OME Coil and Leaf Spring Questions

I have been considering upgrading the suspension on my 2020 OR to increase performance off-road without sacrificing too much on-road daily driving, hauling, and towing performance. My truck is a daily driver that occasionally tows a 2300 lb boat, hauls some furniture, or goes off-roading at a OHV park or state forest in the in the midwest. I had settled on the light duty OME 2" kit because I wasn't planning on adding any fixed weight except rock sliders.

$1,628 ARB Old Man Emu 2" Lift Kit - OMETAC16LKSB

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/arb-old-man-emu-2-inch-lift-kit-ometac16lksb/_/R-BHWQ-OMETAC16LKSB

But then I read that the spring rate of OME light coil spring is 590 lb/in vs 700 lb/in stock spring and that got me worried that I would be sacrificing a significant amount of hauling performance. I was also surprised that the "upgraded" springs had a lower spring rate rather than stock. I still want my truck to be a truck and not an off-road buggy. I could go with the heavy duty kit, but ARB does not recommend it unless you have a constant load of 660 pounds.

Additionally, I have started thinking more seriously about adding front and rear bumpers and skids, so I could have a lot of extra weight in the future.

Why do the OME springs have a lower spring rate? What is the advantage? My only guess is that it increases the articulation of the suspension.

Should I buy the heavy kit on the guess that I might add weight in the future, buy all of it at once, or bury the idea of adding weight in the future?

As an aside, I have been unable to find any information on the spring rates of the stock and OME leaf springs. I assume the OME leaf springs have greater spring rates than stock in order to increase ride height. Can anyone link me that info?

 

I am also looking into this so thanks for asking. I do believe there is a mid weight set as well for a constant rear weight of 300-600 lbs. You might check that out.

 

I have not found any answers yet, but I did find some more questions.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lifting-the-rear.659827/

 

No experience with there front set up, but I'd avoid there rear springs like this plague, unless you want to listen to squeaking springs all the time

 

springs like what? The stiff heavy ones or just the emu ones in general? What else would you recommend?

 

It was a reference to the covid19 we're all trying to avoid. I running ome mediums, I'm going to switch to either, Deaver, Icon, or another set that just caught my attention the other day, it's a few threads down from here. my springs ride well and perform well, but they squeak like crazy, to the point I'm changing them out

 

The stock leaf springs on my 2016 SR5 started squeaking after the first time I got them dirty. It took the dealer a couple tries to fix the issue. I never found out what exactly they did. It looked looked like they may have sprayed some white crap between the leafs. So far I have not had the same problem with the 2020 OR.

 

I spray my rear springs weekly with white lithium and it definitely takes care of the squeak, but I'm getting tired of crawling under my truck once a week.

 

I have heard some rumors of getting an old bike tire tube and cutting it and placing it between the leafs. Will have to try that when the time comes. But it honestly can't be any worse then my stock springs but I have an easy solution for that which is just put some black sabbath on at the appropriate volume which is 50+

Outside of the squeak how do your mediums ride compared to you stock?

 

I think they ride great, it's hard for me to compare to the stock springs I only owned the truck for a week and it was lifted. I also have airbags, which are generally empty, for when I pull trailers. I have a 35 gl aluminum aux fuel tank w/pump and Weatherguard tool box in the bed. For me, I honestly should go to a spring under set up, but I'm being lazy. IMHO there are better rear springs out there for the $$$ than ome.

 

Hmmm so how much weight do you think you have in the bed most of the time and how big/heavy is that trailer? I have to haul a 14x7 trailer through OR, ID, MT, & WA a couple times a year in addition to a camping set up in the bed which is why I am leaning on the heavy set up...

Ill have to look into some other spring options but I just know the OME have a decent reputation...

 

That's why I went with ome too, & I will say they perform well I just hate the noise. I've got a pretty decent sound system in my truck but I don't like it on party mode all the time! This is only pic I could find of my sled trailer in tow of the tacoma, but it was the day after I bought my truck, still stock

 

Pretty similar trailer, mine definitely gets loaded for work...getting close to that max towing capacity...

Thanks for the info bud, much appreciated. I think the medium kit on bags would be optimal just expensiiiive! ha

Cheers

 

Mined skueaked for awhile. I have mediums but then I put in the ome aal to the pack broke it apart cleaned it and greased all pucks. Been squeak free since and been wheeling alot since.