Which LT Leaf Pack For Towing & Heavy Rear

Which leaf pack is rated the the best in terms of weight capacity for towing?


Considering a LT build with a Flippac camper. Vehicle will also be towing an offroad trailer or 4X Motorcycle trailer.

EDIT

I want to make sure I source the proper leaf kit for this the first time.

Also, anyone use airbags with a LT rear?


Secondary question for anyone reading; What is the minimum width --- wheel to wheel -- you can run with the smallest backspacing for the narrowest front end with the +3.5 setup?


Thanks.

 

Most everyone that hauls weight has the , designed for 4" lift empty and 3" lift at 400-500 lbs (sustained load). No personal experience with air bags but I know for reliability with lots of flex you'd want a nice big striker plate for it to land on at different angles without catching a sharp edge.

 

Coming from a guy with a "do all" type build, there's no point in having an LT truck and flippac camper at the same time. The two just aren't compatible - to use one is to destroy the other.

Putting airbags in a rear LT set up is counterproductive. You'd have to remove them to actually use the suspension.

You are so much better off sticking with a mid-travel rear end if a flippac is where you want to go with your truck.

 

Appreciate the Advice.

I already purchased a All Pro Expedition leaf pack that I currently have collecting dust... These seem to have the most "positive" reports for handling a heavier payload and lift from what I've read here.
I assume there is no way have a do it all complete LT rig?

Is there a point in having a LT front, but Mid Travel rear? Seems counter intuitive as well...

The Flippac won't be on ALL the time. But probably for 65% of the over-landing trips. At least that is the plan for now.
I also like tow 3-4X KTM adventures motorcycles every other weekend during the summer.

 

it will be a compromise on both sides. but I also am in a similar boat. I can say that dakar springs with overload arnt to bad (heavy bumper, shell and RTT) and they work well, i am waiting for some fancy fox shocks to show up for the rear which should also help. also have air bumps waiting to install. Best you can do is use those springs and get proper valved rear shocks. I went with the Fox Factory DSC 12" shocks for the rear. with the DSC i should be able to help have it setup for when running somewhat empty to full. Fyi my taco is right at
LF 1261
RF 1251
LR 1447
RR 1312
5271Lbs total. lol portly bitch.

 

I am in the same boat. I have a camper trailer that I tow. About 4,000 pounds all loaded up. I really want to do a 2" long travel in the front of my 16 tacoma but don't know if it is worth it as I don't know what setup to run in the rear that could keep up with the front AND still tow my trailer nicely. Is it worth it to do a long travel front and mid travel rear? Any help would be appreciated.

 

A lot of guys run that style setup:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/shmellmopwho-lt-dclb-expo-build.333383/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...uilt-2012-dcsb-shitshow.455075/#post-13405147

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dakotas-yota-build-long-travel-chevy-63s-and-bs.319048/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/defconbrix-overland-tacoma-build.307687/

And there's a few more I can't come up with right now lol.

 

Many people do LT front and MT rear like said above. Search the builds here on TW and you will find ton of useful info. Here's a couple more to add:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/betsy-the-long-travel-expedition-tacoma-build.89866/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mademan925s-truck.295220/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tretiak30s-lt-soon-to-be-37s-build.340085/

 

You can have a "do all" rig, you just have to be willing to accept that it won't do everything well.

If you don't do LT in the rear, it's not worth the money to do it up front. You'll never use the front end to its potential in the high speed stuff because the rear end will be bucking.

If you LT the rear but still want to expo / tow, you are sacrificing your towing, load hauling, and bed integrity/space (for gear / FlipPac). I would definitely not tow 4,000 pounds with an LT truck either. Just not fun or safe.

It sounds like what you have (AP expo pack) is what you need. Do a nice mid-travel set up front and rear and you will be very happy with the truck.

 

I have the same setup you are speaking of. I'm in the process of upgrading my rear suspension with custom leafs and BAMF relocation kit and King 12" shocks.

 

Yeah I think I agree. That is how I had my 3rd gen 4runner and loved it. Told myself I was going to long travel the front this time but for my application I think I am going to go with something like this: Can't decide on expedition springs or not though. I will prob have 200 pounds extra on the back and do tow a trailer, which like I said before is about 4,000 pounds loaded.

 

i wonder if you can run some air bags to help. but the type that mounts from the top but just sits on a plate on the axle. as if it was attached at both ends you might rip a bag when flexing.

 

http://daystarweb.com/productdetail.php?productID=1232

 

I'm ok with this. I need to to be able to do everything when I want it to. I want to travel across north american, tow an offroad trailer and / or a trailer with min 2 Big Adventure bikes.

It would be nice to be able to bomb across the dunes when I go out west to visit friends in DV, but if that is shortcoming and I have to slow down a "bit" I can always rendezvous with the group at the end of the day.

Can I have my cake and eat it too?

Considering the following for the rear of my truck;
-Archive Garage Premium Shackle Flip Kit
-Archive Garage Rear Shock Relocation Kit (allows 14" travel without going through the bed)
-Icon 14" CDC Resi shocks.
-All Pro Expos
-Airbags
-Daystar Aribag Cradle

So far it ^^^ seems like the best of "both" worlds with everything I can see available on the market.

