Bed Bounce Treatment: The Willybar

Posted by Jason in August 11th, 2008

Posted in: Tundra Recalls

As we’ve mentioned before, some Tundra owners have trouble with “bed bounce.” While it’s a problem that effects only a small percentage of Tundra owners, it’s a big deal for the people it does effect. To be clear, bed bounce is NOT bed flex that you can see out your rear-view mirror as you’re driving down the road. Bed flex is normal – every truck bed “floats” separate of the cab by design. True bed bounce is not just seen but actually felt. SO, if you aren’t feeling it, then you don’t have a problem.

This video from Willybar demonstrates their product pretty nicely, but it also demonstrates real bed bounce quite well.

We haven’t reviewed the product, but this video makes a compelling case for checking it out. Here’s a link to Willybar’s website.

Next:Tundra Tops 2008 J.D. Power Long Term Dependability Results

27 comments

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BigMeeks Said in August 11th, 2008 @12:06 pm

I actually have a willybar installed in my 2007 Toyota Tundra DC. It did improve the bed bounce that I was suffering from. It works better than the sandbags and bladders others have used since it allows the use of your bed still. My wife and daughter hated riding in the truck and since the willybar, they have no issues. I say it cut the bed bounce in half.

admin (Jason) Said in August 12th, 2008 @12:21 pm

BigMeeks – That sounds good. Do you think it’s worth the money? Willybar says it costs $650.

BigMeeks Said in August 12th, 2008 @1:29 pm

Well I think for what I use my truck for its worth everypenny. It works better than sand bags or bladders since I constantly haul motorcycles and lots of other gear in the bed. I dont have to constantly drain/fill a bladder, install it/remove it, or lug around gravel or sand tubes. I read somewhere a truck owner who used the water bladder and sand bags only to come out to his truck to find a mud pit in his bed. It also looks clean especially since I already had my truck line x’d. I think its no different than the AMP powersteps I put on my truck. I could’ve bought $100 tube steps off ebay that would do the same thing as the Amp steps. And we all know the Amp steps are a pretty penny. It didn’t eliminate the bounce but it reduced it significantly. I think the elimination of the bounce should come from Toyota and I am still waiting to here back regarding my formal complaint on this issue. Im local to WillyBar so I didn’t have to pay shipping but overall it works for me and would do it again.

Mickey Said in August 12th, 2008 @1:56 pm

Big Meeks how’s your MPG’s with that on/off? AMP in my opinion is too expensive for the product.

admin (Jason) Said in August 13th, 2008 @9:57 am

BigMeeks – Thanks for the input – good points.

BigMeeks Said in August 13th, 2008 @11:00 am

Well Mickey, I agree the AMP steps are a bit pricey, but so is the RBP grill I have on my truck. Could’ve went with a cheaper mod but I want my truck to be different. The AMP step are different than all the OEM steps/boards out there, and do what they are supposed to but also look good doing it. Its the same as the willybar. It reduced the bed bounce that I had but looks way better than sandbags/waterbladders in my bed. Others might not think its worth it but IMO it is. I have always averaged 16-17 mpg since owning my truck and that hasn’t changed since the installation of the Willybar. Just think of the Willybar as if you have a 300lb woman tied up in the back of your truck bed, just better looking.

Mickey Said in August 13th, 2008 @1:55 pm

I agree with you Big Meeks on the willybar just wanted to know what mpg’s were. I’ll wait for the price to come down when he gets competition. So the mpg’s are good. I just didn’t want to lose what I gained. Don’t get me wrong about the AMP. Seeing that guy on the front part of the step and watching it flex would worry me. That besides the price turns me away. I do like the action it has. It will definitely make your truck different than the rest. I will wait to see for awhile before I really make up my mind on this jsut to see if any problems exist.

mario Said in August 13th, 2008 @8:59 pm

I had gotten the sulastic rubber spring in my 2008 crew max and i did not feel nothing different on the ride and they promised it would help but it really didn’t. So i really dont know if i really want to waist any more money . ( is this product really worth the money)

Ian Said in August 14th, 2008 @6:32 am

I’m assuming this footage was shot in the California area correct? Has anyone thought of reproducing that run but with Toyota’s competitors as well and then submitting the video to Toyota as proof of the bounce issue? I would think that with footage like this, Toyota would have no choice but to correct the issue. Just a thought.

Morenoc12 Said in August 16th, 2008 @6:39 pm

the Willybar will work, it’s the same thing as puting sand bags in the back of the truck but replaced with steel plates. I dont know what a steel plates goes for but im prety sure you can get a local metal shop to provide something similar but cheaper. I give them credit for the simple and efective solution but its not something that i personally would pay $650.

BIG BAD DAVE Said in September 12th, 2008 @10:48 pm

If you have the Willybar with 300 pounds of weight, how high do the plates add up to? Do they get in the way when you load or unload things? I hate spending money trying to reduce this problem. Toyota should fix it. I have a 2008 SR5 DBL CAB with the 5.7 engine..

