2012 Three leaf pack isn't too bad.

625 Square Feet

 

What can you do to upgrade the leaf pack? I am assuming you have to buy an aftermarket pack.....which companies seem to do the best job?

 

This is how my 2012 TRD OR was sitting with about 520 pounds of water/drinks in the bed plus another 50 pounds of cargo in the cab. It has the 3 leaf springs.

 

depends on the primary use of the leaf pack. we all do different shit with our trucks so state your primary use.

 

Towing, hunting, some offroad use, payloads of dirt and cement type stuff

 

those are your PRIMARY uses

every day you tow or have a bed full of stuff?

 

Of course it was on the Bump Stops, it was loaded WAY OVER the rated load ( ~ 1.5 times, with 1,700 pounds ). Duh.

It handled well with the load and it never felt light in front. Steering was fine.

I have also loaded 700 - 800 pound loads and it never came close to the bump stops. Then again I don't go over speed bumps at 25 MPH either.

 

Hard on the axle seals , no ?

 

I have a 2012 DC with the 3 leaf and with 2 dirt bikes and gear in the bed (approx. 600 lbs), on the freeway it was hitting the bumps, the first time it happened it freaked me out! the next week i went and got the tsb done

 

the weight of the trailer won't cause the truck to sag, its the tongue weight of the trailer that will

 

I see your 3 pack to Daks and raise you my 4 pack to Daks

 

That much weight is hard on everything to be honest.

 

They work, so why not? Toyota has undated the springs on the latest models. Still, the TRD Sport comes with the 4-leaf pack (stiffer performance on road), while the TRD Off-Road comes with the 3-leaf pack (smoother ride off road). If you want greater cargo capacity and the existing springs aren't cutting it, add the normal aftermarket accessories (helper springs, etc).

As for flat springs, I'm continually toting between 100~200-lbs of equipment* in my bed toolbox. No problems yet.

*Tools, off-road gear (ropes, straps, shackles, etc), hitch & winch components, rescue gear (first aid bag, fire extinguisher, etc), and similar.

The Baja has a very different suspension system (alternative materials, longer shocks, etc), allowing for much greater suspension travel. Might be nice to have that on my TRD OR, but likely would never use or need it.

 

Shit, I had 4 pack with AAL and went to Dakars with AAL

No pic though.

Greater travel? Source on that? It rides 2" higher, but IIRC the front/rear travel is only modestly increased (something like 1 or 2 ").

 

You had the rear leaf TSB performed on a '12? I thought Toyota had yet to issue one?

 

It hasn't been issued it yet, but Toyota knows that its still a problem so they did it anyway. There has been other members with 12's that have gotten it also. the dealership iirc used the '11 tsb to do it

 

Can't speak to the "re-engineering" of the springs, but I can tell you that the 3 leaf packs on my pre-runner were the same part numbers as previous years. I just got the 4 leaf packs installed and it makes a world of difference for drive-ability with weight in the bed. I was bottoming out HARD with about 700 lbs in the bed. I ran 650 lbs today with no issues. I am sure they will weaken in a few years, but that is pretty normal.

 

Are these the TSB leafs? I have no idea. You can see my truck info below.

 

Thanks for the info and glad to hear it worked out for you. I'm going to start this battle with the dealer the next time I take it in for an oil change. I don't care what anyone says, the "re-engineered" three leaf pack on the 12's is still junk.

 

I diddnt have to battle with them at all, I just told them that it almost caused me to loose control on the truck at freeway speeds. No questions asked, they ordered the parts that day and they were put on that sunday.