Let's See Those Double Cab Long Beds! 3rd Gen

Just got my new canopy/doghouse. Just the canopy itself can't really tell the extra weight, definitely an upgrade from my snugtop on my 93

 

Nice!
I’m waiting for my canopy to arrive.

 

@leueddie throw a set of add-a-leafs and you'll be happy. ~$100 and won't sag with any additional payload.

 

Can you explain that a bit more to this newbie.

I have a 21 dclb coming tmrw. My bed are loaded in my farm with fruits. Are you saying with “100$” I can raise back ?

Sorry if it’s a silly question

 

Sweet riverside campspot in our MTB road trip through the northweast last summer

 

I'm a "newbie " but I do know what add a leafs are. Probably a good idea after I get all the gear and dogs loaded up. Any other ideas I'm all ears and up for advice.

 

My other "newbie" question putting add a leafs on and or altering the suspension does this void warranties? This is my first new truck.......

 

Adding AAL or suspension will not void your warranty. They have to show that whatever you added is the cause of the problem if you have an issue with your truck.

 

So why doesn’t Toyota still offer this combination?

 

@farmtacoma
@leueddie

Add-a-leafs (often just called AAL) is a single extra leaf spring that is added into the existing rear leaf springs. They do one thing: add more arch to the factory leaf springs. As a result they will raise the rear of the truck some (give or take ~2-3") and also allow a larger payload before the suspension sags. However, if no additional weight is added post AAL install, the ride from the rear will be firmer.

There are a myriad of variables and just because a Tacoma w/ AALs installed can hold more payload w/o sagging doesn't mean it's a good idea to regularly go beyond the factory payload.

As for installing AALs, the process involves putting the rear of the truck on jack stands (or a lift if you know someone), supporting the rear axle, unbolting the "U bolts" that hold the factory springs together, slowly lowering the rear axle, installing the new AAL (should slide right in), reinstalling the centering pin, jack the rear axle up to compress the leafs, reinstall the U-bolts. Is best to replace the U-bolts after each time due to their torque requirements but not absolutely necessary--particularly if you're not off roading or put a lot of excess stress in the vehicle.

With the right tools and some knowledge (YouTube is a great source) both sides can be done in 2-3hours in a driveway. Both trucks I put them on (1st & 3rd gens) took closer to 4hrs.

 

Beautiful. What are the black marks on front bumper?

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer the question. That was very helpful.

If I AAL, can I use my OEM OR shocks, or do shocks have to be lengthened?

After you add AAL, but bed is unloaded, does truck look super silly, with rear end high up in the air?

Is it common, to add a AAL to rear, while leaving the front alone?


Appreciate the help

 

@farmtacoma
Happy to help! There are dedicated forums on here as well. You can get away with keeping the factory shocks but be careful of getting into situations where your suspension flexes downward--the AAL will decompress the shock naturally so if you over flex the suspension down you run the risk of over extending the shock. If you're not going to run that risk you're likely fine to keep the factory shocks & just get longer ones when the originals need replacing.

As for looking goofy with just the rear up. In my opinion, it isn't nearly as pronounced on a DCLB, particularly if you have a cap on in. Both my trucks I put AALs because I had caps and found that even with minimal or no additional payload I would hit the bump stops on the rear. I don't think I took any pictures of my 3rd gen w/ the AALs before I also put new springs on the front. I'll check. To be sure, the back end was higher than the front but with the cap I didn't feel like the truck looked like a rolling door stop.

This is factory on top & AAL w/ the front lifted ~2.5"

 

Thank you VERY much. If you dig up any pics, would be much appreciated.

 

Absolutely! This forum has been a great resource & happy to pass along what knowledge I have. I added a picture above but it's not one with just the rear AALs.

 

Did they stop making the DCLB in 4x4 OR?

you can build one on the toyota site so IDK....

 

I wanted a Double Cab SR with the long bed. For some reason Toyota offers that truck in Canada, but not in the US. I don't understand their logic with this. Anyone???

 

what size lift, size wheels and size tires you got? Looks great!

 

I also wished that was available here. I hardly ever see SR5 DCLBs around here either. I searched for awhile, but a local dealer got a pretty much base OR w/LED headlights in and I was able to get it within my budget right before COVID hit last year. I traded a 2015 w/ utilty package, so it was a very nice upgrade, but saving a few grand and doing my own upgrades would have been my preference.

 

Yeah sr5 long bed not alllowed by toyota in my region

in my search a month ago I saw a decent amount in midwest