Rear spring options with shell

Hey all, after exhausting the search feature, I have found a lot of great information, but not much on people riding with a shell on the bed.

My rear leaf springs are shot and with the weight of the shell (~150 lbs) it is sagging a bit. This weekend I had it loaded up, with a 3 bike rack on the hitch, and two other guys in the cab and it was very unstable to drive. There was only about an inch of positive wheel travel and I bottomed out pretty often.

After doing my research I have narrowed my setup down to:

• Originals with Firestone air bags
• OEM Replacements with Firestone Airbags
• OEM Replacements with AAL
• Dakar 2.25 leaf pack
• Wheelers 5 leaf pack (Not sure if I want to spend this much)

I am on a tight budget, so I would prefer to keep this at a reasonable cost.

I would like to get the bilstein shocks all the way around (Also to lift the front a little bit). I am curious about the air bags because it seems like I wont be making any compromises depending on how much I am loading up; I would be able to dial it in just right.

I do like to take the truck off road, but mostly rocky fire roads and nothing too serious.

What would you guys pick and why?

 

Why would you not go with All Pro Expo leafs? 3" of lift and an extra 400# of capacity...

 

Those look like a pretty nice option! Does anyone have pics loaded and unloaded? I am curious how they ride with no weight in the bed.

 

I've been happy with my Dakars. I loaded mine down awhile back with a full bed of stuff, 300 lbs and pulling a heavy old bass boat and I was sitting level and it road awesome. In fact the springs rode better afterwards unloaded after giving them a good workout. They will be kinda stiff when you first get them.

 

Leafs don't actually add capacity , just alter the way the truck reacts to loads

 

This is true. I mistyped. They are made to give you 3" of lift with 400 pounds over stick weight....