Finding the Right Leaf Pack

Last week I came back from my first camping trip. As I bounced down the highway and kind of felt like there wasnt much support, even control. I was loaded down with the usual, wood, gear etc. I realized I have to do somthing with my rear springs. More so now that I bought a pop up.

I didnt want to ask but I cant seem to find my answers. I have an 09 Access Cab 4x4 4cly 5 speed. Sitting im my closet I have a set of 5100 struts set at 1.75 That I want to use. I plan to camp/ tow my camper several times this summer. With cost weighing heavy on my mind. Im trying to decide on the right leaf pack for my daily driving, occasional towing needs.

Reading other posts about dakars they seem like a nice pack, but need consistant weight in the back for a decent ride. All pro I think will give too much lift for my 1.75 bills that I plan to use. Iron Man 4x4 has a 2 inch lift spring that handles 20% more, giving a stiff ride and can handle the weight better. I checked into timbrens and bags, they seem out of the question to me.

Suggestions? Questions? Constructive Critisim

 

Timbrens work for that type of application as long as your not using them as jounces.....they don't do well at higher speeds! A single aal at 1.5" and timbrens would do the job and match the front! The stock springs suck there's not a lot of ways around it!

 

rebuild them.....

 

Dakars FTW. I love em. 7 leafs. @ 2.5" lift after settling. dual flex range or something like that. for unloaded and loaded. They are bomber. I do have a campershell, but I still think they ride just fine unloaded.maybe a little bouncy. but smooth as can be heavily loaded.


I was pretty pissed as well about how worthless the stock leafs were loaded for work around the house or going to the river.
(for example...back in 2010...no suspension...loaded for Colorado...2 girls,momma with a bun in the oven, the dog , and pretty much everything including the kitchen sink and two boats.)


shit. stock leafs you bottom out with a plump girl, 2 small dogs and a 12er in the bed, much less a yard of gravel or camping gear.... (not that I have any of those things...but you get the picture...)
yard o gravel....still stock...

Of all the things to spend 4 bills on, imo, this will be one of the top benefits to actual truck usage. The Aussies (OME/ARB) build their shit for hard wheeling loaded for the outback,(i.e car camping to us) not just for not so flexy cool liftedness. one could just get a leveling kit for that....

But realistically.... for super budget, and less weight requirements you can just do an add-a-leaf. I think Toytec.com has em, and Wheelers offroad. (see the TW vendor list) WO are real nice folks. I chose to order from them cause they have great customer service. Toytec seemed a little crabby, although they offer a 7 or 10% TW discount if you know to ask. wheeler's was still almost the same price though with no discount...? (maybe their inventory is not marked UP for discount....)
I also researched a bunch, looked for cheaper options as well before biting the bullet. called Wheeler's with some of my suspension questions, and got solid answers... such as 5100's are just as good of a shock, (or the OME Nitros aren't THAT much better, they just have a tougher shock body for flying rock hits) so therefore the 5100's I already had were more then adequate. and Dakars were the best fit for my needs.

I would recommend calling Wheeler's ... AAL may be more then enough or not quite good enough. (for instance my truck is pretty heavy.) bumpstops are equivalently expensive too if I recall.

Since i already whored out old pictures of my truck, even though no one asked, heres a more recent one, from a thankfully quiet new years eve at work....


luckily i am done for the most part cause i gots no more spare $$ for the truck...

hope this helped a bit. good luck to your wallet, friend. TW is a slippery slope...

...oh yeah, and on that note- Toytec ultimate lift kit will cover all the bases too.if you want OME and everything at once (i purchased almost the same stuff, half used and all individually.wasn't much cheaper in the end either.)

 

Here is a few more opinions.... wheeler's AAL sounds worthy.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/216884-vote-my-3-lift.html

 

& how much $$$$$$ are the Dakars ? Wheelers ?.. just curious

 

$400. for the set. not including Ubolts and CB drop kit. :/

 

Would having the current springs sent to a rebuilder to arch and add. Would that be cheaper? My only concern is they will have them for a few days most likley. My other thought was a wheelers 3 leaf aal and leave my over load leaf on. Would that work? Or is a new pack the way to go?

 

Click on the link in my sig...

If you can pull the springs off yourself, you can easily rebuild/add better springs to existing in less than a day ...

 

The 3 leaf is NOT made for load, even with the OL left in.

 

Doug,

I keep telling you, you need a decal and maybe a beanie baby to give with each set. Throw in a coupon for Burger King and they will be lined up.

 

Think the rake would be to much with the front bills only set at 1.75. Most people seem to get 3 inches out of the dakars. Ive also been talking to eli at camel 4x4 about a set of iron man spring pack. Seems a little cheaper and are located in new jersey. Shipping might be cheaper.... Maybe

 

The Dakars provide 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" of lift depending on the truck configuration as well as the +/- in the specs of the pack itself

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/173193-2nd-gen-ome-dakar-hub-fender-measurements.html

 

Dakars?

 

Read this thread. lots of good learnin'.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/142677-suspension-lift-info-includes-pics.html

 

Dakars

 

New Mexi. Your truck looks sick btw. Thanks for the info guys.
Do you think ill be dissapointed with the ride unloaded.?
I was leaning towards dakars or somthing similar but my only concern was could they be used w 5100s set at 1.75. I want to avoid the UCA deal.

 

My Dakars don't need weight in the back. They ride amazing.

 

Thread jack myself. Do you guys think proper tires are equally important as the spring issue? Right now i have cheesy mastercrafts. I assume there P rated w tissue paper thin sidewalls

 

Thanks mang.

This.

I dont know how to say it without sounding redundant, but it's all important...IF you want to do it right. Now I am no expert but this is sort of what i got from researching. (i.e read that suspension thread) People on TW do all kinds of cool cosmetic stuff to their trucks, but a proper suspension lift is not cosmetic.(i.e. just for looks. A spacer lift is....)

UCA's= stability, less wander on the highway. also the stock ones may not be able to articulate the same with your lifted shocks. i am sure theres more to it then that, but thats the basics.

Coils = Lift and weight bearing for the front end.

leaf Springs = weight bearing,lift for the rear.

Shocks/struts =smooth out the ride. If you extend the 5100s they dont get as much up and down travel and give a worse ride. if you get 885 coils, and dakar leaf springs you can set the 5100s at 0 and get the full shock travel. (much preferable).

Tires= yes. good tires are important. for load rating and traction and MPG's and all that. my two preferred ones are BFG AT's and gooodyear wrangler duratrecs. (duratrecs are badasss)

It sucks....everythings expensive... but it's worth doing it right. I knocked it out one piece at a time, over a year or....two.