ICON + Dakar Lift critique

I am looking for some feedback and opinions with regards to a lift build out. I recently purchased a 21 DCSB OR and I want to put a lift on it later this year. I briefly searched the forum / internet and wasn't able to find anyone with the same build out with detailed feedback associated with it.

I am looking at doing the following:
ICON Stage 3 without their AAL; I would purchase each component of the lift individually.
And separately purchase a Dakar medium leaf pack as a swap.

Still debating if I want larger tires but if I do decide to go that route I will do that after the lift is complete and likely after I wear down the factory AT tires first.

Additionally I will eventually purchase an RSI Smartcap as well as some sort of roof top platform, I really like RSI's drop down platform.

I don't have any desire for a roof tent or bumper replacement so a sustained increased in rear load will likely only come from the cap/platform which is why I am only looking at the medium duty leaf pack. The heavy duty is advertised to support a constant 660lb increased load.

I am an avid hunter and fisherman so during the summer I will be hauling around my kayak and fishing gear and during the fall and winter my hunting gear. I am currently in NC but do plan to relocate to Eastern WV in the coming year. And will eventually be doing hunting trips further West but don't plan to sleep in or near the truck as I will be packing out a tent on my back.

 

dakars are junk, ide get deavers or the icon rxt leafs.

probably deavers for your specific build

 

The only input I can provide is to not get dakars. I had two sets of them and now the Icon RXT pack. The RXT pack blows them away in ride quality. Dakars are also noisy and go flat pretty easily. So I would recommend the RXT. If not those, then the dobinsons leafs for a comparable price.

 

I'm tolerating Dakar leafs but agree with the guys above - don't get them! If I had to do it again I'd go for Deaver U402 springs.

I've been running Icon RXT bypass rear shocks and love them.

 

So with the RXT leafs, would the rear shocks that come with the stage 3 lift be adequate or are the RXT rear shocks needed? Looking at ICON's image they have associated with the RXT leafs I think option three would work best for me with the cap and platform. Option 3 being adding the provided leaf to the pack between the 2nd and 3rd spring. Which would provide 2.6" lift unloaded and 1.125'' loaded with 600lbs.

The RSI smart cap weighs about 180lbs and their drop rack is probably somewhere around 75lbs but I can't find an exact weight on it.

 

What’s nice is the rxt comes standard with the extra leaf, giving it versatility. You can try option 3 and if you don’t like it, go to option 2 or vice versa. And yes the shocks you’d be getting will work fine.

 

What are thoughts on the ICON RXT leaf vs the deavers? I would lean towards the RXT simply because their made by ICON but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

 

I would say deavers are superior. The only con I have ever heard about deaver is the price. And their customer service can be a little meh sometimes. I had emailed them about a custom pack and they never replied, so I bought icon.

One perk of the icon vs deaver is that the icon comes with rubber bushings, similar to oem. This means much less maintenance since you don’t need to periodically grease them.

 

The others are all right, stay away from Dakars whatever you do. If I could go back in time I'd buy anything else.

 

So after reading some more review on products and figuring everything out, I guess the only question I have left would it be better to install a lift first or would a campershell on stock suspension work without issue. I will eventually do both but it is a matter of which to do first. I am planning to do the RSI Smartcap EVOa, weight is 195lbs.

Thoughts?

 

If you get the Icon RXT pack then do that first. The leafs have 3 options depending on if you add the provided extra leaf or not. You can install it as option 1 and then when you get the cap, remove the leafs and make it option 2 or 3.

 

Appreciate the help, I have a much better idea of what to do and how to go about doing it. I am planning on the ICON RXT leaf pack, now to set aside the money and get it installed.

 

Any updates on the rxt leaf pack holding weight? Been looking at Dakar vs icon rxt to pair with bilstein b110s, but not sure if the icons will have enough lift when the truck is loaded up to work with the extended travel.

 

I'll jump in and say, I noticed a remarkable difference in ride quality, articulation, and offroad traction with the rxt leaf pack, compared to the icon all. Icon has served me well enough. Just be sure to grease those delta joints, if you go that route