Dobinsons 111-r leaf springs and rear shock choice

Hello, I’ve done a lot of research but am still somewhat overwhelmed with options.

i have a 2012 DCLB and with my leer topper and Yakima rack, I’m at about 200-220 pounds with no gear. 400 pounds+ in the winter with sand bags. Will be getting a steel rear bumper that will be around 50 pounds heavier than stock. As per usual, Stock leafs and shocks aren’t cutting it.

If I go with Dobinson’s, I will be getting the 111-r medium load. I figure these springs will give the best compromise for ride quality when I’m running without the canopy and gear.

I will be gaining around 2” of lift and want a rear strut that can accommodate this without over extending the shock off road. I have Bilstein 5100s in the box, but they are rated at max of 2”. I don’t want to use blocks or spacers. It seems many rear shocks are rated at 0-1.5” and 2” max. Will the 5100s be ok or should I look for more travel? I will be going with eibach 2.0 coilovers up front..

I’m not a core 4x4’er but some of the places I go to require a fair bit of suspension travel and I want a solid set up for two inches of lift.

On another note, i was close to pulling the trigger on this full kit from ironman at Dales. https://dalesmotorsports.com/produc...ift-kit-suited-for-toyota-tacoma-2005-stage-2

Looks like a great deal for us Canucks, but the tech/sales guy said the nitro shocks are very poor quality and not suited for what I drive on off-road. The normal FSR roads and occasional 4x4 use?? I was then quoted over 5k for a better kit. I don’t have the knowledge to disagree but reviews seem positive overall for the Ironman set up.

sorry for the big ass post but i have always run stock on my trucks, so got a lot to learn.

 

what did you end up doing? I imagine slightly extended travel shocks are in order. Curious if brake lines needed extension?

 

Hey, I went with the Dobinsons medium duty leaf pack with Elka shocks rated for 3” of lift. Did not extend the brake line and it’s been fine.

 

Cheers mate. Your posts have helped me conclude to pair my 111R’s with Bilstein 5160s, no extended brake lines. The extra 1” of travel on the shocks relative to stock should mitigate the 2” lift from the 111R’s

I was going to do 5100s in the rear but homework helped me understand that an extra 1” of travel is worth the extra couple hundred bucks in the longer run

 

@theAL375 interested in seeing your setup! I was planning to do the same.@Crikeymike I have a long bed and I’m wondering if I would need to get the AAL with it when I decide to install a high clearance bumper. I read that the 111R is rated 0-200lb with the long beds. I’m currently running a Leer High Campertop. What would the loaded weight range/lift be with the AAL? Thank you

 

put on 33s after the lift. Interesting experience. Left me with a few minor issues to solve.

 

And what issues are they?

 

Few iterations on alignment, reshaped front inner fenders to prevent rub, and will eventually try axle shims to alleviate driveshaft vibrations

 

How bad are the vibrations? You wish you got a different brand of rear springs?

 

vibrations are lessened and tolerable with 200 lbs in bed. Tbf the vibrations doesn’t have too much to do with the choice of leafs . Lifting the front of the truck will always change drive shaft angle, since the rear pinion always stay the same height off the ground. If the dobinsons sat on the rear axle in a way that tilted the pinion up slightly, it would have helped. Essentially it would have a couple degrees built in, like what shims would do. I’m not familiar with any leaf springs that factors in pinion angle into their construction. And so, I don’t blame the leafs. They’ve been just fine.