Help me Choose

Hello,

Ive been searching and reading and trying to come up with a plan for a budget minded Expodition rig. Ive been on Expedition Portal and they have given me some excellent info.

The first round of my build I was thinking of addressing the suspension and tires. Ive set my budget at $1000 to start, not opposed to going over a few hundred.

My platform is an 09 Access cab, base model. 4cyl 5 speed. No TSB on the rear springs, they are very weak when I carry loads camping. Im looking for a kit that will give me the best bang for my buck. I dont want huge amounts of lifts. 1 to 2 inches. Ive found three kits that are in my price range of what Id like to spend.
Kit 1. Kit 2. Kit 3.
Bills 5100s, stock coils, and wheelers add a leaf.

What do you suggest as far as Ride, Longevity, down travel/ flexibility, product.

Thanks.
Ryan

 

Those are 3 decent options to start out with. If you're looking to upgrade your suspension again in a year or so and go with something higher end, I'd save the money and go with Kit 3. If you plan on keeping the suspension kit for a while, kit 1 or 2 would be good. I've got something very similar to kit 1 and am very happy with it. I spend a lot of my time on pavement though so the stiffer Eibach coil was a good match for me. If I spent a lot of time off road or on dirt roads, I may have gone with kit 2. The OME kit is rated very well and you really can't go wrong with it.

Downtravel is limited by the shock and would be similar in all kits.

The Eibach coils are shorter and stiff 620 lb/in. The OME coils I believe are around 580 lb/in and the heigh depends on which coil you purchase. 884's and 885's have the same spring rate, the 885's are 10mm taller.

Do you plan to armor the truck or are you carrying extra weight that's permanently attached to the truck (plate bumper, winch, sliders, skids, etc). You may want to figure that into the equation now and plan for it.

 

Not looking to add much armor. Maybe a rear bumper and a set of sliders

 

Is 620lb eibach coil to stiff to run without any add on weight?

 

No, the eibach is perfect. Many say it improves the ride.

I would (I am) go with the eibachs at the front if you dont plan on putting any significant weight up there. You can get 2.6" of lift in you set your billies to .85", and 1.5" or 2" in the back depending on what AAL you get

 

Nope, I'm running them without much added weight. They're short enough where it's not an issue but they do ride stiffer. Without any weight and the 5100's set at 0 they provide just under 2" of lift (they advertise 1.6" but actually give a tiny bit more). You're an access cab so you might push a little closer to 2" than what I got with my double cab.

 

im no genius here but id go with the bilstien set up with ebaich coils. ur still gona get a full three inchs of lift with good ride quality. the ome lift is good to but for the money isnt worth it.

 

Get these, the new Toytec 5100/Eibach combo for a full 3 inch lift. And I have the TSB in the rear with a 1.5 AAL from Toytec. Rides amazing

 

Not necessarily, OME makes some good stuff for the money. OME kits are taller and lower spring rates so they'll give a little easier. The Eibachs are a fairly stiff coil. I chose them because they're short and are a great coil for pavement. If you off road a lot you might want something that has a little give to it.

 

100% incorrect

except for the " I'm no genius " part

 

Kind of a thread revive, Ive decided im going to level it out with 5100s, as well as add them in the rear. Id like to make the leafs stiffer for better weight capacity, but I dont want to raise it with an add a leaf. Would bags be the best choice?

 

This is not so much for the Guys lifting their trucks but...

I was speaking to a guy who works for a NASCAR team (and asked him to give a shoutout on National TV to TACOMAWORLD if he ever gets the chance!) and asked him what I should go with (Firestone air bags, leafs to stiffen it up, etc.) He looked me in the eye and without hesitation said "Put AIR SHOCKS on it.

He explained the bags are expensive and are exposed to the elements and get damaged. He says air shocks can be filled with an on-board electric pump to carry load and/or tune ride quality issues.

Is the solution to this problem really that simple?

I'm thinking he may be correct.

 

Sounds expensive, but makes sense.