Rear leaf spring issue

So we just got back from a 2000 mile road trip pulling our 21 foot travel trailer and I noticed on certain bumps the rear end would bottom out. Now without pulling the trailer and fully unloaded on certain bumps it will bottom out now. Before the trip the leaf springs had some positive arch and now they have negative arch with no load. Between the bump stop and the frame there is about 2 3/4” of clearance. With the trailer loaded and with the weight distribution hitch hooked up properly there is about 1-1/2”. Will a aal or progressive aal help with this issue or will I need to save my pennies and get a full Dakar pack. With the upgrade I will be removing the 2” block and going to 5100 shocks but I need to maintain the 2” of lift in the rear.
Thanks

 

New leaf pack will be the best option. Once the stock leafs are flat or negatively arched, anything will be a bandaid fix. Toyota leafs work best in the trash.

Look at Dakars. I would go with the HD option if I were you.

Hit up @Tretiak30 and he will get you setup.

 

I'll second the new leaf pack. I towed quite a bit with my OEM Leaf Springs and the overloads were seriously negatively arched when I swapped them out. I'm running a Deaver spring back now. They're pricey for sure, but they've treated me very well so far. I can't compare it to the Dakar's since I've never experienced them, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the ride with the Deavers. I was worried they'd be stiff, but the thinner 9 leaves +2 overloads seem to keep a good ride even with largely varying weight.

 

Will the Dakar packs maintain roughly the same height that I have now with the 2” blocks?

 

• The "Medium Duty" leaf pack will provide approx. 2.75" lift (2005-2015 Tacoma) or 2.0" lift(2016+ Tacoma) while supporting 0 lbs - GVW

from: Headstrong Offroad website

 

You sure you had positive arch before your trip? Most new Tacomas I saw at the dealer last weekend had negative arch. All of my stock leaf packs (two pairs) have been negative on my second gen, then again I am DCSB with 400 pounds of armor over stock, and a camper shell. I’d recommend just getting some helper airbags, about $400 and you just need an air compressor or tank to fill them up or adjust them.

Edit:

Didn’t see you have blocks, those definitely can kill leaf springs. Axle wrap isn’t kind to them. I should also say, I tried to fix my ride issues with hydraulic bumpstops in the back with meh results. I’d still recommend air bags if you’re hauling.

 

My solution (when my dealer said that was normal to bottom-out!) was Ride-Rite Air Springs (airbags) installed in place of the bump stops. This was in 2007, and before we knew about the TSB for 'rough ride' on my 2005 DC OR 4x4 Tacoma. I also replaced the Bilstein shocks with 5100s.

When I traded the 2005 for a 2010 Tacoma, I had them remove my airbags, just in case I needed them on the new truck. I did not, initially, as the springs were better and no bottoming-out on speed bumps when loaded. After a few years, I added them as the suspension was softening with age. I also replaced all 4 shocks with 5100s.

Using the Ride-Rites instead of heavier (Deaver) springs, I control the firmness or height, as needed rather than having a harsh ride when I don't have a load in the back. 15 psi for normal driving and up to 35 psi with a maximunm load. No advantage to any more pressure, but they will go up to 100 psi!

I have posted photos of the install here on TW as well as a test of the height at various pressures in the air-bags.

 

I had looked into the firestone ride ride and I was concerned with the amount of clearance I had remaining if that would be an issue with the air bags. My big thing is I want to get rid of the blocks while maintaining the ride height I have now or a very slight lift.

 

You can grab the Medium Duty Dakars and remove the 3rd leaf from the top. That should get you close to the height you want and better leafs overall.

 

from experience of using AAL and towing a boat, dirt bikes etc.... i eventually broke an AAL, then shortly after that broke a main leaf (on my 2005 not my 2015)....IMO your best option is to get aftermarket leaf packs, i used the dakar cs047r packs on my 2005 after the issues... liked them so much I changed oem packs on my 2015 as soon as i bought it.... i also recently helped install dobinson's packs on my bro in law's taco and they seemed high quality to me.... the truck will handle towing better with the dakars or equivalent, it will handle even better (while towing) with load range E tires due to the stiffer sidewalls...

 

Also I have a new high clearance rear bumper so I’m sure that ads a little more weight than the factory bumper. And before the trip and the bumper there was very slight positive arch. And with the Dakar pack if I got the hd pack and take out one of the overload spring wouldn’t that be the same as the medium duty pack?

 

Dakar mediums and call it good.

I spent a few years fucking with the shitty stock springs with an AAL.... dakar mediums solved all of my issues.

 

Yes. Same spring rate.

 

I would get HD and install it as it. All that weight, you need the springs to back it up.

 

New springs and airbags worked for me. I also tow a trailer. Good luck OP.

 

In my post i mentioned helping install dobinsons on my bro in law's taco.... he had the medium duty dakars on his 4cyl 4x4 w/80k, with only 20k on the dakars... they were sagging and squeaking pretty bad when he decided to go to the dobinson hd packs.... and he hauls mainly mtn bikes...

 

Since you are looking for lift as well as load carrying I would agree that a heavy duty new leaf pack is the best option for you. Those springs are done and an added add - a -leaf will be carrying all the weight. It will fail under those conditions.

 

were they the new EL095/96R pack or the older pack? My EL095R pack (medium) I painted, put leaf spring liners in and called it good. Support weight great, no squeaks etc.

Dobinsons left a bad taste in my mouth after being an unknowing guinea pig for them and their parabolic leaf springs

 

Stock leaf pack can't even support the weight of an empty truck. Like others have said, they are flat to negative arch from the factory.

I've gone through 3 sets of leaf packs from Toyota, each with a TSB or a warranty replacement, as well as the Firestone Ride Rite Bags.

I would only recommend ride rite bags if you have a compressor built in and a switch you can control from the cab. I went the simple route with a shrader valve and a bike pump. It worked when I needed it, but I seldom maintained it so they would eventually get below that 10 psi minimum mark since I wasn't checking on it, and then fold/leak. I went through 2 sets of airbags because of my lack of maintenance.

I finally upgraded to a set of All Pro Expo Leafs and they're by far the best upgrade to do if you tow/haul, which I do quite often. I got a crazy deal on them from another member so that's why I have them, but if you're purchasing new, go Dakar since they have excellent customer support. Avoid All Pro since their customer support is in the toilet.

Pair your aftermarket leaf pack with a set of Timbren bump stops and you'll be golden.

 

I'm running the older Dakar leaf pack with the 3rd leaf removed. I have about 5,000 miles with this trailer behind the truck and I'm running a HC rear bumper and the shell. Trailer is 5,500lbs loaded.

I use a WD hitch. Airbags aren't a replacement for a WD hitch and just a bandaid (along with AALs) for the marginal stock leaf pack.