Considering "Helper" Leaf Springs

Hello All,

To begin, I have a '13 2.7, 5sp manual, 4x4, SR5 with ~40k miles. The truck is completely stock other than the addition of fog lights and frame mounted trailer hitch. The most I've towed is about 2500 lbs. The 2.7 manages fine but certainly makes you well aware of the weight.

A few times a year I'll haul heavy things in the bed and/or tow a trailer. I've noticed it doesn't take much weight in the bed or much tongue weight from the trailer to really sag the rear of the truck and pitch up the front. I have a home move coming up next year in which I'd be utilizing the bed and trailer at the same time to move. Thus the inquiry over helper leaf.

I've seen two types. Half leaf and full leaf, with the latter of course offering more capacity than the half. I'm leaning towards the full leaf version but worry about the no load characteristics. Will it make the rear of the truck feel bouncy? Is the half leaf the more happy medium between no load ride quality and additional support?

To be clear I'm not going to be pushing the truck beyond its rated limits. We're talking couches and other furniture primarily. Likely less than 500 lb in the bed and 1000 lb in the trailer per trip. So, not cords of wood or the space shuttle. But with as little as 500 in the bed of the truck the rear squats considerably. The move next year will be primarily highway driven and about 30 miles. Off highway is curvy country backroads.

Appreciate your input on helper leaf suggestions/experiences or reasons to leave it as is.

 

I hear ya. Im interested in this as well. Been looking at campers, as well as considering all the stuff in the bed when going camping. I think they rated the max load at when the frame hits the bump stops!
Look forward to everyones suggestions. I was thinking airbags.

 

I've been thinking of the

$105 Hellwig 550 Helper Spring Kit - 550

Hellwig 550 for my OR DC. Several folks here have managed to install them just fine, but Hellwig does not recommend them for the 4 leaf TSB spring pack, so I'm on the fence still.

 

Don't waste your money. I thought I was going the proper route with a progressive aal (3 leaf) but quickly realized I needed a full aftermarket pack. I had the recall done so my aal was on a fresh 4 leaf pack. I use my truck for work and play. Every time I loaded weight in the bed she sagged. I now run allpro expo leafs (need to be installed) and sumo springs. Aal did help but the whole thing started to negative arch within 2 months. I've not heard any comments about about the helper springs but can't imagine them working better than a full aal.

 

This works very well for me and my towing needs.

 

From what I've heard and read bags are best for towing.

 

Yep, I tow this with a bed full of camping gear at over 80mph.

 

That sounds like a horrible accident waiting to happen.

 

I have a DCLB with a cap and added a platform in the bed. Combined maybe 400#'s. The back end had started to sag downward, really bothering me. I looked into new steonger leaf packs, but all of them added lift to a stock truck. I did not want lift beyond stock.
I finally decided to go with Hellwig helper springs. I think I have the 979's but not 100%.
They raised the back end up to stock height (about 1.5" higher than sagged height). I do not notice a harsher ride. I only adjusted the springs about 1/2 way. So I can raise the truck more if needed.
When I sit on the tailgate the bed barely drops down.

 

Towed from CA to Moab and back with no problems. Tacoma performed like a champ. The truck gets the Jeep to and back from the trail, that's what I use it for.

 

@ 80 mph sounds a lil crazy. But if i had to build a trail rig, it would be exactly like that jeep. Cheap(er) and that I6 is perfect for stuff like that.

 

Thanks for the replies. For my purposes the air bags seem overkill. I ended up ordering

$105 Hellwig 550 Helper Spring Kit - 550

Hellwig 550 which is the half leaf size and claims 550lb load leveling. If it ends up not being enough I can order a second pair and add them in to the front side of the leaf packs.

From what I've read here and in my own online research they seem to fit the bill for what I want.

 

I had the half leaf helper springs on my original springs. They seemed to help when I had a load in the bed. I didn't notice any problems running empty. They came off with the leaf spring recall and I haven't found a need for helpers since.

 

Weird...the TSB springs are the reason I'm considering helper springs... They are softer than the 3 leaf I had before and have already sagged so the rear is below level with 0.85" 5100 on the front. When towing, it's trampoline city.

 

I've had the recall springs on it only a few weeks. Time will tell if they are adequate. Somehow I got the impression that the half leaf overload springs I have will not work on the new springs. ???

 

Very possible they won't fit. I have full size ones, but when emailing with Hellwig, the correct part # for me changed based on if I had had my springs recalled or not.
You can email them to check. They were pretty helpful with me.

 

I put the Hellwig EZ-990 AaL springs on the rear my truck. It's a gen 3 TRD Sport.
I didn't want to pervert the stock ride. I also wanted to tow my 1100 lbs. utility trailer - and haul some - without any rear sagging.

These springs worked very nicely to do just that.
They can also be set up to provide a small amount of lift, (up to about 2") if you desire it.
Installation was easy, but requires you to slide the leaf under the bump stop on each side.

So to do this, you have to remove the OEM U-bolts, then re-install them as before, (without modification).
Two sets of U-bolts are also provided to secure the ends of the leaf and provide the means for adjustment (stiffness/height).
I have no complaints with this kit and it completely satisfied my requirements. My two cents.