Deavers or Dakars

Looking to replace the factory 2+1 leaf springs to get about 2.5 inches of lift and reduce the constant bottoming out.

I have a DCSB and run a leer cap with a carpet kit. I also have about 50 lbs of stuff in the bed at all times and carry more occasionally.

This truck is my DD and sees most of it's time around town but I manage to get out and offroad at least once a month and pull a camper weighing about 5.5k lbs when I load it.

I think I'm set on the Dakars but I'm wondering if I'll have the weight needed to smooth them out or if they'll be too stiff. I've tried to search and can't really find what I'm looking for.

 

Dakars for sure.

Worst case if you want em softer you can remove one of the two over loads, and the 3rd big leaf down.... but with a topper n 50 lbs o stuff at all times (whats that 300ish total) she will be good, it will ride stiffer but be a proper truck stiff.

 

Dakars are not butter

You could also consider the Wheelers HD leaf pack

 

Not expecting it to ride like a Cadillac, just don't want to rattle the truck apart with a overly stiff spring.

The Wheelers site is pretty vague when it comes to lift from the HD springs. Any idea how much I should expect?

 

2" IIRC

 

I have Dakars with the extra leaf and it's a bit stiff unloaded(By unloaded I mean with my canopy and other crap in the bed totaling a couple hundred pounds). But when I load for any adventure and/or pull my trailer with quads it's perfect.

I would by no means say it's "Too" stiff or unbearable, but your usage makes me wonder if you wouldn't be better suited for a lesser leaf pack(for daily use) with air bags(for towing). You run a very heavy trailer!

 

Thanks for the first hand impressions on the Dakars. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't run the overload spring.

I use a wd hitch so truck doesn't sag too much with the trailer...even on the stock springs

 

I run the Dakar regular pack

 

I wouldn't remove the overloads with your towing needs, remove the 3rd leaf down if anything (I believe it is, OZ-T would know for sure).

Here's mine with Dakar's W/AAL towing and bed loaded with probably 400lbs+

Edit: I'm running Timbren Bumps in the rear which are a huge help with bottom outs on bumps

 

When I moved from New England back to the Eastern WA this past summer I could have used your setup. I have a stock vehicle ('14 trd OR, access cab) with an ARE MX topper and racks, as well as a Yakima hitch-rack with two road bikes attached. Add to that all of my apartment's contents, a cot-tent strapped to the roof racks, and I ended up bro-leaning the entire drive! Shameful.

 

Never heard the term "bro-leaning" but I'm sitting at my desk at work reading this and laughed out loud

 

Dakars over Deavers for your set-up, or if you don't want to bottom out on the overload leaf, go with All-Pro's and Timbrens, may sit higher though.

 

I had 1500 lbs plus my cap in the back of my truck and was barely touching the upper overload on my regular Dakar pack

 

Not hearing anything positive on the Deavers...what is their claim to fame?

 

Popular in the LT spring under axle world.

I have Dakar's on my truck with the ATO shackle flip. They ride firm but its a truck and handle loads just fine - way better then stock springs.

 

Resurrection....

What did you end up going with? I'm putting in some performance suspension and am debating whether the dakars would limit me in terms of performance. I have around 400 pounds of weight that is always in/on the bed and add at least 200-300 more for the weekly trips out into the desert. Not looking for crazy travel, but I'll have either extended or long travel up front, and I want to be able to fly down desert roads with my stuff all loaded up. Plus, knowing myself, I'll have to try catching a little air if I go long travel... But it's also my daily driver. So I'm not going to be doing things like that on the reg.

Edit: I have a 97 extracab that's about to swap onto a 98 frame.