Rear sag with a topper help.

HEYO!

I have an 04 Dbl Cab TRD 4x4 with a Snugtop cab high topper on it.

I recently parked next to a buddy with a similar truck and no topper and noticed that I'm sagging.


eBay has some Rough Country add a leafs for way cheap.


What's the remedy YOU would choose?

 

Add a leafs, will only work for a while, the leaf springs on the 1st generation are weak, for a long term fix you should replace your leaf springs.

 

Yep. Your best bet would be replacing the rear leaves with something that will handle the load better. In the short term you could just use an AAL or airbags.

I am running the OME Dakar springs and have a snugtop. With the just Dakars it still sagged until I added the OME AAL to go with it. Helped a lot with sag and load capacity.

Before with just Dakars


after with Dakars and OME D6XL AAL

 

I understand that you usually "get what you pay for", but I saw a pair of Rough Country AAL on eBay that were only $50 shipped.

That's pretty tempting to at least get me through til Spring.

I've just recently spent a little dough on the truck and need to simmer down for a hot minute.

 

how bad is it? post some pics

 

The AAL will be fine as long as your existing springs still have arc and are not flat.

I would use the ToyTec or Wheeler's offering myself, but maybe the Rough Country is OK.
You want the AAL leaf to be as long as possible. Some of the cheaper ones are fit-alls and are short, square-cut, with no pads.

 

This.

I have the wheelers AAL with my Wheelers 5 pack leafs. Helped a ton and is a great product.

Either way, new leafs never hurt. Your gonna have to replace them soon anyways.

 

Your *best* best is custom Alcan springs, IMO. 10 minutes on the phone with them and they'll get you set up with EXACTLY the right kind of springs for your application. I believe they generally run about $600 for a set (could be wrong though).

But yes, an AAL is a "good" short term/cheap alternative.

 

So you are at 6 leafs right?

I've got the 5 pack too and while i'm still level wit ha topper, my load capacity is shit...

I was thinking in the spring i'd bump from OME 881's to Eibachs and an AAL... did you get any amount of lift with the W AAL or was it just load increase? Their site doesn't really say what you get... (near the bottom)

 

The sag isn't TERRIBLE, but I'd estimate it at 2"-3" lower than an untopped reg Cab.

The Rough Country's advertise as a "Short" AAL.

I should be looking for a longer one with pads? Never heard of pads and am not real sure about anything suspension related.

I think an AAL will be good enough for me for now.

Next year I may to the entire Spring pack and shocks and what not.


Recommended AAL?

 

Already did in post #6
ToyTec
Wheeler's Off Road

Call 'em, they use Deaver and Alcan (read good stuff) .....they also know Tacos.

 

Just ordered the $75 AAL from Toytec.

How long to install do you reckon?

anything else I will need handy while I'm getting after this?

 

good choice. I avoid rough country, most of their stuff is just redneck junk...I put them in the same arena as procomp and tough country...lol


And the longer AAL you ordered will ride better than the short one.

Install is pretty easy. Just unbolt U-bolts, support rear axle on jacks, remove bumpstop and center pins, install AAL and new center pins, and reassemble.

You may need new U-bolts if your stockers are too short for the AAL or are rusty.

 

Yep 6 leafs. It gave me about another 1.5'' or more of lift, Dan says its abouts 1.5-2'' depending. If you go to my build you can see a before and after with the AAL as i ordered it a week after i put the 5 pack and shackles on. I bet if i didn't have my 1.5'' shackles i would sit level with the Eibachs. Helped a lot with load too. Runs a bit stiff but when there is a bit of weight back there its great

 

Install is easy, just becareful. there are several write ups on how to do it so a bit of searching will be all you need. Its the same process for 2nd gens so don't worry if you can't find a 1st gen one.


Do you have an extended brake line? MIGHT need that..but prolly not..

And as TX stated U bolts are a possibility. But a cheap way to get around that is just post up in the for sale section to try and buy some 2nd gen ubolts. They are longer then ours and if someone lifted there truck with low miles they will be in great shape. I did this and they are long enough for my 6 pack. Got em for free from my dad So just a tip.