Heavy Load Suspension Advice - What are you running?

If you’re mechanically inclined, you can get the heavier leaf springs and take 2 of the leaves out. That way if you ever end up with a lot of weight in the back, you can add the leaves again!

There is some good info in this thread about people doing just that. In case you’re interested- https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ironman-4x4-foam-cell-pro.427407/

 

While stiffer springs can help with roll, modern vehicles employ anti-roll bars for that purpose. They prevent roll without compromising ride quality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-roll_bar

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueshf401B0k

 

Indeed I have. As soon as I get some disposable income I have several mods I will be making to include 5.29 re-gear since I tow nearly full-time, a Setrab Series 9 ATF cooler with fan pack, medium duty or heavy duty leaf pack and a 2.5 lift + 285 70 17s. Lockers eventually.

 

Heres my heavy pig, 5700 fully loaded with a bedfull of spare parts.
Running 2.5 Foxs up front with 600lb springs, sitting at 1.75" of lift.
Chevy 63" leafs in the rear, with 16" Carbon shocks.

If I were you I'd give the Carbon shocks a try. They are pretty good build quality, and have held up through a ton of abuse so far. About to go with their coilovers for the front of mine. Just under King/Fox exterior quality, for half or two thirds the cost and basically no lead times like everything else.

 

Concerning your thoughts about upping your spring rate to prevent bottoming out I suggest this article.

http://accutuneoffroad.com/articles/coilover-spring-rates-for-toyota-tacoma-4runner/

 

My personal experience:

Goals:

- increase my off road performance without significantly decreasing my on road performance
- no welding, cutting, or hammering

- truck is estimated to be at least 5000 pounds with me, my armor, and gear (no boat)
- tow a 2300 boat occasionally
- king 2.5 extended travel shocks
- 600lb coil springs
- OME Dakar medium leaf packs

I have zero concerns about pitch, roll, and bottoming out.

I have zero concerns about stuff breaking due to the weight of the truck.

It drives like stock during daily driving. [check]

It’s drives better than stock going fast over rough terrain. [check]

It porpoises less when towing. [nice bonus]

I have preload to spare if I add more weight. [check]

Conclusion: soft springs and beefy shocks got me most of what I wanted. I wanted more off road performance than I got for the price, but otherwise satisfied. Sometimes I think I should have gone full long travel, but then I remember I spend a vast majority of my time on the road. Maybe cheaper shocks would have been just fine.

 

Don’t expect those coilovers anytime soon. Been waiting 15 weeks and when I call they tell me the 8 week lead time is just an estimate and that my order will be shipping out in the next week or so and that has been going on for 6 weeks. Really cool when I call them and they tell me they can’t have people calling all the time checking on their orders even if they’re 7 weeks past the given lead time. If I play my cards right I’ll be at 26 weeks like king and fox. Super great when their claim to fame was American made shocks without the lead time of the other guys.

 

This is why I gave up on wating for kings and got dobinsons mrrs 3 way adjustables instead and couldn't be happier.

 

Dakars HD, OME shocks + firestone airbags from day 1. Added OME BP-51's in the rear a few years ago to better control the rebound caused by the airbags. I very rarely bottom-out

Loaded this way twice a month to go to my cabin. 80 km of dirt road and 15 km of 4x4 road. Bed is full and so is the cab. Pretty sure I'm above GVWR. Just hit 193K km and still running smooth, no issues.

 

I'm running the full Dobinsons MRA suspension front and rear.
I have the C59-352 springs up front and the L59-111-R leafs in back.
Even with full steel skids and rock sliders, the front doesn't seem to notice. I'll see
when I install the plate bumper and winch.
The rear only has a Diamondback HD cover and some gear to weigh it down right now so I'm confident I
can add quite a bit more. Also, the Dobinsons leafs are nice and quiet so far. (about 2 1/2 months)
So far I'm very happy with my choice.

 

7800lbs. I run Deaver 1000lb stage 3 Expedition springs with custom valved Elka reservoir shocks and coil overs. I can not put into words how well this set up rides on the highway, in the mountain twisties or off road. Better than stock and with 5.29s it is quick and hills are no longer labored. Expansion joints that used to unsettle the truck no longer do. Rail road tracks are soaked up like they are not even there. If you are loading your truck-Elka is worth the money.