Heavy Rear Leafs

Hey all -
Any off the shelf leaves I can get for my truck to satisfy an additional 600+lb in the rear?
I got drawers,camper,swing out etc. I live hour from Deaver, but thinking maybe there's something off the shelf I can get.
I'm on dakkar+ad a leaf and they're so unhappy, they're literally in a sad face shape.

Thanks

 

Deaver u402 or icon stage 3 should be relatively happy. Dobinson also makes a beefy pack.

 

Everything I see is 05 +

 

Custom leaf pack, that's your only real answer here.

 

Yeah he's a 3rd Genner posting in the wrong section.

 

Ahh.. yeah I'd just hit Deaver up and have them tailor a pack to your needs then, especially if you're so close.

I misread and thought it said 05.

 

If you need to carry another 600 lbs you need a 1/2 ton truck. And not all 1/2 tons will help you with that much additional weight. Changing the suspension will improve the ride when you're approaching the GVRW for your truck. But modifying the stock suspension doesn't mean your truck can carry any more weight than before.

 

Yeah yeah heard it all before.
I don't want the size of a half ton truck. I'm okay with the 600 in the back. Done it for years, just need new springs. Thanks for your genuine care though

 

Yeah, thought I could just click and order.
I'll do some better weight approximation and swing by Deaver.

 

Have you considered airbags? I have them on my 2006 Tundra and they hold all the weight.

 

Yes you can add even stiffer springs and airbags, but seriously, think about going on a diet. Less junk in the trunk is better all the way around.

 

I don't really have that much stuff.
The camper is about 300lb.
Drawers full prob 200.
Water 10lb
Single swing out for tire is prob 100 over stock.

Just the way it is. It's actually very conservative compared to the builds I see on here with 100 items off the swing out tbh.

 

A custom leaf pack isn't really just stiffer springs, it's a series of springs that working together can handle more weight.

Cheaper companies will give you a 3-4 leaf pack for standard weight, and the same company will offer a 'heavier' duty 3-4 leaf pack as well. That heavy duty leaf pack will definitely ride like shit.

But companies like Deaver or Alcan will run multiple (6-8) while still being able to retain a level of flexibility found on the lighter duty packs. That's why you pay the premium.

 

Does it HAVE to be, though?

Depends on your definition of "that much stuff."

When those few things alone are like 2/3 of the max capacity of the truck, it's a lot. With a couple passengers, you're pretty much at the GVWR.

I'd weigh your drawers and the stuff in them. 200# for a full drawer system seems low depending on what you have in them.

Weight adds up surprisingly fast. Back when I first got my travel trailer I was setting up the front cargo area and only had a camp chef, a couple totes with blankets/beach toy type stuff, and some tools, etc... I decided to check the tongue weight just to see where I was at, and it was already 100# over the limit and wasn't even full.

If it's practical, another possibility is to make the drawers so you can take them out when you're not out adventuring. Same with the canopy. I see so many folks around here driving around 100% of the time with all their broverlander stuff when they're just commuting to work. I know they're not heading out for the weekend because I see them every day, lol.

Anyway, don't mean to be all preachy, just that when I hear that leafs with add-a-leaf (basically a heavy duty setup) isn't enough, that to me is a sign it's just too much weight for the package.

I'm seriously considering a Tundra to replace my 4Runner/tow vehicle for that reason. I want to be able to take my dirtbike on family camping trips (with the travel trailer). After doing the math on the weights, a new Tacoma very likely COULD technically take the total weight, but it would be very close to or exceeding the GVWR with the combo of trailer weight, tongue weight and cargo/passenger weights. A Tundra would be no problem.

 

Very true, hopefully I didn't come across as if I were saying the opposite.

I'm saying that driving around at or near the GVWR all the time should be avoided if possible, no matter how much you spend on springs. Capacity is more than just spring rate.

IMO, the closer you are to GVWR, the less time you should spend driving it at that weight.

 

Or one could just replace some of those components with aluminum

 

What is the GVWR of the first gen?

I get slimming down but like I said, for me it is at the lowest weight possible unless I remove metal bumpers. I don't even run skids because of the weight.
In the rear drawers I can tell you exactly what's in them lol. I give everyone shit about carrying too much. The drawers are like 80lb my themselves.
Inside I have my camp chef, small cast iron pan, one 7in non stick, one boiling pot, 3 forks, couple plastic utensils couple cups 2-3 dry food bags, 1lb propane cannister, small olive oil, coffee beans,coffee filter,plastic collapsible dripper, salt, pepper.
On the other side of the drawer it's empty. It's just storage for food/miscellaneous depending what trip I go on. Then the back of my truck is empty except for 2 camping chair and water port. My 200lb is very conservative.
In the cab I don't have rear seats. I have fridge, recovery gear, few tools and first aid.

Conclusion is: I bet 99% of the people on here can't tell you exactly what's in their truck. So 300lb camper, 200lb drawers full, 100lb additional swing out weight (mostly because of the tire) is very reasonable.
You should not need a half ton truck, that is ridiculous. I've had the springs for 5 years and they get driven , even sitting the metal fatigues and loses it's shape, its normal.

In addition, adding tire at the swing out causes a large moment on the rear springs, so it's not about total weight normal to the spring.

I'm gonna weigh the truck soon. It was 5,000 lbs with ARE shell and drawers.
Haven't weighed it since the new camper.

 

Deavers or Alcans are your best bet

there's really no off the shelf 1st gen suspension that's weighted for additional weight

 

Check in with @otis24. I'm nearly positive he's running heavier than you. He might (or his build thread) have some suggestions.

 

Yeah I was hoping there was. I'll go to Deavers.