Suspension choices....

That was very helpful....
After talking to them I'm thinking accu tuned Fox 2.5 front , 2.0 rear with Dakar med. spring pack is looking good and in my price range...
Anyone running Fox with accutune valving..?
Impressions..?

 

I've heard nothing but good things about them and they're always quick to help on here

@*TRD*

 

Thank you!!!

I'm not great at remembering screen names, but here are a few I recall:
@christyle @MCDavis
@abqnurse80 - might not be installed yet

 

Im installing tomorrow, will report back, but just looking at them, pure truck porn!!!!

 

I have 4K miles on Accutune’d Fox 2.5 resi’s for my 6” BDS lift. On pavement it’s awesome...and I’m running F-rated load tires. I ran 40 miles of sand three weeks ago between 10-35mph in NC and they performed flawlessly.

Ryan @*TRD* and his team do good work.
Just waiting for my pre-ordered t-shirt

 

For guys that did the progressive aal, does it ride rough? I put the Icon one in mine with the overload and you can just feel how heavy it is. Suggestions?

 

We've found the AAL's to be fairly progressive, even with the overload removed. They are a good upgrade over stock, but not as good as the RXT pack we tested on the same truck.

 

Awesome! Glad to hear it!

Shirts are due early next week!

Thanks again!
-Ryan

 

Glad to provide reviews!! Looking forward to the swag.

 

Check my build thread for my experiences on my progression through suspension designs with AccuTune. The tunes have been great for all conditions, and that's what really makes suspension shine, is a good tune. Fox or King, as long as they're tuned by someone that knows what they're doing (Like AccuTune), are going to be a great investment. If you want to keep costs in check, I'd go with a normal Fox 2.5 non-res, Icon delta joint upper arm, Icon progressive AAL pack and some rear 2.0s (or 2.5s if you can swing it). If you can afford it, stepping the front up to a reservoir shock and the rear to a 2.5 will help with shock fade, where the shocks heat up and start dropping in performance under longer, continuous use. I faded my rear 2.0s in an unloaded truck, but I was getting after it pretty hard in the desert on a very rough road with lots of big dips/bumps. Can't wait to try it out with my new setup from AccuTune.

The DSC adjusters are great for varying conditions: Street driving, slow crawling, washboard bumps and high-speed offroad all have very different suspension needs. Icon AAL pack is nice for a little lift, but doesnt do anything for my issue, payload weight. I have the Icon RXT pack (and 2.5x12s in extended mounts) and will see how it handles a load on my next camping trip. I have the uniball uppers and they go in and out of squeaking and groaning while turning from dirt in the uniball, even with the protective caps, which is why I suggested the delta joint arms. So far no complaints about any of the things from AccuTune, they do great work.

 

Thank Christyle....
I'll be checking out that build thread.
The biggest question I have right now is what rear spring to use.
Choices are AAL with overload left in. That was suggested as the better ride vs Dakar med.
then there is the Dakar med. that gives more load capacity but a stiffer ride. Will never need the heavy spring.
I haul a heavy load once or twice a month for about 70 freeway miles and the rest of the time I'm unloaded street(90%) and off-road (10%). I really want to have the best combined ride for both if possible.
What other options are available..?
Deaver is expensive but I would consider if it meets my needs.
A little stiffer than stock would be ok but looking for a balanced ride.

 

Airbags might work best for your needs if you're loaded and unloaded that often.
I have a progressive add-on, but it's not for everyone. I love it for my uses, but others aren't so fond. Roadmaster Active Suspension is the name.
https://activesuspension.com/

Worked really well on my F150, and helps counteract some of the axle wrap with my 4" lift block. It's unconventional, but works. Acts a little like an anti-sway bar too.

 

What is the RXT PAC..?

 

I think you'd be fine with the AAL kit. It meets most all your needs: Lifted stance, an occasional loaded use on the highway with a relatively soft all-around ride. Decent shocks will again help manage the use, especially if you have some compression adjusters to amp up compression valving for occasional loaded use. Lots of poor ride is blamed on the springs, but the shocks have just as much, or more, to do with it sometimes. What's a "heavy load" for you? 300lbs, 600, 3000?

My issues with payload were that I would put like 300lbs of camping gear in the bed and be riding on the bumpstops, which makes going fast off road impossible without lots of cringe-worthy bottom out feelings. A good bumpstop helps on those situations. The Icon packs are great for giving you adjustability by adding/removing leafs as needed. If I remember correctly, the Dakar packs are very thick, limiting uptravel just by sheer number of leafs.

 

http://accutuneoffroad.com/product/icon-rxt-leaf-spring-96-up-tacoma-00-06-tundra/

 

I carry 500 to 700 lbs. for about 70 miles on the freeway once or twice a month depending on the season. I'll be using the fox 2.0 extended travel with resi's and whatever spring I can make a decision on.
Nothing is set in stone but I can get a stage 3 Fox kit that has 2.5 extended travel non adj. with resi's, light racing UCA's, rear 2.0 extended travel with resi's, Dakar med spring pack, CB drop kit and extended rear brake lines for 2,760 out the door.
Just not sure about the rear spring.
Also I thought about sending the foxes out for a tune.

 

Personally, I'd just get the Icon AAL pack or the like and deal with a slightly wallowing ride here and there rather than spend the money on a leaf pack that will be stiffer all of the time. That money would be more beneficial to be spent on upgrading the shocks a bit I'd think. If you were consistently carrying a loaded bed (bedrack/RTT/shell/tools/etc) a new pack would be good, but for occasional use, a whole new pack seems overkill, if not detrimental.

 

Thanks for your thoughts...
I think I agree with that and might see about getting the 2.5 rears instead of the 2.0.
Bump stops...?
Timbren or wheelers..?
Any thoughts..?

 

I believe I heard somewhere that timbrens were a bit bouncy, causing some bucking or something, but I have nothing to back that up... might have been something in @desertjunkie760 thread? I had wheelers and it was certainly a noticeable difference in the feel when bottoming, in that I couldn't tell it was bottoming compared to the stock ones. I got them in a flip kit from @ARCHIVE

 

That was indeed me. I’ll have to do some reading to catch up on this thread.