Suspension Experts!!! (need advice...)

Would 2-3k provide a decent upgrade or would that be a cheap fix?

 

No I don't. Only been taking trucks offroad for 42 years. I'm 59 yo this year so excuse my ignorance...

 

My point... for what you described, you need no lift. If you really want a lift, do me a favor. Call Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road. She will be very helpful and, if you are truthful, she will absolutely recommend something in your budget for whatever you want. You can spend $200 to $15K for suspension. She will help you better than us. Good luck and have fun.

 

This response is helpful. Thank you.

 

I liked the simplicity of the OME lift, and purchased from Low Range Off Road. They will assemble the coils with new hats free of charge (you purchase those, factory OEM from them). I didn't see any lean that people speak of so I had spacers installed on both springs in the front (adds 3/8" approx). I went with the heavy load springs. No changes to upper control arms. The alignment castor was out minimal on front right after alignment.
To do over, I'd go with medium load springs and no spacer in front.
Did not do the front differential drop, but did do the carrier bearing.
255/85/16's
Think if I skipped the spacers in front may have been able to get alignment in spec, not sure. Shop said rotate tires frequently I'll be good.
Tires have worn decent for a Mud Terrain and are noisy asnow. Wife don't care. Even that it rides like a lumber truck.
I say simplicity of the OME kit, everything has held up well. Not as fancy as high dollar coils with reservoir shocks etc. Just simple.
Day in the driveway do it yourself.

 

Lol balance. Just imagine you have a 50 lb weight around your waist. Now move that 50 lb to your shoulders. That helps with balance how? That's exactly what happens with a lift. That's why the Baja trucks and the King of Hammer trucks have no lift, to keep their center of gravity low and not tip. Learn something please.

 

I spent like 5-6 grand on my suspension only to be like ‘meh’. Just get billy 5100.

 

More information about your plans would be helpful. Like me asking “Should I get a Chesapeake Retriever or a Beagle”.

Regardless: $$$ It partially depends if you are doing the installation or paying someone to do the work.

You say say you do field training. I conclude you carry cages that will be a semi permanent installation. This is added weight. Will there be a cap? More weight. If yes to one or both suggest up grading the rear leaf springs. This adds to the $$$

 

I'm NO suspension expert BUT I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express once!! OK...I use my truck on forest service roads, BLM roads, NO names roads, and Highways. I started out with 5100's with stock springs didn't like the way they road on the highway, seemed choppy/rough. Then I bought OME 888 springs they felt better on the highway BUT they sagged really bad, I had to keep raising up to maintain my 2 inch lift. I finally upgraded to ADS 2.5 suspension and they ride like a dream off road and Highway, handles everything I throw at it. Like it has been mentioned there are all kinds of suspensions out there shop around. They say buy once/cry once, I did all the suspension swaps myself so all I was out was my time.

 

Lots of opinions OP.. Nothing wrong with 5100’s. Different strokes for different folks. Opinions are like assholes everyone has one and they all stink.

 

Aaaaand this is where I left the thread.

 

Some folks need to Google center of gravity.

 

obviously get the Chesapeake retriever

 

and to air down for the conditions when off-road.

 

I am having a flat bed put on with a dog box. I believe the setup is 700lbs.

 

Leaf pack , re gear FWIW

 

Center of gravity seems kind of important to automakers.
IDK why they just won't give us more and more lift? I mean what could it hurt?

 

load range E tires for the additional weight

 

You’ll need a full leaf pack in the rear for that much weight all the time. Deaver makes the HD packs, stage 3 is what you’re after. Not terribly priced at $900-1000. They also make a spring under set, not sure how difficult the spring under conversion is but the longer packs should ride better with more travel. Add a good coilover setup like ADS and new upper control arms on the front and matching rear shocks and it should ride well. ADS should be able to match the coils to your desired ride characteristics. Parts cost is around $5K for this setup, I’m guessing that dog box is a similar cost. I agree with the E rated tires for this setup, you could stay on stock wheels with skinny tires, probably the 255/85R16.

You’ll likely want a good set of rock sliders regardless of what you choose for suspension. Probably skid plates too if going offroad daily.

https://deaverspring.com/product/tacoma-2wd-4wd-6-lug-2005-2020-expedition-series-spring/
https://adsshocks.com/product/05-16-toyota-tacoma-bolt-in-shocks/

 

Add the weigh of the animals. 6 dogs at 50 lbs, you are up to 1000 lbs. Also look into upgrading the rear bump stops. $ to $$ Maybe even airbags. $$ to $$$