Dakars, All Pro Expo, or what?.....

I'm in need of a suspension overhaul. I'm doing 6112 and UCAs up front and looking for my rear options.

Right now I have the stock 3 leaf (removed overload) and added Icon 3 leaf AAL making it 5 total. It rode great for 100k miles and I recently added a cap and Pelfreybilt Bumper and the rear really feels tired now.

I'm looking to have the front at about 2.25-2.5" and I want the rear at the same roughly. Daily driver so I'd like something not too harsh.

Thanks.

 

I got All-Pro standards a few weeks ago, very happy with them. They are stiffer than stock when empty, but with a few hundred pounds of camping gear in the bed I swore I was driving a Buick. Having a cap & plate bumper I'm fairly certain you should be looking at the All-Pro Expo leafs, they're made to sustain 3" lift with 400 pounds of load, which is probably about what you have.

 

what if it was a plate bumper but no cap?

 

Then probably more than 3" but less than 4" the expo's give empty. With just a shell I think the Expo's would ride pretty rough but since they give more lift some people are willing to put up with the ride lol. Sand bags always work!

 

i dont mind the rake..

 

I'm interested in the differences in ride quality and articulation between Dakars and Allpro standard leafs. I haven't heard from anyone who has had both. Maybe they will pop in on this thread........

 

I'm running the full Dakar leaf pack on my DCLB. Pelfreybilt standard rear bumper in steel (which is technically lighter than the factory bumper w/receiver). No topper.

Early on the Dakars seemed stiff with an empty bed. A year later and honestly I don't even notice.

I've had 400lbs of boxes in the bed and not noticed it settle.

Photo to give idea on height (33" tires):

 

Can always re-valve the rear shocks to make them softer if truly worried about a harsh ride. I went with the latter and had my rear shocks re-valved with more compression and less rebound..

 

Not that easy on the East Coast.

 

I have a nice plush ride now with the Icon AAL and 2 factory leaves.... but they are definitely tired now.

I do a ton more road driving then off-roading so I want a nice daily ride.

 

Bumpity, bump.

Allpro or dakar? That is the question.

Standard or expo?

Icon 2.5" in the front.

I have a cap but do not carry tents, bumpers, etc...

 

@ChadsPride did you buy your leafs from @HeadStrong Off-Road ?

 

I have a DCLB, Dakars with Wheelers Long AAL since they were out of stock of the OME AAL when i ordered them. Flip kit with Timbrens and 5100s. I have a Mid Rise topper and a wooden (mostly solid pine) bed/storage slider on the drivers side of the truck bed.
5100/886 up front, completely empty except for maybe 30 pounds of camping gear/fishing stuff in the storage areas, there is a slight rake to it.

The ride is great, the stiffness i feel is from being over sprung in the front from the 886's, hoping that switching to 887 will fix that. but on trails, washboard dirt roads, and what not, the rear end feels GREAT. no squeaks, no chatter.

Can't go wrong with Dakars. I've even ran them on my Long travel truck (2011 scsb 4x4) with 2.5 kings out back. worked great then too but shocks needed revalving for sure.

 

I ordered the Dakar packs. I'm hoping not to have to modify them. I could raise the front a little if necessary.

 

Take the top overload leaf out. Makes a big difference as the suspension cycles. Keep the spring rate from stiffening up too quickly

 

Rides better? Would you take out the top overload before the 3rd leaf? I have a cap on the bed that adds a couple hundred pounds.

 

I added the

$81 D29xl Leaf Spring

D29xl leaf and removed the top overload. I have a bed rack , tool box, hi lift etc that adds a few hundred in weight. In your case I would say leave the third leaf and removed the top overload. The bottom overload will really not come into play until your springs are flat or starting to go negative.
The ride is much improved without the top overload.

 

Might have to remove the top overload on mine now if yal are reporting on an improved ride.

 

I had allpro standard leafs and I now have dakars. The allpros flexed well but because the leaf pack is thicker than stock (thinner but higher number of individual leafs) and didn't lift a ton, I had about the same or less up travel than stock. This was with a hi-lift, 2 jerry cans, and tools. I now have dakars with a rtt, rear 4xinnovations high clearance bumper, and all of the previous gear, I have more lift and a plusher ride. The spring rate for the allpro standards is slightly higher than the rate for the dakars, but the dakars hold more lift while loaded. Also the allpro leafs are about an inch or 2 longer than the dakars, so it shifts the axle back a little bit, this resulted in my 255 85 r16s tearing off my after market mud flaps while on the trail. The dakars flex pretty well for me but I dont have exact numbers to compare them with the allpros.
I would sum it up by saying that the allpro standards are great for a lightly loaded truck, but even with a lightly loaded truck I would still go with the dakars because of the lighter spring rate, more lift, etc. Then if you need less, remove one leaf, if you need more get the OME add a leaf.

 

Thank you gentlemen! Im looking foward to nice upgrade!