These springs suck...

I hauled a little mulch the other day and I could not believe how much it squatted this thing. I only had about an inch from the stops and they easily bottomed out if I bounced on the bumper a little. There is know way that this can handle 1200#s in the bed. I bet this mulch didn't weigh 300#s.

 

I've had almost 1000 pounds in the bed with my Dakars and it barely squatted..now that I have a shackle flip, I bed it wouldn't sweat it.

 

All pro expos here, never going back to stock junk.

Az

 

Mulch is heavier than you think. Figure a 2 cubic foot bag weighs about 20 pounds. I've had 40 bags in the bed to about the equivalent volume that your picture shows. That's 800 pounds. It did squat down quit a bit but did not hit the bump stop. I have firestone riderite air bags now to compensate for the occasional heavy load.

On second thought, maybe my memory is off a bit. Just did a calculation on the bed volume and got 37.5 cubic feet for a 5' bed. No way I had 80 cubic feet in there. Maybe it was 25 bags (50 cubic feet - so above the bed rails) or 500 lbs.

 

Get some 4 leaf packs from someone that has changed theirs out. A regular cab is much better suited to the oem 4 leafs than an access or double cab is. I got 3/4" lift from some 5k 4 leafs and no sag hauling stuff, no axle wrap & way way less body roll cornering. They may not last forever depending on how often you haul/tow but they are huge improvement for reg cabs over the sad ass 3 leafers. Of course, all the non-oem options will do the trick for a stack more jack.

 

I woudln't say they suck, but they are pretty wimpy. Upgrade with a Dakar leaf pack and you'll be good to go...but your comfy squishy ride will be gone.

 

My PreRunner feels like a low rider after 1.5yrs of ownership. Can't wait to put some now coils and leafs on it. Coming up with the $$$ is the only issue!!!

 

Keep the oem spings and add Firestone Riderite air bags. They are the way to go. Retain soft ride and eliminate sag with heavy loads. Best of both worlds.

 

If they were ever cheaper than $250 I'd certainly grab some. That $250 just hasn't reached the top of the mod priority list for the truck yet. Those or the other things like that......Timbrens, yeah Timbrens.

 

If it can be said, by how much do Dakars improve payload?
Or does it just allow the truck to handle loads better? I understand that frame and chassis strength plays a big role in that outside of suspension.

 

From what I understand, it does increase the payload capacity. How much exactly I cannot remember.
Hiluxs (non North American Tacomas) come with a different leaf pack than we got. It rides stiffer and I remember seeing somewhere that they payload capacity was slightly larger...bu like 100 lbs or so.

 

Yeah I've put 400lbs of boxes in my bed with my Dakars and not noticed a difference at all.

 

I've wondered is it the leafs themselves that suck, or the way they are mounted. I remember when I first saw mine they looked almost inverted and I thought something was wrong with them. The service manager showed them to me when they put the truck on a lift. The way they were mounted I could see why they were in the flat shape they were in.

 

They suck. Toyota correctly calculated that the average American, and the average American automobile "journalist", are both far more interested in experiencing a car like ride going to the mall than having the advertised payload capacity. So they put shitty weak springs in the rear and only a minority of owners ever noticed because we actually use our trucks as trucks. If you did notice within the warranty period and said the super secret code words (rough ride under load) to the dealer they would grudgingly install the four leaf pack that came standard on Canadian Tacos. Even that wasn't much of an improvement but it was something.

 

Not on the bumpstops

 

I guess that if you're thinking of changing springs you have to decide what you want your truck to do. Carry loads, work better off road, or look better. All valid. I've had OE springs - suck all around, Dakars - way better load carrying, good lift and tougher than nails but (IMHO) rougher than a cob off road and definitely reduced rear axle travel (2-3 inch lift with stock length shocks), and currently AP expos. My last vehicle was a modified Land Rover, so I'm kinda partial to the soft "coil-spring" feel and tons of articulation so my favorites so far are the AP's. More leafs equals more supple ride, and more drop so you maintain suspension travel with the lift. Only downside so far is RUST! I hate friggin' rust!
Air bags are great for carrying weight, but unless you valve them so that they work independently, they seriously restrict up-travel and will limit your off road performance...but I guess that's why god made lockers.
If you just want to look better...who cares. Buy something cheap.

Personally, I'm waiting for a coli-sprung, 3 link mod! Ahhh... Suspension!

 

@onesojourner I think the axle tube plays a big role in payload as well. As I understand it they will flex and blow a seal.



I have Dakars and they only squat about 1.5" with 1000 lbs but unless you're looking at totally changing your suspension front and back forget the Dakars. If you just want to be able to haul the odd thing from Home Depot or whatever, swap for the 4 leaf OEM pack which you can probably get for next to nothing used... or add some Timbren SES bumpstops. product #

$270 TORTUN4 Suspension Enhancement System

TORTUN4 or

$270 TORTUN4L Suspension Enhancement System

TORTUN4L for a softer lighter duty version.