New to hauling with mid size

Hey T-World,

New to hauling heavy loads of dirt/debris with mid size and have questions on what other people have for rear set ups. I currently have a lift kit ( Bilstein 6112's in the front at 5th notch and 1.5 blocks in the rear)

I hear everyone rave about Dakar Leaf springs and have the gut feeling to just buy the over $400 dollar leafs and install, but I'm curious if there are better set ups as my truck is my daily driver and I don't haul stuff every day, just on certain occasions.

I would appreciate input on a good set up for the rear that keeps it lifted and able to load up the bed with 1,000 lbs easy.

 

Dakar will work for sure.... I have Icon AALs progressive with 5100s and that works too. Stock with block I imagine is bumpy/saggy/ roley poley at 1K of gear or what have you.

My Icon AALs are perfect with an empty bed and great with a full bed... stock was not so much.

 

I had Wheelers 3 leaf pack in the rear with 6112's up front set at 3 and I towed a heavy ass single axle scout trailer no problems.



The suspension could handle it the trailer weight fine. However the Tacoma wasn't too comfy hauling that kind of weight up and down grade and on mountain curves. But again that trailer SUCKS and is grossly overweight.

 

Toytec add a leafs worked great for me.

 

I've add sumosprings, they do the job very well and don't cost a lot. Ride quality daily driving is near as stock.

 

You installed your kit I remember seeing. Was the wheelers add a leaf made out of good material? it seems to be the cheapest option at 159.95 vs Icons "sale" 214.59.

The local Fab Boys said they have seen Add A Leafs slip out or screw up, so I was wary about it.

 

Im running the fire stone air bags on stock suspension. They work awesome and have no complaints. The boats total weight it 5600lbs loaded and she handles it with no issues. I usually run about 20lbs of air in the bags and have had no issues

 

With the Toytec add a leaf, you seperate the leaf pack, install the add a leaf between a couple of leafs, and put a new bolt through them, with longer u-bolts. There is no possible way the leaf could "slip out" or screw up. Not sure about the other setups.
If you're keeping stock height, airbags would be pretty nice, because they don't affect your ride when not hauling weight.

 

Going over speed bumps is like riding a donkey and it kicks like no other. Time to set it up right.

 

Yup there's that.. AALs and different shocks set that straight ... now we see speed bumps we call em "fun bumps" bro-taco.... for the time being you could throw a bale of weed in the back, problem solved. Just sayin...

 

Whatever you do, if it were me, I would get rid of the blocks. Difficult to hold good pinion angles under high loads due to excessive axle wrap under acceleration and heavy braking. Blocks just seem like cutting corners rather than doing it right.

 

Toytec, wheelers, headstrong- all those 3 leaf AAL are the same I believe. Deavers.

Same hardware came with mine.

 

I loaded it up once with about 900lbs of weight and realized Blocks are the worst option. Trying to decide how I spend my money next with an educated decision thanks to all of you folks.

Thank you everyone for your reply. I want to keep it lifted somewhat so i'll probably just add a leaf and a sumo spring which will probably add a little over 1.5 inches. I have the extended 5100's in the rear so I've got that going for me which is nice....

 

So why would he need to travel any where? He would just sit in the back of the truck.

 

I would do dakars and pull some leafs out if it's too stiff for your liking

 

You know I apologize. I did not read your post clearly on my phone earlier. I see you're concerned about hauling in the bed..

Yeah- I would go with Dakar's for that task (at least if it were me). Especially hauling 1,000lbs on any semi-regular basis.

 

Do you know how many leafs you have to take out to only lift the rear 2 inches or close it it? From pictures it looks like the leaf pack is 6 total.