Deaver Expedition Leaf Pack Owners

1) No, unless you also have longer shocks
2) No, unless you want to do a shock relocation and install longer shocks.
3) Deaver says 3" but with weight I would expect 2"
4) Yes

I highly highly recommend you really figure out what your total weight is and what you will be most of the time, guessing may leave you wanting.

I have a Stage II and will be upgrading to Stage III

 

Thanks for the info. Is it bad to have more travel than the shocks allow? Isn’t that basically using the shock as a limit strap? Also I’m on the fence a bit between stage II and III. I think on a daily basis I’ll be well within the 4-600 lb weight limit but once loaded up may be more than 600 lbs. do you have any insight as what to do in that scenario?

 

I’m also on the fence between 2 and 3 and will probably do 3. (For whatever it’s worth).

 

correct the shock would become the limit but unless you abuse it or jump your truck it shouldn't be an issue, most leaf spring packs exceed shock limits. You can always install a strap

I sit at around 600#s on a daily basis and when loaded up I start to see 800#s.

If you are on the fence or have any chance of sitting at the limit or over I would bump up a stage

Something to consider are steel bumpers and HC bumpers because it adds additional cantilever weight.

 

Hi everyone Ive been upgrading my Tacoma a lot this month and just ordered my fox 4a suspension system from Accutune very helpful guys but eanted some info from actual Tacoma owners the 4A kit comes with the Icon leaf pack I'll be seriously over the 600 pound weight for the stage 3 on the icons would i be better off getting the Deaver stage 3 u402? Ill be close to 800 pounds on a daily dri er as well camper shell, rtt, decked drawer system, steel bumper tire carrier Jerry cans, dometic fridge in the back only thing coming out on the daily is the Jerry cans and fridge everything else will live in the truck

 

Got my u-402s today. Quick question. How do I know which part goes towards the front and which part goes towards the rear? Can’t seem to find that info anywhere.

 

Typically the wrap is installed on the fixed point or the front of the truck

 

I'm looking into the deavers as well. I don't carry tents or rotopax etc, but will be towing a travel trailer (6-700 lb tongue weight) once a month. Should I get the stage 3, or will the stage 2 suffice? I wasn't sure if the weight rating was for constant load.

 

The weight rating dictates how much the leaf pack is designed to support. In other words, if you install the stage 1, you'll receive the designed ride characteristics and 2" of lift when you carry 0-300 lbs. You can carry more weight than that, but you will get less than the designed 2" of lift and potentially bottom out the springs, and the ride may seem too soft.

Similarly, you can install the stage 2 and carry 0-300 lbs, but the ride will be more harsh and you'll get closer to 3" of lift. When loaded to 400 to 600 lbs, it will drop the lift to approximately 2" and the ride will be more compliant, as designed by Deaver.

Personally, I'd choose the pack based on your primary load conditions and just "suffer" when the truck is "overloaded". Alternatively, you could install airbags, to help with the load, on the occasions that you're towing.

 

Im in the same boat and have a GFC. Trying to decide between the u402 ii's and iii's. It seems i'm at 600lbs, maybe a little more, with normal gear before extra food, water and gas. I don't have a tire swing out and figure I could get by with the ii's. I like a little rake though, would I lose that with being on the high end of the weight for the ii's all the time? I just worry about the ride quality with the iii's because it takes all of my gear to be above the 700lbs. Sometimes I wont want everything at once as I have my weight split pretty equally with surf, climbing, photography, and camping equipment.

 

I actually prefer the ride of the IIIs as the rear seems more compliant. If you are on the fence then I’d get the IIIs.

 

I have Stage II and run 300-400lbs constant weight, and have about 1 1/2" of rake. When I pack it up for camping I'm at 800-900lbs and go down to 1/2" of rake. Deavers are one of those leaf packs that get better with more weight. With that said, when you are below the weight rating, it beats the shit out of you.

 

@Tricky Taco Just so I understand, when you have your constant weight your bed is 1 1/2" higher than the front end. Then when fully loaded your bed is 1/2in higher than the front still. So its always higher and not ever sagging? And that if I got the iii's and drove it in the 400-600 range its gonna beat the shit out of me?

 

We are talking a load variation of a couple hundred pounds which is no different in ride comfort with stock leafs vs a loaded bed with any vehicle to include the Tacoma so its not going to be drastic. If you had a 1500 lb custom pack and only loaded 300 then you might notice some harshness but the difference in 400-800 on a progressive pack is not going to be beating you up.

To give you some perspective my truck sat even front to pack with 600 lbs constant load and the Deaver Stage II, when I installed the Deaver Stage III I gained back 1.5" of lift and rake that it lost with the stage II

 

Yes to your first statement, only lost 1" in the back with 800-900lbs. Understand, your rake is influenced by how much your front coilovers are adjusted up or down. I'm like you and want rake for normal driving. My King coilovers up front have about an inch of treads showing, it took a few adjustments to get the stance I was looking for. Deaver stage II leaf packs have 11 leafs each...they are not going to sag. I installed my lift before I got my rear bumper, high lift, tool box and full size spare on the back. My truck was literally bouncing without 300lbs or more in the back. There is no give with those packs unless you are running weight. I'm assuming Stage III will be the same.

 

To clarify Stage IIs typically have 10 but will vary based on material and thickness. My Stage III for example is 9 leafs but 1/2" thicker overall than my Stage IIs

 

@JoeCOVA Have any pics of your truck? Hows your iii's when you only have 400-500lbs? I'll always have 400lbs minimum with my camper + extras. Im guessing i'll typically have 550-700lbs daily with trips going a little higher. As I think you said earlier, your spare tire swing out adds a lot of hanging weight for you that I wouldn't have either. I guess I dont want to be bouncing either when on the low end of my weight. I also plan to keep my tires 285's and not go bigger than that.

 

I don't take a lot of pics of my truck, the few I have are on IG. I actually can't have less than 600 lbs, with the GFC and HC rear bumper I'm always at 600, can only go up!

I dont think you will be as bouncy as you think. You can call Deaver and talk to Scott and see what their opinion is of the situation.

 

Thanks for the clarification, you are correct. I should have known it was only 10, I didn't have to remove my shoes to count them! I live in the Springs too...see you around.

 

I have a couple of questions. I have the OME heavy duty leaf pack on my truck now, 17 Tacoma. But they’re starting to sag after a year. I have a topper that is 200 pounds!! I’m debating on the stage two or stage three springs. Now I do do deliveries for work in my truck. So 2 to 3 times a week, I can put 500 pounds to 1100 pounds in the back of the bed but besides that it’s usually just my topper: and if I go camping, my camping supplies. I want a 3 inch leaf pack. Would the ride be really harsh with stage III with only my topper 200 lbs? I’m thinking stage III because like I said 2 to 3 times a week I can carry up to 1100 pounds but then again that’s only 2 to 3 times a week. The rest of the time I’m Empty. So stage 2 or 3? Thank you