Bed Bounce Treatment: The Willybar

Posted by admin (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

13 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.