – I can’t say for sure because Toyota hasn’t acknowledged an issue to begin with. If they had, then they could have said they fixed it. Since they never did…we’ll just have to wait and see if any 09′ Tundra owners complain.
I picked up my 09 crewmax a couple of weeks ago. I loved it until I drove on the 110 freeway. The bouncing was almost violent. I called the dealership to complain and what they told me was “its a truck so its going to be bouncy”. I didnt buy that as an answer and they also told me “you need to change lanes.” The bouncing is BAD. I can literally feel my stomache go up and down. I was hoping to find an aftermarket solution to this.
All, I certainly appreciate reading about this bed bounce problem. I can assure those who believe it is overstated have not ridden in a Tundra that has this issue. I recently bought a new 2008 4X2 5.7 dbl cab (2500 miles). I installed the TRD rear anti-sway bar because 99% of my driving is on highway/backroads/city streets – I like “spirited” driving. I live in Oregon, but I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. I took a trip down to the Bay Area in my new truck to visit my sister. I cruised along for about 470 miles until I hit I-550 near Sacramento. I-550 is concrete. My awesome smooth comfortable ride went out the window in a split second. I thought I was going to have to pullover on the shoulder and drive 25 mph with flashers on. I recall reading that someone experienced thier stomach moving – I can relate to that. I had to slow down quite a bit just to be able to continue. I discovered that this only occured on the concrete highways in the 60-75mph range. As soon as I hit pavement the bouce went away. I am so happy to read about this issue, because I had started searching for different shocks, but I have the “non-TRD’ shocks on my truck. However, the sway bar has solid connections to the frame near the bed. That’s probably why it felt extra horrible when on the concrete highways. Aside from this problem, I love the truck. this is my first Toyota. I’ve had them all – Dodge Ram, Ford F150, Chevy Silverado, Nissan Titan – this truck is every bit as good as them, and better in some cases. I will send a note to Toyota to let them know I have experienced this problem, and I’m gratefull to all who have provided comment and potential solutions. I hope I can find one that works without giving up the expensive sway bar!! The truck handles much better with it!
I would like to repeat what I posted in the other forum on this subject. I have installed rancho 9000 adjustable shocks on my ltd trd double cab in the rear, and the bed / cab bounce is history. On the soft setting, the ride if very smooth, with no repeat bouncing or jarring. On the mid setting, still way better than the stock bilteins were. On the stiff setting, about the same shake as with the biltsteins. Totally happy so far and feel the problem was the shocks and this has solved it. To note, over the last year, I have tried most of the solutions mentioned in forums on this subject, and nothing helped. There is some harshness in the front, which I can now tell, and will shortly replace the front shocks also with the ranchos. I would like to hear, others experience with these. Toyota should have long ago figured this one out, and replaced the poorly suited biltteins on the trd versions. I did try the ltd stock shocks earlier and these were quite and improvement over the biltsteins, but not perfect.This experience set me to try other shocks. The ranchos appear to solve the bed bounce problem.
Cheers, sak
I installed firestone air bags in addtions to the rancho shocks and the ride is very good. The air bags seem to cushion the vibrations from the suspension and frame. Highly recommend this combo. Now the truck is enjoyable in all conditions. I will next add a set of rancho 9000 with the quick lifts to lift and level the truck a bit.
cheers
sak
the bed bounce is real, and it’s absolutely unbearable, I just move to an area of SO CAL where I have to use a 30 mile stretch of road and can’t avoid it. my 2007 tundra bounce and shakes so much I honestly feel like it’s going to fall apart. I can’t imagine having some kind of sensitive cargo, like a flat panel tv or electronics, they would never survive….for those doubters, you have never encountered a concrete freeway, and pray you never do. but if one pays 40k for a truck, wouldn’t you expect to be able to drive it and not worry about such things? I had a 1996 ram and never had any issues driving the same road. I called toyota and they won’t even admit that it’s an issue. all they could say was that it was a “charateristic” of the truck, I call it a FLAW and will never EVER buy toyota again, I’ve been a loyal toyota customer most of my adult life, but it’s an insult to dump defective junk on people and not even acknowledge the problem.
Jorge I’ve encountered many of cement highways and interstates with 60,000 miles on my 07 CM. I haven’t encountered it at all. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but half of the blame goes to the road you’re on. You state you just moved to that area but you drove your 96 Ram there before with no problems. Not all areas are having this bounce like you have.
I have a 2008 tundra with 12000 miles, I have the same bed bounce , but with 2 bag of topsoil in the bed my problem was solved. roll on crewmax
There seems to be a difference with crew max and double cabs, likely because of length of box and cab. The double I have driven and owners I talked to have all been horrible, especially with the trd shocks. The limited are much better but not good.
I have now installed rancho 9000 all around, with firestone air bags in the back. The ranchos gave me 2.5 inch lift up front and air bags about an inch. Ride quality is very good now. All the higway bounce is gone. These shocks are very adjustable and the difference can be felt easily. I am running at 7 in front and 5 in back with 15 lbs in air bags on lightly loaded truck. The ride is what is should have been all along. Love the ride now.
cheers
sak
Sak – That’s great info – thanks for sharing.
I’m a new Tundra owner (my first pickup). Picked my 2010 Tundra Dbl in November 2009. I experienced the “bed bounce” for the first time this past weekend while driving from Colorado Springs to Denver. While driving through Monument and Castle Rock, which both use concrete highways, I experienced the “bounce.” The bounce was so bad going through Castle Rock, it was like my wife and I were in a vibrating massage chair on high. I’m going to look into the Rancho 9000 solution.
Eddie – Others have said that stretch of highway is bad. I have yet to drive it…keep forgetting…but it’s on my list of things to do next time I’m in Denver.
Just purchased an ’07 Dbl Cab w/TRD. Low 28k miles on it. CPO from a dealer in Los Angeles. I test drove it before purchasing it on the streets….didn’t see a problem. A few days later, after I had purchased the truck, I went on a stretch of freeway out in the Riverside/Corona area and boy did the cab bounce….it wasn’t pleasant. Since then, I’ve taken it to the dealer to have it checked out….the sales manager admitted the problem was there…in fact, he said he had taken the truck home one evening and experienced the problem. He said he hated it! Interesting that these guys take you for a test drive down streets in LA that are congested…..very deceiving. There’s no fix according to the dealer. They had me finally test drive it with a mechanic of theirs (not much of a “test drive” when I already own it) on a stretch of the 110 freeway and he felt it. He ALSO said he knows of the problem and hates it himself. In fact he wouldn’t buy a Tundra for this particular reason. Great! He also said, NO FIX. Nothing can be done. He explained what everyone else has said, it’s a truck and unless you have some weight on it, best of luck to you! I’m really considering asking the dealer to buy it back….fortunately, CA has lemon laws and in my opinion, if not all Tundra’s have this issue, this truck should be considered a Lemon.
Al – I appreciate where you’re coming from, but information about this problem has been around for a few years now. I realize the dealership didn’t go out of their way to tell you about this issue (and that’s a little dishonest on their part), but at the same time it’s up to you to do your research. A quick internet search about “2007 Toyota Tundra problems” before you signed the paperwork would have lead you straight to our website and info on the bed bounce problem.
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As for the fix, there are a few options: 1) More weight. This works and it’s pretty cheap (the cost of a few sandbags). 2) Different shocks. It won’t cure the problem, but it will reduce it. 3) The Willy Bar. It costs a few hundred dollars, but by all accounts it works well. 4) Sulastic springs. We’re dropping an article about these later this week. They wouldn’t be my first choice, but they might be worth considering.