Bilsteins and additional weight?

Forgive me for I have not found the answers that I seek from the wise search function.

Tacoma DCSB automatic 4x4

I'm preparing(my wallet) to get new suspension components and am a little overwhelmed with what my options are for a truck that's mainly going to be used for light to moderate off roading. no rock crawling or hard stuff. Mainly fire roads and un maintained trails.

I don't want to lift the truck too much but will be adding a winch and low profile winch bumper up front and eventually something in the rear with a swing out carrier for a spare and jerry cans

I've been told to get the standard issue bilstein setup but when it comes to the rear I am not sure if I need to get new leaf springs or if an AAL will work with my extra weight. I will be putting a LEER or ARE shell on and gear.

My question is do I go with the OME kit from toytec, or anywhere, with the HD dakar leafs and stiffer springs/shocks up front or will the bilstein 5100's and an AAL suit me?


I really only want to cry once when it comes to these things and I think my suspension choice will determine my tire size selection

thank you for your wisdom and experience in advance.

 

Depends on your budget and what kind of lift you want. A basic lift would be the Bilstein 5100s should be fine. Figure out the amount of lift that you want in the front first. Maybe pair it with OME 886 or 888 springs in the front. That weight of a bumper and a winch would get you 1-2 inches of lift depending on the spring that you select.

You might want a whole leaf pack in the rear.

I have just a Wolf AAL in the rear with a, ARE topper and 5100, and I get about 1.5 of lift, but once I start adding gear it sags some.

 

I honestly do not want to go more than 1.5" so I do not have to deal with lowering the front differential or driveshaft carrier bearing.

 

You dont need a front diff drop its useless

 

Look at bilstein 6112 coil overs and 5160 rear reservoir shocks, mid level price, coil overs can be set up to whatever lift height you want. For rear I would go progressive aal (3 leaves) minimum or preferably a new leaf pack with the added weight you will have.

 

Progressive AAL is the description of the part I assume? I’ll poke around and see what I can find / learn

 

I stumbled upon the thread where someone with a diff drop wrecked their diff and engine because the lowered diff mount hit a rock.

yeah, I’ll replace CV axles over that any day

 

Same exact boat as I am. I think I am going to go Bilstein 6112 up front with 5160 in rear with either aal or full pack.

 

I’m looking at Old Man Emu stuff. I think I’m just going to go with that and when I need the Dakar leaf pack I’ll get it.

I plan on running 255/85/16’s so I will need that slight lift

 

I'm in the process of doing some research, want the 6112 and 5160 but I already have the stealth bumper and winch (168Lbs) added to the front so right now im at 2 inches of droop in the front trying to get +2 inches in the front and back. I'm probably going to get them with WOR 650Lbs coils from Wheelers but i'm still trying to find what the stock 3rd gen tacoma off road spring rate is.

 

One thing I would point out as far as 6112 and 5160 go, they are serviceable which is a plus. My o5 has seen two sets of 5100s today and at 15 years and 160K miles they are in need of replacing again. I'm torn as to wether Im going 6112/5150, Fox/Icon 2.0 or For/Icon 2.5, good news is they are all serviceable so next time its a service kit no new shocks. I am on the fence between ICON/OME rear springs, been running Alcan past 7 years and I love them but they are clapped out and they have raised there prices to double that of ICON/OME.