iK0NiK's 2015 TRD OR "Mostly Modest" Build

OME Dakar EL095R Medium-Duty Leaf Pack Install, 6/15/19 (56,380mi ODO)

So after much back-and-forth and continuous research, I decided to finally take the plunge with a full new leaf pack upgrade. As mentioned previously in my build thread I've been fairly disappointed with the weight carrying ability of the stock leaf pack combined with the 3-Leaf AAL kit from Icon. The system rode great, and soaked up rough terrain like it was pillows, but I lost a lot of height (nearly 2") when fully loaded with the RTT and camping gear. Not a big deal when you've got some rake, but I was already sitting leveled empty, and was nose high any time I was loaded down. That meant less suspension travel when offroading, and a very top heavy feeling when riding loaded.

Queue the OME Dakar Medium-Duty leaf pack. I purchased from @HeadStrong Off-Road and was treated with excellent customer service. The pack arrived in record time on Monday and by Saturday I was turning wrenches. I lucked up and received (+) Spec & (0) Spec packs.



Overall the install went surprisingly well. I followed this video, which outlined the installation process perfectly: YOUTUBE

With the help of my dad, we started on the Driver's side. Unbolting everything was the longest part of the process. Once we had the old leafs unbolted and out, the new leafs went in without a hitch. I chose to install the Energy Suspension bushings from Headstrong instead of the standard OME bushings. Due to the difficulties people have with swapping out the lower shackle bushing I elected to not do that step. Post installation everything was torqued back to factory spec except for the lower shackle bolt. The passenger's side was even easier (partly because we had the process figured out by that point). Once both leaf packs were in, the tires went back on and she was on the ground. I cycled the suspension a few times to flex all of the bushings, then re-torqued everything including the lower shackle bolts.





Altogether the entire process took probably around 3-4 hours. No major snags or surprises.

After the install, I took a 30 minute trip around town to give everything a workout. Once I made it back I took post-lift measurements.

Net Gains:

Passenger +1.75"
Driver +1.75"
Driver to Passenger Difference: ~1/2"

Keep in mind, this is a lift gained over a factory leaf pack with a 3-leaf AAL.

Overall I'm very happy so far. The right is a bit stiffer than the previous setup, but there's less body lean and I've finally got some rake back. I opted to skip shimming anything and so far I do not have any significant driveline vibrations on acceleration. Time will tell, I know from experience, but for now everything's feeling really good.





Edit 6/20/19:
As seen in the 3rd photo above, the brake line is making slight contact with the bolt head on the leaf pack. Since the 5160's have more droop than the factory shocks or the OME shocks, I cannot use the pre-tapped screw hole or the factory brake line stand-off. I added some wire loom to the backside of the brake line where it contacts the bolt head on the leafs to avoid direct rubbing and contact. We'll see how it holds up. There's barely any friction at the contact point and this is a very low-maintenance fix for now.

 

Trip Report: Talladega National Forest (Alabama) 10/5/2019

Planned route: https://goo.gl/maps/J2Gx1oU9BZK2

Just a quick trip report. First weekend of cool weather this year and you bet we headed straight for the woods.

We finally made it back to the Talladega Forest when it wasn't cold & wet. Trip was a short one, left out early around 9AM Saturday and were at the 600-1 trail head by 11ish. Last time we were plagued with mud everywhere, this time we were plagued with silty dust everywhere. Late last year, 600-1 & 600-2 had been re-graded and were significantly easier to traverse than they used to be, but the rainy winter & spring definitely made 600-1 much more fun with eroded washes and exposed rocky areas.




We continued through the morning, leapfrogging with another group of trail riders that were in a 1st Gen Tacoma and a 3rd Gen 4Runner. Making the most of the early start, we took time to stop every chance we could at spots that weren't taken to admire the sights.




After a quick lunch & hike we finished 600-1 & started on 600-2. About halfway down the trail I was being tailed by a Ford Raptor who gave me a little friendly competition on conquering the more technical sections of 600-2. Surprisingly I was able to out-run him due to the narrower size on the Tacoma (I didn't have to dodge as many pin stripes).

We then headed to Cheaha State Park and enjoyed the overlook at Bald Rock (highest point in Alabama).

Around 5PM we pulled into our camp site and set up our camp. Grilled chilli dogs for dinner had us full and content. The temperatures cooled off as a nearby storm pushed a cool-front through. A light rain put us in the tent by around 8PM with winds kicking the trees around through the entire night.




Sunday we were up early, had a quick Oatmeal breakfast and started packing camp. Since the weather was much drier, we ended up being able to complete our Talladega loop this time, and blasted through the various back sections of the Forest without another soul in sight.




By 2PM we'd finished the Loop & back-tracked 600-1 to the start/finish of the trip and were back on pavement for the ride back to Columbus. Another awesome trip, & highly recommended to anyone looking for a quick traverse.