The rear [configured as such] would have a decent amount of travel -- just shy of LT requirements though. Still able to haul weight. Since not many have used this set-up, I do not know if it's tune-able to work with a LT front or not.

Already have Front LT coils and rear shocks. So going to follow through with this one way or another with a LT front.

Trying to figure out some compatibility details between the following front LT kits;
TC 2.0 LT With @sidlinehero locking hubs / axle kit vs Solo Motorsports +3.5 XLT kit With Locking hubs

I don't think I "need" a +3.5 kit here on the east cost. If anything It might be too wide and hindering. However, cost is pretty much the same between the two.
I'm always challenged, with the go big or go home dilemma. IF I am spending the same amount why not get the biggest, bestest for your money?

Considering 37's / No smaller than 35"
-Need to see comparisons of truck with +2.0 LT 35/'s stock fenders (cut) VS Same with Fiberglass
-Need to see comparisons of truck with +2.0 LT 37/'s stock fenders (cut) VS Same with Fiberglass
-Need to see comparisons of truck with +3.5 LT 35/'s stock fenders (cut) VS Same with Fiberglass
-Need to see comparisons of truck with +3.5 LT 37/'s stock fenders (cut) VS Same with Fiberglass

still lots of planning to do...

 

I am telling you brother... you're going to regret it if you execute upon what you have envisioned right now. If you want a rig you can travel the country in and hit some trails, then get a nice mid-travel set up.

If you want a rig that you will be white knuckled and have sweaty armpits driving down the highway, go ahead and put a flip-pac on an LT truck with that ghetto rear end set up you are describing above.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, I'm just trying to give you the weather forecast before you head out to the parade. I've been there, done that when it comes to this "jack of all trades" thing, and I wish I had a mid-travel truck for 99% of my use.

 

I would think the 63" chevy spring route would be a good fix for the rear. With airbags and a cradle it could be the best of both worlds with good travel, a decent spring rate and lots of options on lift, spring rate and junk yard finds.

For high speed dunes and crawling you can pull the valve stem cores from the airbags so they collapse readily. Then air them up to adjust for load. I would think that flexy springs and airbags would be about the best mix of both worlds.

 

Well op I'm on the east coast with ya. I got a tc3.5 up front when I was originally thinking of the 2 inch kit. To me and from what I have heard from others, if you can't fit on a trail with the 3.5, you probably shouldn't try. I say this, but I haven't had a chance to wheel mine yet, but I have no regrets with my decision to step it up. I also have the tc mid travel rear with shock relocation for 12 inch kings with clickers. Obviously I can't go as hard as the full LT guys, but if you load up your rear a lot then this is a great kit for that and the adjustable clickers give you a lot of versatility to dial in the rear to be balanced depending on what you put in the bed. Lastly, besides the shock mounts and the spring perches this set up is bolt on. you may want to check out @jberry813 build as he recently swapped out his shackle flip and has some great theory on his decision in there. Go 3.5!

Coot

 

This.

 

I was hoping more would chime in on this. Really considering the 3.5's A lot of good points made, but still on the fence.

Ditching the Flippac idea. Sticking with thee Leer Camper and RTT for now. But still want to carry (motorcycles) weight / and occasionally tow a light weight offroad trailer.

Secondary question for anyone reading; What is the minimum width --- wheel to wheel -- you can run with the smallest backspacing for the narrowest front end with the +3.5 setup?

 

Depends on what tires you run. If I were you I'd save a good chunk of money and go with the +2 race kit and keep your stock fenders unless you're running 35's. If you're not going to do a DMZ rear end then 3.5 won't make any difference since the travel difference is like less than 2". When would you actually experience that difference without a solid rear end setup with a good ~16" of travel in the rear which you'll never get with the TC SUA kit? I believe you almost never would.

I think most people have assumed that you either have made your mind up and are getting what you want despite their advice or have given up following the thread lol. There's not a whole lot of options outside of what's been mentioned. Why would you want to build a purpose built truck for a place you'd have to drive thousands of miles to get to just to hit some whoops? I get the do-it-all truck. I would like one as well, but I don't tow or use a heavy tent / pop up camper, and I live 100 miles from the desert so it's more realistic for me to be able to make a long travel do-it-all truck for my requirements.

If you want a real do-it-all truck, this is the one that I think of when I hear that - it's just that you'd have to figure out what you're going to do with the leaf pack if you're adding 300-400lbs to the rear end - I'd call DMZ and see what Tim has to say.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/white-knight-fixedtrd-build.126828/

You're not going to get the travel you need to justify a 3.5 kit with the stock leaf mounting points like the TC kit. If you're running a lot of weight in the back I don't think you'll be hitting whoops really hard anyway - where would you put your tent while you hit whoops with your truck? It's questions like these that I think might be causing people to not respond to the thread. I'd call some shops that will be able to give you the low down on what they can and will not be able to do for you. Then you won't have to be wondering. My $.02