1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

I had some help from a friend and we knocked out the leafs today. One 3rd Gen Dodge Dakota leaf spring over pack and she's 1.25" taller with the tent and bedslide installed. Much stiffer too, rides lovely. The Dodge springs are thicker and arched more, but the length is downright perfect for a Toyota pack and the center hole is in the right spot.

 

@Speedytech7 have you ever torn apart 3rd gen tacoma leaf pack and compare it to our first gens? I can't afford a full suspension kit like I need but I have to set the bed up to haul a constant 200lbs + load and I'm looking to do exactly what you did just to limp myself along till I can spring for the OME kit

But hopefully with a leaf out of a 3rd gen pack cause I can pick up stock leaf packs with less than 10k on them for dirt cheap

 

2nd/3rd gen trucks differ greatly from 1st gens

 

Wtf

 

So do first gen tacoma and 3rd gen Dakota lol

 

3rd gen Dakota spring mod has been around for awhile, and by chance, can be used the way shown above.

2nd/3rd Gen Tacomas share nothing with 1st Gens aside from the name.

I'd go Chevy leaf spring swap but not before custom Alcans or Deavers.

 

Love the decal

 

Fair enough, thank you for the info. This is the first time I've ever heard of the Dakota spring option so I've missed out. I would absolutely love to go custom alcans but I'm rebuilding the entirety if this truck and already don't have the funds to do that haha. I'm a max 2 inch lift kinda guy so I figured the OME kit would more than suffice with the weights i intend to carry

 

OME Dakar leaf pack will only handle a little more weight over stock, but they do offer an AAL which can be ordered already installed.

I'd recommend greasable shackles even though I didn't get them. They have a tendency to squeak a lot for many people; they did for me within a few months but since then they've quieted down.

If they start getting noisy again I'll replace the front bushing that's pre-installed. I found a thread that mentioned replacing that bushing since its the main source for the noise created. Second would be the little disks that wear out between the leaf pack.

I carried a good amount of weight but fortunately never sagged so I didn't get the AAL.

If you're fat on the other hand and carry large and full ice chests your experience may vary..

 

@Kwikvette don't those greasable shackles add height as well? I thought I remembered reading somewhere that they're taller than stock ones. What bushings to replace the front one with, if the original is prone to squeaking? I don't care about noise, I care more about longevity

I need to do every single bushing on this truck and my natural instinct is to go with stock rubber replacement but that energy suspension kit has a very tempting price point

 

I'll pull up the part number tomorrow but it's really easy to find if you look up OME Dakar front bushing replacement.

Greasable shackles are available as stock length; you don't need longer shackles.

If you want to keep things quiet, and last for awhile, you can't go wrong with what the factory used which is rubber for your LCAs and other things.

 

Poly bushings require lube and after awhile start getting noisy until you grease them up again.

Rubber on the other hand twists.

 

@Wulf

 

That's alright I'm a few months off, you dont need to look that p/n up for me, I'm sure I can find it in my research.

When you say quite a bit of weight do happen to figure a ballpark number? I always carry about 100 to 150 lbs in tools in my bed plus I have a canopy... came with the truck it's an A.R.E. but no model number so I cant look up specs

 

I'm on a roll

 

Well, a member here @Area51Runner who is absolutely dormant (he might finally post) has a camper shell among other things. He states he needed the AAL with his leaf pack.

I have an aftermarket tube bumper in back, weighs more than stock. Then the bed rack which was about 50lbs, not to mention the tent at 100lbs, and also the added leverage and weight of a tire gate, and sliders.

I sat level with just the OME pack, and absolutely loved the ride with my Fox 2.0 universal shocks. The Bilstein 5100s were too soft feeling with all that weight bouncing around.

Since selling the tent and bed rack, I've got some rake and the Fox's valving is too stiff; I'll throw the Bilsteins back on when I get them back.

 

@Kwikvette

 

Wtf

You've been hanging out with Jake too much for that last meme lol