Do I need a new suspension?

Hello. Planning to do some light to moderate off roading and overlanding with my 2021 TRD Off Road Tacoma. Trails similar to Ouray such as Corkscrew, Ophir's Pass, etc and perhaps some desert trailing in the future. Planning to put a bed rack, rooftop tent, roof rack, and other off roading/overlanding supplies on my bed and roof. Also planning to add full skid plates and rock sliders. I was wondering, do I need to upgrade my suspension to better shocks and springs for the load or can the stock set handle the weight? Or should I just look into new springs and not necessarily new shocks?

If I do need a new suspension for this, what do you recommend? I am a newbie and would appreciate any advise/education. Thanks.

 

Yes you’ll need new suspension. There’s an entire subforum dedicated to the topic, and another to third gen (and second gen, and first gen) builds so you can see what similar trucks to your future truck are using and working for them.

Do a ton of reading. Ask clarification later if you get confused. But educating yourself is the easiest part of the process you want to do, get reading.

 

What I’m about to tell you is the one and only suspension setup you should run. There is zero room for debate. You can not believe me , get other things to “work” but then get pissed off and replace it down the road wasting valuable time and money.
Ok:


Front:
- 2.5” extended coil overs with remote resi clicker adjustments (any brand really)
-new aftermarket upper control arms
-gusset the spindle
-if you are not poor new aftermarket lower control arms

Rear:

- spring under conversion 62” leaf spring kit.
-bolt in bed cage with 16” shocks

again no room for debate. Front end will handle a lot , while not being super wide and unreliable like a full LT kit. The rear must be LT based off the laws of physics. Need all that up travel so you don’t constantly bottom out. Also the rear flex is super nice in keeping the tires on the ground if you are into crawling /articulating. Spring under will also ride better on road. Don’t worry about scraping the springs on rocks , it’s worth it.

 

Drive what you have for six months. You will quickly learn what you need or don't need. The truck is very capable stock.

 

+1 for this

 

No, you wont need a new suspension. Maybe later on do what others say here if you want to push it offroading, get heavy bumpers and winch and all that, but start slow and don’t jump into expensive shocks and stuff until you try it out first with the tent and armor. It is a capable truck stock (except the tires, do change those!). I kept my original coils and just put in 5100’s, a single Deaver AAL, and have a full set of steel plate armor skids and sliders, a RTT, shell, deck and lots of heavy gear. No issues with it on or off road and it saved a bunch.

 

Drive it stock, replace on fail.

If you need an idea of different upgrades.

1. Bilstein 5100s front and rear with stock springs up front and Icon AAL in rear will give you 0 to 2" lift up front, and a modest gain in performance.

$400 plus $225 for AAL.

2. Bilstein 6112 , & 5160s plus the AAL.
Rebuildable shocks, 2.5" piston = $1100 plus $225 for AAL.

UCA optional but likely not necessary if you don't lift above 2.5". $600 approx

 

I'd have to agree. Start with sliders and skids, add the rack and tent. Then you'll know how much suspension you need. Find some local meet-ups and look around at what others have done.

 

Similar to what others have said. Before adding anything take it out with the local group, get some dirt miles on it before spending money on upgrades.