Need help deciding next upgrade, gears or leafs

So I just picked up some Budbuilt skids and 4Xinnovations sliders.
I got enough extra cash to tackle one more weak area, but I can't prioritize which I should go with.

Either Allpro Expo springs - I really want because I hate going camping and squating in the back with just the 200lbs or so I put in the bed, and I'll be able to ditch the extrended shackles.

Or, 4.56 gears - Which I really could use to help get some MPG's back and improve towing power.

From the guys that've been doing this a while, what would you go with ?

 

Springs and shocks will be what, ~$500? Gears will be $1300-2000.

 

Expo springs were the best upgrade I could have done for camping, no more squatting ass end for me.

 

I'd probably get a leaf set up for only 2" of lift and keep the extended shackles. That way you can get more movement out of your axle.

 

Gears will be closer to $700 for everything I think, doing the install myself.

In the end, both will be done, I just don't know which I should tackle first.
I never know when I'm going to get extra cash to do upgrades so it might be a while after this round before I get back to it.

decisions decisions.

Yall are making me lean more toward leafs though.

 

Keep the shackles and do a what lumpskie said. I did it with d akars and a 1.25" shackle and love it.

 

Do omd leaves for less than $100. I started looking for Chevy donor springs today, didn't find the right width but i am going to keep looking.

 

^ What he said! I just did it added two f150 leafs and ditched my overloads and love it! Got about 3" of lift. Only cost $40 lol

 

I hope you know what you're doing - I hand built an engine a few months ago and I'm a little skeptical of my ability to set up a differential. Easy to screw up, from what I've heard.

 

I've never done it, but my old man is a phone call away, he's a 45 year mechanic. Im like you though, rebuilt engines never diffs. Seen it done so many times though, its not hard, just have to be comfortable with using gauges

 

Let me know how it goes? I'd be afraid of getting back together and hearing a whine, haha..but if you have success I may try mine.