Heavy taco, OME 882 sagging, * Solved*

Looking for front spring recommendations.

I have ome coils 882, they are sagging a bit. Top coil touching or nearly touching.
My wheels are rubbing the top of the fender well when wheeling. Even some speed bumps, also rubbing my skid plate on rocks. The ride is comfortable tho.

What is another spring that will give me a little more height say just an inch more maybe?
Or
could I add a 1/2 spacer?
(SAS out of the budget for now)
(getting rid of the taco IS NOT AN OPTION)
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*Edit*
Yes I know its heavy that's why the title says heavy if that's a problem please move on. I'm under the GVWR im not trying to change or go past the GVWR. If that is an issue then ANY mod anybody makes that it did not roll of the factory floor with open you up to the same potential.

Telling someone to get rid of their beloved Tacoma of something else is pretty darn rude anyway you cut it.
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Recent pictures so you can see the ride height, not many rocks on this trail.

Need more info?. Here are the details.

1999 Tacoma extended cab 4x4 limited

Tires 285/75/16 toyo open country a/t on raceline 16x8 with 0mm offset 4.5 back spacing

Bush wacker cut out fender flares,
Pinch weld mod done,
Alignment pushed wheels out for more clearance.
Some round vacuum canister relocated, bumper hammered out to clear. Runs frame on full clock not bad.

One year ago
OME 2882 front coil
OME nitroCharger sport 90004
SPC control arm
Spindle gusset reinforced
Toyota factory lower ball joints
Lower control arms with bushings, cam bolt kit, outer tie rods.

Rear
NitroCharger sport 60062 shocks
Dakar cs046ra/rb rear springs
D43XL add a leaf
Gs12 greasable shackles

Its heavy...
Boxed rear frame, entire frame has been beefed up, and reinforced..
Up front ARB bumper, warn 10k winch. Stainless steel skid plate.
Side armor rock sliders
Back tube bumper, custom trimmed frame and bed that raises tire 4 inches.
Back is a custom topper that has an lifting top.
mounted on sides hilift, 2 Jerry cans leaving inward for balance, traction boards and foot base.
Inside topper: mattress cut down and custom built bed light weight, cold weather gear, clothes, food, stove, heater camera equipment 6 gallons of water. Quick set shower, (water from stream/river or lake, foot pump tarp and hose)
Second battery that will soon have solar attached.
Inside tools, Smitty built 5cfm air compressor most used
dewalt impact gun (second most used) older complete socket set, tool box with torque wrench, small and large pliers, ball joint tool, clamps, wiring tools hammer adjustable wrench, torque tubes
Tow strap, tree saver, bow shackles, Jack acessories.

Spare parts, CV axle and lower ball joints. Coolant, oil, air filter.

Cab, another 6 gallons water, snow cables, blankets, 1 4x4 rc toy
Later will add a lightweight kayak ( probably not for weight)



Use:
living out of this now
Ever weekend I'm out on trails sometimes week or 2 at a time.
By spring I plan on traveling the USA, Trails for weeks at a time.
Back country living.

Solo travel, so self recover, tools and survival gear are needed. I have made many cuts to narrow it down to this.

I have more options for getting more out of the back, lots to add
a leaf or air bag with daystar cradle for articulation.

There may have been a better heavier base but the build did not have this end goal in mind at the start. The build and my life just ended up here.
I love the truck. Other than the obvious it handles the weight well and I have tons of room left in the cab and the back. I love this taco.
(let me translate the above, another vehicle is out of the question, like out. Not an option, no not even that, no and no and no no no no and urmmm NO)
(if somebody says they love their, taco recommending something else is rude)

*Edit*
The she was just over GVWR so I dumped some more things and now Im under that. I am under the GVWR
I have the tundra big brake upgrade, new rear brakes and she stops great. almost all the weight is below the bed height. with a low center of gravity.

 

That's a great build and set up on your truck! I find your truck to be inspiring for my own build up. I will be installing the same OME suspension kit parts that you installed on your truck with the exception of the 2883 front coils instead next week. I can't give you a suggestion on how to fix your problem yet as I haven't got to experience my truck with the incoming suspension kit installed yet.

 

I had Eibach 3” lift springs and they were STIFF. That was on a double cab too, so I think they are what you’re looking for. Need to paired with Bilstein 5100 shocks but you won’t regret it.

 

You might be better off with the 883. 882 are just taller but has the same weight as the 881. 883 are meant for heavier applications. I have a heavy front end too, probably heavier than yours and my OME set has been working fine. Getting 883 would probably be your easiest and cheapest route.

 

Thank you for your reply. I was considering the 883. I was concerned that since it was a shorter spring it would be height wash. I do like the OME and I could save what I already have.

Thank you. I will checknint them. Good informaton.

 

883's are pretty standard fair for piggies with winch, bumper, and skids.

