Thoughts on Overland Lift Plans

Putting a bilstein 5100 and OME 1.5” lift on the front and an icon 1.5” add a leaf plus 5100 in the rear. Planning on doing the needle bearing job during the lift install for peace of mind. Thoughts?

My plans are to have this truck as a daily and go on 1-2wk overland trips twice a year. Not much off-roading when I’m home (Houston) unless I go to the beach or Davy Crockett national forest.

If my math is mathing…

I’ll have around 750-1000 lbs of additional weight fully loaded (Bumpers, skids, etc).

I plan to take most of my truck bed stuff out after my trip (rack panel, tent, etc) and will have around 250-500 lbs of additional weight.

My goal is to have the truck at least a half inch lifted when fully loaded. Is this a reasonable expectation? I’m new to ifs and leaf springs

During my overland trips, It’ll be driving at least 2,500 miles round trip with “moderate” wheeling. I fully expect to use my skids and sliders.

Any other suspension or drivetrain component I should consider beefing up before my trip in July? Any advice helps, thanks!

 

Have you considered 6112s up front? A little more money but I am really liking the ones I just put on. About $600 from rockauto with the 600lb springs, not sure the best place to get them with the beefier springs though.

 

I have considered them. Have you tried them out on washboard roads?

 

Not yet, just put them on. I have driven over some speedbumps and some big dips though and no longer have any need to slow down
I expect them to be a significant improvement on washboard roads.

Replaced my rear with 5125s and installed a 1" OEM block first and that was a noticable improvement in the rear over the stock TRD off-road shocks. The front felt noticably less controlled and bouncy than the rear. Once I put the 6112s on the ride in front feels noticably nicer than in back. More controlled yet it also smooths out the bumps better.

 

Stock vs 6112 size difference.

 

With that much extra weight I would go full leaf pack.
My truck fully loaded for adventure is a few hundred pounds over GVWR and I run Icon RXT leaf pack on option 2, it gives me about 2" of lift empty and just over stock height fully loaded.

Also on the shocks, buy once cry once, I went with cheaper ones at first and just upgraded to Bilstein 6112/8100. If you can afford it they are so much better.
HotshotOffroad is who I bought all my suspension parts from, @memario1214

Icon leaf pack thread -
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/icon-rxt-leaf-pack.505580/

My thread about 6112/8100 -
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bilstein-6112-8100-dsa-2-5s-on-a-budget.856314/

 

I agree with the full leaf pack with the extra weight - the 5100 are great shocks but if I had to do it over again I would go with the 6112/5160 set up costs a little more but well wort it IMHO.

 

My only reservation with the 8100s in the rear is that they are even shorter than the TRD off-road shocks. I am sure they are better on washboard roads but it would be nice to gain suspension travel for crawling as well. At some point I might have to look into making the Tundra 8100s fit.....

 

I have heard mixed reviews on the 5160s. Seems the small diameter hose may cause some issues.

I am running 1in rear blocks so I went with the 1in longer 5125s. Similar price to the 5100s but roughly 1/2in more travel and a little beefier build. I have heard they are a good length for the RXT leaf pack but haven't checked it myself. They do come with the wrong bushings for our trucks so those need to be swapped or trimmed.

 

Thanks for the recommendations. Keeping the OME springs and will swap for 6112. Anyone have ride height before and after for a bumper/winch setup? Looking into full leaf pack setups as well.

Just picked up some 16” gray/black oem wheels and planning on putting 265/75/16 Load range E tires on. Thoughts on going larger? Worried about accidentally obliterating my MPGs, also safety concern.

Thanks for the recommendations!

 

You really only need E tires if you are off roading over pointy rocks where sidewall protection is extremely important.
Normal tires (SL, C, XL, LT) will usually have a weight rating that can handle well beyond what a Tacoma can. They are also lighter, which equals better MPG, and also ride smoother.

You will probably want to get a 650lb spring to go with the 6112, with all the extra weight the OEM springs will sag a lot.
The front springs are just like the rear leaf pack, they need to be upgraded to handle the weight you are carrying.

Here is the 6112 thread, which should help you on what setting/springs to use.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bilstein-6112.421995/

 

That is a ton of weight if your ball parking that plus passengers. I would be looking into 2.5" bodies and a full leaf pack or air bags today help balance things out between heavy loads and daily driving.

Do your trips justify all of the extra armor? Maybe aluminum skids and smaller winch mount would better suit an overland build compared to more of a trail rig.

 

Planning on pulling most of my non visible armor during the off season. No passengers, just the dog. My main concern with the lift height will be keeping my CV angles good. Yet to install my winch, so don’t know how much lift I really need in the front yet. My goal is to have truck around or a smidge above stock height loaded down. Upgrading bump stops, but probably wont run bags.

Planning on running basically the entire alpine loop area again in this truck with some buddies from college. Good chance I get my monies worth on the steel skids. Will probably upgrade to fancy aluminum front skid when I bash the steel one up on this trip.

 

Ran C rated tires on my Jeep and had some pretty gnarly sidewall gashes. I’ll be solo on half of my trip, mainly wanting load range E for the extra sidewall strength. Thanks for the spring setting link!

 

I really hope you have a steel aftermarket and aren't referring to the stock steel splash gaurd as a skid.

 

RCI 3 piece kit. Got that plus rock sliders on Memorial Day sale. The gave me an extra 5% off cause it was a big baller purchase, “had” to do it