 

Goodyear DuraTrac 265/75R16's Load 'C' installed. (57,570mi on ODO)

 

Im traveling through on my way to Charlotte and camping in Talladega NF tonight in the part north of I-20

 

Nice, hope you had a great trip! I've never been that far north in TNF. How was it?

 

It was nice. Stayed at Glenn Cove Campgrounds right by a creek. Listened to water flowing all night. Then had a beautiful drive back to the interstate.

 

Sounds like a good time! We'll probably head further north next visit. Mt. Cheaha has a really nice swimming lake nearby we want to hit when it gets warmer.

 

Just a few quick updates.

Went on a quick overnight trip in December to Clayton with @taco_bach and stayed near Warwoman. Ran FSR163, Charlie’s Creek, and dinner at U-Join.






Took another trip with the Mrs to Tiger in December. Stayed at Cade’s Place AirBnB in Tiger. Highly recommended. Traveled all around north Rabun county waterfall hunting. Also found the Albert Mountain fire tower by accident in North Carolina!






Then last weekend we took a #socialdistancing trip to Talladega NF. Trails are so much more aggressive now after the winter’s rain. Another great trip.





Next stop is Spring cleaning/waxing and 60k mike maintenance!

 

My folks live in Tiger

 

I take it you've had the breakfast biscuits from Tiger Food Mart at the 4 way stop? 5 months later and I still can't stop thinking about them.

 

Haha, undoubtedly. Every iteration from every owner. It’s changed hands a few times.

My family moved to Tiger/Clayton when I was 3y/o. Even though I don’t live there, it’s what I still I call home.

 

It's our 10-year plan to move to that area. The wife wants to get a job at one of the Rabun schools and I'll need to find a work from home job since there's really no corporate presence in the region, but we plan to purchase land up there in a few years. Preferably Rabun county, but really anything north of Toccoa and east of Blairsville would be perfect for us.

 

I like where your heads at

Funny, my wife is also in education. Definitely makes moves super easy as theres always a job market. My employment is also the hangup for us. I'm currently in the Dist/Log. end of the manufacturing/production industry. That doesn't exactly mold into the primarily tourism based economy of Rabun and surrounding areas. Time will tell. For now we're blessed to have my folks place to visit in the cooler seasons, and our family cabin on Burton during the summer months.

 

Favorite pic of your truck. Great looking rig.

How's the 6112/5160's with Dakar Medium-Duty's without any load? is the rear stiff or is it soft now that's been on the truck for some time?

 

Nice well thought out build. I was suprised out of the lack of lift you recieved with the 3 leaf AAl. I installed the Deaver 3 leaf from Wheelers on mine before I got the rears i have now and got like 3" lift and handled the weight of our micro camper very well. The Dakars are a better option anyway I'm sure.

 

Thanks man! So here's the thing... I'd consider TSB springs, no overload leaf, with a 3-Leaf AAL the pinnacle of ride comfort. It rode a bit higher, kept the truck off the bumpstops, and floated like a cloud over things like speed bumps and railroad tracks. They just didn't really help things when it came to handling weight.

The Dakars are definitely stiffer when unloaded. Going over the same type of terrain, you'll jolt around in the rear a bit more with the Dakars. With that being said it's not BAD by any means. It's actually still very comfortable and controlled, it's just not as soft as the 3-leaf AAL setup.

With weight in the bed I'd say Dakars give a marginally stiffer ride than factory rear suspension.

Thanks Chris! I never really understood why I got so little height from the 3-leaf. Maybe the thousands of miles hauling around camping gear had just beat the stock springs a bit? In retrospect I should've left the overload in when I ran that setup, but at any rate I've been super happy with the Dakars. The ride height, weight handling, and offroad performance are much better than the old setup. It was nice to get a little rake back.

 

Well there is a difference. I did leave the overloads in which is an autmatic 1/2" increase in the lift difference at least with just the thickness of the leaf. With the planned addition of the plate bumper and my spare hangng off the rear I installed Deaver Stage3 leaf packs 11 leafs total with the 2 over loads. I did a bunch of work on the front of the camper adding a bunch of tongue weight also so adding the heavier leaf packs was just planning ahead and it all worked out. I'm a bit high in the rear but everything wrks great so I can deal with that. I will suggest maybe looking into the Archive Garage Hammer Hangers with or without the cross tube they make a real difference even with just daily driving. They really tighten up the back of the truck. At least worth looking into.

 

Wow those things are beefy. I'll keep that in mind. I'm still planning on upgrading to JBA UCA's in the future. That's really the only other suspension thing I have left to contend with. Looks like those hangars would be a good upgrade to do at the same time. Thanks!

 

I will admitt I was a bit sheptical about just how much they would improve things with my useage of the truck. I don't wheel hard my concerns were more geared toward towing the camper off road. Eric is a wealth of knowledge with the Tacoma suspension and after him explaining the bennifits I pulled the trigger they have not disappointed. Granted Ihave only had them on for about a month and with the Coronavirus been stuck at home.