For the rear, I'd say a set of airbags would be your next step if it's still too saggy in the rear. Or custom leafs (more spendy tho).

Honestly, though, if that's still not enough, you need to either get a bigger truck or loose some weight. I'm betting your pretty close to the max gross weight of a Tacoma. Have you ever weighed it?

 

FYI,

OME 2882s have a 500 lbf/in spring rate and a free height of 395 mm (15.55 in) with 11.1 turns
OME 2883s have a 590 lbf/in spring rate and a free height of 375 mm (14.76 in) with 9.8 turns.

Based on the free height, spring rate and Hooke's law, you should actually get more lift out of the 2882s until you hit 2550 lb of load on each front spring. Note you have to adjust for the suspension geometry (lever arm) to get spring force based on your vehicle weight.

If your're under that spring force, other places you might come out ahead is if the 2882s are old and sagging. Also, since the 2883s also have fewer turns, you'll be less likely to coil bind.

 

I weighed it today, cat scales. I filled the tank and the spare petrol, pluss filled the water jugs. With me in it, its 30 pounds over gvwr.
I will go threw my tools again to see what else I can part with. The winch is the heaviest least used thing but When I did the frame, I recon the 1/2 plate was a bit overboard. I was thinking about air bag. I hear there is a bottom plate adapter that keeps the bag separate from the axle fro drop. I may try a helper too but I rarely, rarely bottom out on the back. I would do the 883 but Im concerned about them being shorter.

Some great information here Thank you. This is the first I have heard bout hooke's law and lever arm. Im reading about it right now.
my 2882's are 1 year old. They really sag after a big outing. I can jack each end up and I will regain my height while on the street, and loose it again after another rock and dirt trip.


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it looks like the 880/881/882 is designed for the 1st gen, the 883 will work but is actually designed for the 2nd gen

The the 883 is heavier but 20mm shorter than my 882
The 884 is the same spring as the but only 10mm shorter than my 882 but is said to have 1" lift over the 883 on a FJ
The 885 is the same spring as the 884 and 884 but the same high as the 882. I think this might be overall too tall.

I cant find any record of 1st gen running an 884 or 885 but it looks like it will work.

880- 502in/lbs- 365mm's tall
881- 502in/lbs- 375mm's tall
882- 502in/lbs- 395mm's tall
883- 588in/lbs- 375mm's tall
884- 588in/lbs- 385mm's tall
885- 588in/lbs- 395mm's tall
886- 656in/lbs- 402mm's tall




For the rear I'm pretty sure Im goign with the Fire stone 2304 with the daystar cradle so I don't loose any down travel.

 

honestly for your case you are way heavy. stronger springs would benefit more than trying to keep height. you will eventually sag again but less so with a stronger spring.

that being said the 884 are usually 2nd Gen+ due to their taller suspension. the springs would technically work but you would be maxing out your IFS and blowing boots and CVs constantly from the extreme angles. the 883 is the happy medium for 1st Gen with goodies. going with the 884 would increase almost a half inch more over the 883.

again, with your weight you are compressing the 882 down since the weight rating is less, and if I understand it has more of a chance for coil bind from what @penadam if you fully compress. with the 883/884 there is less chance with their increase weight rating and less coil winds.

 

I really appreciate your input! This is the kind of conversation and ideas I need.

My front cv is completely straight now. When I jack the truck up to my goal of 1" the cv boots bellows do not touch. I also have a front diff drop kit I never installed. in about 6 months I plan on converting to manual hubs, i have 85% of the parts I need for that.

Im pretty well sold on the heavier spring. I am still concerned with the 883 giving me the same height I am right now, same ground clearance issues and same wheel rub in my fender well.
if the 883 gives me 1/2 inch and the 884 gave me another 1/2 inch over that I would be at my goal.

When I jacked the truck up 2" the cv boot bellows where just starting rubbing. no paper between them. (without the diff drop)


most of my weight is in the back but when I welded the sliders on, that was the extra weight that started affecting me.


I wonder if the 884 ended up being too much, I could transfer some weight to the cab, water jugs and cooler for example.
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I really appreciate everybody's input advice and help.
I realize this is outside of the normal but I learn from challanges and sometimes Its more fun that way.

 

Dude, you're too heavy. If you feel it necessary to carry that much weight/gear, get a Tundra.

The GVWR isn't just so people know what spring rate to get. Airbags don't increase your GVWR either, they just allow it to sag less for a given weight.

Even when when you are under GVWR (just barely), you are stressing your engine, transmission, and entire drivetrain, not to mention the chassis/suspension.

It's like with towing, our max tow weight is 5000# but I don't feel comfortable towing anything anywhere close to that for long distances.

 

Yes Im heavy but there are guys out that have heavier 1st gen rigs than me. Im hoping some are on this forum.
Im now under the GVWR Im a lot lighter than they guys with the slide in.
Yes the gear is necessary, No I will not get a tundra, its going to be to wide and I don't have to time to start over again any way.

