AAL vs Hellwig vs Sumo

AAL vs Hellwig Helper Spring (980 ez-level) vs SummoSpring (

$280 SSR-610-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

SSR-610-40)
For a Long bed with permanently mounted cap and sleeping platform/storage drawers.

What are your thoughts?
I'm looking for a cost-effective and noob friendly install.

Leaning towards Sumos atm. In a few years, I may put Dakars in.
Not looking to lift the truck.

Did you modify your suspension after installing a cap?

My setup:

 

Well, if your not looking to lift at all. Forget about add-a-leaf. Sumo, will help. You most likely be sitting on Sumo whole time, but it's progressive. I don't know much on Hellwig, but other here are running them for same reason you want. To me it seems cheap fix. But that's my opinion.

 

i have SS on mine and load it down alot with no issues and will be getting a cap later this year so i will see what happens, may just upgrade to higher rated SS.

 

I went with the SumoSprings. Simple, affordable, and a fairly easy DIY install. My truck sits level even with a cap, bedslide, and cargo. Installed them over 2 years ago and have no regrets.

 

AAL... I had sumos, I remember them not being as soft as I'd hoped when they did make contact . AAL is cheaper than sumos too. I know plenty of people that did nothing though when adding a cap as well.

 

I've been on sumos for a few months. Little stiff but def work and inexpensive.

 

I've been running the Hellwig helper spring for a year now. It did the job, and got me back to factory rake. I have a fiberglass shell and Decked toolbox carrying plenty of weight. Before the helper spring I had the Cali lean going on..... But I've been pleased so far. It squeaks, but expected. I have saved up money and will be doing a full suspension upgrade with a heavy duty Dakar leaf pack here shortly....

Just my 2 cents! good luck.

 

I have sumo

 

I’d recommend a single leaf add a leaf (long ones!) for spring arch. Maybe the SS’s if you tow. With the cap it should sit near stock height, maybe 3/4 high.

The truck will ride on the SS 100% of time without an AAL, to the point it will lift the back. The stock shocks can’t handle the spring rate of that, so it bounces all over the place.

I currently have a DCSB with an A.R.E Overland and SS’s cut one wafer shorter. It didn’t sit on them before the cap and that worked well. It now rides on them all the time and is not comfy at all.

I just ordered Icon RXT springs, 5100’s and 885’s bc I couldn’t take it anymore.

 

Thanks!

 

Icon rxt and u can adjust the leaf spring rate to what sits best for you

 

Thanks!

 

I was thinking about AAL, but do you need to do an alignment after the install? Also - did you have to level the front as well?
I understand it's a better option overall, but I don't think I can install it myself on my driveway and I'm not ready to upgrade the front yet.

 

An AAL can be installed in your driveway with pretty basic hand tools. Depending on what you have you might need to buy a few extra sockets and maybe a torque wrench but that’s it. The AAL should bring you back to roughly the stock height when compared rear to front and be a more comfortable ride than the sumo springs. If you don’t haul/tow a lot of weight a 3 leaf progressive would be a good choice to retain ride comfort and maintain the height you want with the cap on.

 

Which model of Helwig did you install?
there are only 2 reviews on those:

$256 Hellwig 980 Leaf Helper Spring

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QWWRBO...olid=1Q77ZIC5Z1BPP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
but guys seem to be pretty happy with them.
They seem to be easy enough to install too.
Can you grease them to avoid the squeak?

 

Ultimately - that's the goal, but I want to avoid any extra spending and ride the stock suspension till it needs a service. I figured Sumos will get me through for the next few years. As far as comfort goes - is it just more "bumpy". Tacoma is my first truck and it's way more "cushy" than my previous suv.

 

I'll read on that some more. I just want to avoid taking my truck apart too much and don't want to touch the front at all at the moment.

 

I have a cap and normally carry my carpentry tools in a deck/drawer system but also sometimes pull that to carry heavy loads of debris or sackrete so I opted for Ride-rite air bags in place of the bump stops. I like that I can tune the spring rate to match the load. Not for everyone but fits my needs to a tee.

 

That's the direction that I'm going in. I have a bed rack and RTT along with a Decked system, so a little under 390 pounds plus some tools in the back. I have to be able to fit into two parking garages that have a listed 7' clearance. I went to my offroad shop and asked them what would help with the added weight but wouldn't lift the rear end. They suggested the Air Lift Ride Control or the Ride-rites to help prevent bottoming out and spring wear without having to lift, or being able to settle the rear for clearance if needed. The Ride Control is about $275, and is an easy install.

 

Had the hellwig 980- squeaks, clacks, crushes silencer pads, hardware rusts like crazy, not a great fit/finish. Went to sumo, love them!