Rear leaf springs query

Howdy all, (2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad crew cab)

Just got all of my parts together for the front lift (Elka + JBA), and I'm on a pretty tight budget to complete the rear. I've talked to several folks, and most say that Deaver is the high end that I should get for the leaf springs (but of course, it's pretty much outta my price range). So I looked at OME's which are much more reasonable, and I believe Icon's hitting somewhere in the middle. I won't do blocks, and it sounds like an add a leaf is only a temporary....and maybe not great solution. So...thoughts?

[I will be putting on an aftermarket bumper, decked storage with about 300lbs of gear, a spare tire, and a little while later down the road, an RSI topper]..oh, and 33's.

 

Save up until you can install what you need.

 

Stay away from the Ome/Dakar leafs and you'll be good.

 

I've been happy with the Icon real leaf springs. As you likely know one advantage of Icon is it comes with an extra leaf that you can add as needed to achieve increasing stiffness. I seriously considered the Deavers, but my build is going slow and Icon let me change the pack as I add weight. Sure you have to take the Icons apart which kind of sucks but its only wrench time not more dollars, you have all the hardware right from the start. Unless you are planning on being super heavy in the bed Icons will likely be enough.

 

I've got Elka 2.5 DSC. Started off with a progressive add-a-leaf in the rear. The ride was pretty shitty. Swapped up to the All Pro expedition packs and couldn't be happier. I only have a fiberglass topper on the bed and ended up with a bit more lift than I wanted (2.75" after a several months of settling). The ride is incredible with these springs and they're cheaper than Icons.

 

I picked up Toytec progressive aal pack. made by deavers. 1.5-2” lift.
Ride is nice. squeaky though.

 

Buy once, cry once...

 

Deaver

 

Or hose them off and spray silicon spray on them

 

Great tip!

 

No it doesn’t work forever but for me it’s better than breaking apart my leaf pack. Doesn’t happen very often it just depends upon what I am driving through. Soft desert sand seems to have some affect on my Deavers.

 

I run OME's for 3 years now, no problems and I like the handling. There's no shame in running blocks till you can upgrade albeit there's no fun in it either.

 

I just installed an Icon AAL along with my coilovers and UCAs. With no weight in the bed the ride is definitely not great, over small bumps it's much stiffer than stock and very springy. With my dirt bike in the bed it rides much better than stock though. To the OP, if you're going to have constant weight in the bed, the AAL's would be a cheap short term option and work good enough until you could upgrade to full leaf springs. You could also leave the factory overload leaf in with the AAL if you're going to have enough weight to warrant it.

 

Fiberglass shell, sliders, and about 100lb of gear here, very happy with my dakar mediums, the new design doesnt squeek at all. You’ll probably want heavies if you’re going decked, 300lb of gear, and a bumper with tire carrier.

how long till you can afford to buy all that stuff though? May want to buy the heavies, remove a leaf (making them mediums, and install it later once you have all that weight. That sounds like a heavy rear end though gotta say…decked+Rsi+Bumper and tire…might wanna rethink all that weight

 

Just a note as I have said it before, my stock leafs were jittery when empty. With the Icons on Option 1, it rides about the same, but without the jitter when empty. Very much surprised me.

Much less body roll also.