Help needed: Increasing the load capacity (the right way)

Hi. I've been a long time lurker on these forums and have come across a problem that I can't seem to get a direct solution from any shops in my area. As you'll see in the pictures, I have added quite a bit of weight to my truck (CBI Bumper w/ swing arm/gas & water tanks/spare tire, hard bed cover, bed rack, and tent). I have also built a drawer system that houses my cooler, stove, camping equipment and fishing gear. Because I'm lazy and don't want to keep loading/unloading it, I keep it all in the truck on my day-to-day. My problem is the suspension is severely impacted by the weight of the equipment. I am estimating about 1300+ lbs of gear. I feel every bump and feels like i'm bottoming out when I roll over anything bigger than a crack in the road. I have checked with 2 shops and they said I should get a full suspension with 2.5" lift along with heavy duty leafs in the rear. They both recommended the Old Man Emu OME lift which I'm not sure about because I don't really need a lift. I'm not against one, but only if it's necessary. I feel like the lift is masking the problem while the heavy duty leaf kit in the rear is actually addressing the problem.

Based on all this, what do you recommend I do? I'm mainly looking to fix the rear suspension to have better performance and ride quality while supporting the weight. I'd like to do this the right way so it will hold up for a long time and not cause damage. What are the pros/cons of your suggestion?

Thanks in advance!

 

Heavy duty leaf pack and air bags.

 

At minimum, I think you need better rear shocks and some kind of change to the leaf spring (AAL or beefy new leaf pack). At that point, you're halfway through a lift and your truck will look silly unloaded, so might as well even it out with new coilovers in the front, too.

You're seriously taxing that stock suspension... If you lift it up an inch and half, that weight will push it back down to almost a stock look...

edit: a proper suspension lift wouldn't mask the problem -- it would address it!

 

Your truck is easily over the GVWR. You technically cannot add anymore weight to it safely. BUT.

 

Don’t overlook the importance of proper brakes, either.

 

Wouldn't this still end up with the front end lifted higher than the rear? And if I did the full suspension lift, would a beefed up leaf setup in the rear still make it look odd if it is unloaded?

 

sumo springs will prevent sag on stock suspension, not sure how it will handle offroad with that much weight. I carry maybe max 500 pounds and it works well. I am upgrading to the OME set up with HD Dakars to achieve a lift soon.

Airbags are also another option, in my opinion just a pain to manage the PSI.

I think the right way is to do a suspension upgrade.

 

I did a lift of around 1.5 - 1.75" ... (1.5" of lift in the rear with the 3-leaf AAL). Enough to give it a slightly more aggressive stance, clearance for rough trails, and a bit of extra travel for more articulation.

Ultimately, your suspension is a set of springs that push the truck up off the ground. If you're overweight, you need bigger stronger springs & shocks to push back harder against weight. When it's fully unloaded, it will pop up a bit, but with most nicer coilovers, the front is adjustable so you can crank it to whatever looks good; even stock height. And then just tune/adjust it so that it looks good however you normally drive it.

 

or someone already said airbags, if you're really married to stock height (even with that nice bumper that's screaming for a little more height!)

 

This might help: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tour-of-alcan-spring.374582/

I know that they can do custom springs if they know the added weight....

 

You could always get a custom leaf pack made to hold the weight and not give you a lift. Alcan or Atlas is a place to start.

I have a similar setup, less the swingout. I just got HD dakars and called it good, OME 884's with bilstien 5100's all around (extended in the rear) I don't mind having the extra inch it gave me.

 

I would have thought that this would be an easy thing to set up the suspension since there are so many overland rigs decked out with similar setups.

As was mentioned earlier braking will take a huge hit...and another reason why drums suck.

 

There's a few tacos out there on YouTube with well over 1,000 lbs in the back. Full lift. Heavy duty leaf packs in the back. Trucks are level.

 

I'm definitely not married to the stock height. I liked the stock suspension and didn't want to make any changes to it unless it was needed. Now I'm seeing that it's really needed. Looks like the breaks will need some work as well.

Thanks for the guidance, folks. I like to see the different options that can be done.

 

When you surpass the GVWR of a vehicle you not only overload the front and rear suspension, but you also overload the brakes, transmission, engine, steering, frame, and many other components. I don't mean to sound high and mighty as I have overloaded my truck more than once. I am aware of the situation and modify my driving style, and I am willing to assume liability if things get shitty.

The "right way" to carry more weight is to utilize a vehicle designed to carry more load.

 

https://www.supersprings.com/products/sumosprings/

 

Hate to be the 3rd gen basher here because I do generally love my truck, but I don't understand how this truck was designed to actually be used... Tacoma owners are adventurous right? They enjoy the outdoors, camping, maybe having a toy? I calculated my payload this morning and am depressed. With a 4x4 DCLB we have 1,120 of payload available. My setup is briefly: Two adults (350lbs), dog (70 lbs), child & accessories (50 lbs), recovery gear (25 lbs), 2 Gal water & 2 Gal Fuel for emergencies (40 lbs), Leer 180 topper with racks (200 lbs?), Water 4 Gal (35 lbs) Camping supplies: axe, stove, green propane canister, utensils, bear spray, small military shovel, etc (35 lbs), sleeping platform & mattress pad (80 lbs), other misc in truck (15 lbs), Cooler with Food (30lbs) Add this up and I am at 930 lbs.

I purposely listed in detail so you can see and believe me when I say that I am very conscious about weight and have went to pains to reduce where I can. Most of you likely do not have a sleeping platform and pad, but this is replacing a tent and couple of cots which I feel is very common. I have 190 lbs left to be under GVWR and I feel what I have listed is very common to carry and almost necessities if you actually use this truck to camp/hunt, etc.

There was a time when I thought amour was cool and needed. Thank goodness I waited. There is no way in hell that any Tacoma with armor and a topper/roof rack/roof top tent is under GVWR if you have a passenger and other necessary gear.

I still want to install my 270 awning and yes that is a luxury but its 50 pounds. Once my kid grows and assuming some miscellaneous will be maxed out on my GVWR which I find baffling.

I understand everyone doesn't camp out their vehicle, but I feel this is what this vehicle is for. To explore to be adventurous, yet we are so hamstrung from the factory. I understand that so may say well that gear you listed is not "necessary." Point is I feel like for what I do with the truck (road trips, off road camping, hunting, etc) these items are necessary minus an awning.

Lets not forget about the toy! I have the small and light atv trailer and one ATV. When I hook that up with my GVWR remaining, I will likely be at or over. Moral of the story, I really don't believe those who state this vehicle can haul a family of four and the boat anymore. Yes, of course it can be done, but not without being over the GVWR.

 

How do you have so much payload? Mine is a short bed and I have less than 1k payload from the factory. But yes, its depressing ain't it. A yaris can probably legally carry just as much.

 

I was going off of this post: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dclb-vs-dcsb-weight.393232/

 

Hmmmm, have you checked your door jamb sticker? It tells you exactly what your payload is. There might be a small sticker right by it that tells you that the payload number is reduced by X pounds based on certain options that have been added.