2017 Tacoma TRD Access cab mods

Need some input please.

Thinking of beefing up the rear suspension only for now. does anyone make a rear coil over shock or is my only option an add-a-leaf upgrade?

 

Add a leaf sure buy different heavier leaf springs sure all available...coilovers are possible as well but not without 5k in fabrication labor.

 

Here’s what I added. So far they have been great.

 

How much of a load increase and how much lift did you get?

 

Thx for the info. I found the only Canadian dealer for Roadmaster is about 1 hr away from where I live and they have the kit in stock. Road trip this morning!!! Will up load picks after mod this afternoon.

 

Install was easier than I thought. Got some tips from the shop I bought the kit from(don't have to remove tires).
Only extra things I did was to clean the top of the spring at the back so the hook would fit snug, used lock tight on the nuts when tightening and covered the exposed bolt coming from the spring with some black wire loom.

 

Overall lift in the rear was about 1.25" which should help hooking up my camper. Note, never mentioned the height gain to my spouse. Will see how long it takes her to notice.

 

I'm wanting to move the ETC button on the lower dash panel to the centre console just in front of the parking brake handle. Does anyone know what the wiring harness plug types are connected to it so that I could make up and extension instead of cutting the wires and splicing in an extension?

 

@MESO may be able to help...he's done some mods with the ETC button...also check out this before cutting into your center console:

https://mesocustoms.com/collections/toyota-tacoma-3rd-gen/products/stealth-pro-shift-knob

https://mesocustoms.com/collections/toyota-tacoma-3rd-gen/products/diy-stealth-shift-knob-kit

https://mesocustoms.com/collections/toyota-tacoma-3rd-gen/products/toyota-ect-connectors

 

Thx for the info. I knew I would get some help from a TW member. Will order the OEM connectors today.

 

That’s interesting.... may have to research. So the springs are under tension and not compression? If I’m seeing the design right, there’s ‘relief’ so you don’t have to worry about bottoming out the spring and bending the lead screw?

 

The springs are in a slightly tensioned state when the truck bed is empty. I obtained a 1.25" lift after the install. As the truck is loaded the coil spring expands when the leaf spring lowers.

 

So let’s say you cross a railroad track just a little too fast and catch a little air, any concern with damage to the system because it’s fully unsprung now?

 

First time seeing this system too, has caught my attention.
Wonder what would be the major disadvantages of this setup.

 

The installation process has the axle hanging(unspung). Once everything is lined up you turn the coil spring in order to put some tension on it. There are 2 measuring devices that come with the kit(1mm and 2 mm plastic discs) to measure the distance between the coils. I set mine at the recommended 1mm which is suppose to to provide 25% more load carrying capacity. Once set, you lock the bolt in place with 2x nuts.
Attached is a pic of my truck with a cord of wood in the box and a fully loaded pop-up camper in tow(you would not believe how much stuff can be crammed into that front compartment). Although the back end is sagging a bit the RMAS kit has greatly improved the drivabilty of hauling a fair size load.

 

Whomever sold you that cord of wood hosed you, thats not a cord.

 

Well, I guess I should have stated "face cord" . Regardless, there is a few hundred pounds of wood in the box. It was a good test for the RMAS kit I installed the day before I went camping.

 

Now that I have the RMAS kit installed I have gained approx. 1.5" lift in the rear. Looking to get a modest 1/2" height gain in the front. Looking for some suggestions please.