I realize air bags dont increase GVWR, im just trying to get less sag.

I realize there is more stress with more weight on the whole vehicle.


I also realize many people will not understand and that's okay. There are so many people that do so many things with 1st gens that where far outside what the engineers intended but they are doing it. from offroading to travel to work and towing and things in between.

Its not like I am asking if I should live and drive this way. I already am and have been doing it for the past 6 months. I would just rather do it with a little less sagging if possible. Im getting some great ideas and extremely valuable input that I much appreciate.

 

The GVWR and towing capacity conversations seem to always focus on how much your truck can pull/carry. The more important question is how long does it take for your truck to stop and how does it handle. Being able to pull doesn't really effect the safety of other vehicles on the road. Handling and stopping do. How much is comfortable is up to you, I suppose. Stress on the driveline etc is more along the lines of it's your truck, do with it what you want. But stopping is different. Does that makes sense?

With all that said, just being aware of what weight will do regarding stopping and handling is a start. Suspension and better brakes like Tundra brakes can compensate for some.

Edit: BTW make truck is also a fat ass.

 

Just because there are heavier Tacomas, that doesn't really justify it, IMO. Just means they are less concerned about exceeding the GVWR than you or I.

IMO, the gear, whatever it is, isn't "needed" but "wanted". I'm willing to bet I can live full time out of my truck with 500 pounds of gear or less. Will I have a pressurized shower and 50 extra gallons of fuel or a 1/2" plate for my winch(lol)? No. It'll be a sun shower and a ground tent and a bunch of my backpacking gear.

That said, I think if I were in your position and wanted to live out of my rig full time and have a lot of those little luxuries, and go wheeling all the time, I'd get a trailer. You don't need a $20k Patriot, just an old Taco bed with a low rack and an RTT. Throw some 33" KM3s on it and that thing will follow you anywhere, or you can drop the trailer and hit some harder trails you wouldn't be able to hit with the onboard weight.

 

Yes sir that does makes complete since and its a great point.
I did the tundra brake upgrade. I replaced all lines with braided stainless steel. I also have new rear brakes and she stops amazingly well.

Breaking is not just about the vehicle its about the driver as well.

In the past I have driven many service vans in many cities. Service companies always overload thir vans and vans are horrible for stopping. That combined with drivers wanting to get hit to get paid has taught be defensive driving. I have learned to drive with a lot of follow distance. I am happy that my taco stops much faster than any of those guys ever did. She actually stops better now than when I got her.
Thanks for bringing that up.

 

This is why I was never comfortable towing more than about 60% of the max tow weight of my Tacoma. My current travel trailer is more like 80% of the tow weight of my 5th gen 4Runner (but it has like 100 more HP than the Taco), and that's as much as I'd ever want to pull. Even with only 80% gross weight, it was insanely easy to exceed my tongue weight by 25%.

There are legal questions that would need to be answered as well as just the safety factor and what someone is comfortable with. If you are knowingly exceeding the GVWR and are involved in a traffic accident, you potentially open yourself to a world of hurt, not only for your insurance coverage, but potentially legally as well.

 

50 gallons of fuel x 6 pounds your already at 300# in just fuel, larger tiers ass wight, winch adds weight, armor ads weight, its not just the gear.

I lived out of a tent for a year backpacking Australia. When backpacking I did not have a mechanical machine to fix or maintain.

Some of the places I go, its 2 weeks without seeing another person, so the tools and spare parts and recovery gear are essential to getting myself out of any situation. That is a good deal of wait right right there.
Shower is a foot pump and the shower water I dont carry, I pull it from a stream river or lake. The water I carry is drinking water and food for 2 weeks. Propane stove because many places do not allow a camp fire, furthermore in the desert there is not a lot of food anyway.

Sometimes I am in the city so I cant just pitch a tent, I have to stay rather stealth inside. my luxury is a battery powered dewalt fan on the hot desert nights and a 3'x6' foam mattress that is pretty light. 2 sets of clothes, 2 shorts.

The lifting top is a luxury but the whole top weighs 200# and its fully insulated for the winter.

the 1/2 plate was not for a winch, it was used inside to reinforce my frame. looking back, that was overkill. cant go back and change it now.

I welcome you to come out and see my set up. we can compare. I think you would be impressed of how little I have for myself.

I thought about a trailer but it will not work on the trails, it is more difficult to park or to find a place to park when at work. Most trails I do are one way so dropping the trailer is not an option. There have been many time I have had to back out for over a mile, not going to happen with a trailer. A trailer is a great idea for many people but for me it is a no go.

Again living in the truck is not the issue. I was looking for options for the sagging springs for some more clearance.

 

You modified your vehicle past the factory specifications. you yourself could be just as liable.

 

jbrandt do you have anything productive to add or do you just want to make this thread your personal attack on my build and lifestyle?