Morenoc12 Said in September 15th, 2008 @8:35 pm

i personally dont think toyota is going to fix the problem, they might redisign the new tundras to reduce or eliminate the problem but the curent ones will probably no get a fix unless something drastic hapens. This will probably be due to the fact that the would probaly need to change the springs and the shocks of all tundra, wich with parts and labor would hurt them quite a bit.

Bruce Said in January 19th, 2009 @3:25 pm

i bought a toolbox for my 07 and it work good.

mario Said in January 26th, 2009 @8:53 pm

i just got the willy bar. and it really works. like the other guy said it cuts the bed bounce in half. I am really happy that i got the willy bar i recommend it to every one that suffers from bed bounce “trust me”

Mickey Said in January 27th, 2009 @2:18 pm

Sounds good Mario. But still Toyota needs to do something to alleviate this issue.

mario Said in January 29th, 2009 @5:40 pm

that is true but i think it going to take them a long time until they do something about it.

Rich Said in February 4th, 2009 @6:38 pm

Guys im SOOOO sorry you have to deal with this. This is unacceptable, but hey you look good being a wobble head with 387 hp. I wonder if the Tundra is going to follow the Titan?

Mickey Said in February 4th, 2009 @7:03 pm

Nice try Rich but it won’t happen. You have less than 3% of the trucks sold having this issue and out of those 3% you’re lucky to have 40% of them file a complaint with NHTSA or ODI. Until that happens then it will be business as usual. I don’t have the shake, rattle, and roll with my 07 Crewmax.

Paul Said in May 8th, 2009 @1:07 pm

Its nice to see…, or maybe not, that other people are experiencing this crazy bounce. I have been telling all my friends that this problem exists and they all think I’m nuts. I have been a staunch Toyota fan since my first celica 5 speed in 1979. I have had two trucks since then, a two wheel drive and a four wheel drive Tacoma…both great trucks. I’ve owned a Camry(10 years) and currently also own a 2004 Rav4 my wife drives and never had any serious problems. I was so excited when the Tundra first came out because I had had bad experiences with both Ford and GMC full size trucks. The first time I got behind the wheel of my 2007 SR5 double cab I felt the problem even at slow speeds, but I just fluffed it off thinking it was nothing. After driving the truck for about two months everyone I knew wanted to kill me cause I would not shut up about the odd bounce. I tried e-mailing Toyota directly only to get the usual lame brain excuse, ” It’s a truck it is supposed to ride like that” , what? Same reponse from the dealer who acctually replaced the shocks in the rear, to no avail. I am so fed up at this point that I might just invest in this product…hell we all know Toyota is not going to do sh%%.

Steve Said in May 15th, 2009 @10:22 am

I know they recommend running 300lbs for the willybar in the DCs- does anyone know if theres any benefit in running the 400lbs willybar? will it smooth out the ride a bit more?

Mickey Said in May 15th, 2009 @6:08 pm

Steve I wish I could tell you but I don’t have that issue with the bed bounce here in Jax florida. Mostly asphalt and the cement is fairly new and don’t have the lips on them. From what I read what was recommended fix the problem.

admin (Jason) Said in May 17th, 2009 @1:16 pm

Steve – I’m thinking that Willybar has tested the setup and found that 300 works best, but I don’t know for sure. They can probably answer that question best unless anyone with the Willybar wants to comment?

Mickey Said in May 17th, 2009 @7:50 pm

TAMPA, FL (AP) — A new national study says Florida’s roads are better than most states.

The survey from The Road Information Program and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials places Florida third in the nation for the quality of its roads, tied with Montana.

It’s outranked only by Georgia and Nevada.

A researcher who performed the study says the absence of widespread freeze and thaw cycles in Florida gives it an advantage over many other states.

It didn’t state the other states where the roads have the bed bounce is high at

Michlle Said in June 19th, 2009 @1:19 pm

In response to your comment Jason, we have definitely conducted enough research and found the 300 lbs is sufficient for most Toyota Tundra 1/2 ton models, including the Double Cab. However, the Crew Max has seen the bounce effectively reduce with 400 lbs.

Also, check out our new website. Will you be able to also update the video on your blog Jason? Here’s the link just in case: https://www.willybar.com/View_Demo.html

Please let us know if anyone has any further questions?

Thank you!

The Willybar Team

Randy Said in February 14th, 2010 @1:48 pm

This is my first Toyota(2007 SR5 double cab TRO) and it’s been a bad experience due to bed bounce.

Michlle Said in February 20th, 2010 @9:39 am

Hi everyone!

We just launched the Willybar 2.0 website. Here’s the link to the video demonstrating how the Willybar can be a solution to this bed bounce, especially on the Toyota Tundra.

https://www.willybar.com/Demo.html

Please contact us at the Willybar team if you have any questions?

Sincerely,

The Willybar Team
email: info@willybar.com
tel: 877-338-3222