Can I just add a new leaf pack to carry my junk?

I have a Diamondback HD bed cover (~115 lbs) to which I am adding a Max Modular bed rack (44 lbs) and IKamper Skycamp Mini (~125 lbs). There is at least 250-300 lbs of camping gear, tools and recovery gear, water jugs, stove, air compressor and other gear in the bed. There may be a couple bicycles on the back of the truck on some trips (40 lbs hitch rack, 50 lbs bikes). So likely about 600-700 lbs of gear if I'm loaded for a camping/biking trip.

Looking at suspension options to prevent rear sag. I think I'm beyond a simple AAL. Can I get away with adding a Dakar leaf pack ($$) or Deaver Expedition ($$$) without having to change the stock TRD OR Bilstein shocks?

I'd like to get a 2.5'+ lift at some point but thinking just a leaf pack for now to handle to gear.

 

I'd recommend the Deavers for the amount of weight you will be carrying. I have the old style Dakars with the AAL on my black truck and they are great for the money but haven't handled the weight very well. I bought a set of Deaver U402 stage 3 for my new truck and the workmanship is great, a test drive of a similarly setup truck with them installed convinced me they were the way to go.


If you add height with a taller leaf pack you will end up using your shocks as a limit strap which will eventually destroy them. A set of Bilstein 5100 rears is pretty inexpensive and will do what you need.

 

Thanks!

 

Just a thought......$200-$300 will get you Firestone or Airlift bags. They’ll give you a nice ride for when you’re empty and you can add air for when you’re fully loaded for a camping trip.....

 

I added two more leafs per side to my truck plus ten ply rated tires and I don't think my ride it too rough. However, it did lift it quite a bit to the point I had to get a 2.25" lift in the front to level it back out again. I will put a ton in the back of my truck without hardly any squat now.

 

Look into Sumo springs and/or Timbren bumpstops. Cheap and easier than airbags.

 

I’m usually empty bed but camping trips I’m at 700lbs or so. You think on a Gen 3 keep the stock leafs, I have Fox Performance 2.0 with Resi, add the black Sumo springs rated 1000lbs and good to go? I have the blue sumos 500lbs but bottom out a lot wheeling. That’s my situation.

 

I have almost 650 in my bed with Dakar HDs. Around 2.5” lift. My truck looks to be sitting exactly level. I may throw one more spring in there.

 

It’s a personal preference issue. Do you set up for 90% or the 10% usecase. There are leaf springs that will stop you from bottoming out under max load, it will ride like a “truck” on the road. I carry nominally 450lbs (winch, armor & junk), over stock. Currently have OME 95R’s leafs and Timbren’s. Gives me the option of adding the extra leaf.

 

Check out the Icon RXT leaf pack. It’s getting the best reviews and it comes with an extra leaf so you can change the pack around to suit your ever changing payload and lift height needs. I’ve got them. They are great.

 

OP are you otherwise stock suspension? I'm in the same boat (rear weight and sagging stock leafs) and wondering if i can upgrade the rear without affecting the front

 

Yup. Stock suspension, wheels and tires. Truck looked fine with diamondback cover, bedrack and gear. Just haven’t added on the tent yet. I suspect it’ll sag.

 

Well mine is sagging with a fiberglass shell and about 200lb of gear fwiw

 

I took my sumo springs off if you’re looking to get some. Worked great just went a different route.

 

I went with these. They are adjustable and work for me.

 

How well do they work

 

Very happy with them, I’ve hauled some heavy loads and didn’t drag the tail feathers!

 

I’m looking into Headstrong’s Bilstein 6112/5160 kit and either an RXT leaf pack or Deaver Expedition stage II pack.
Is the Deaver pack worth the money over RXT?
Do I need to worry about ECGS bearing swap or a carrier bearing drop? Figure I won’t need aftermarket UCAs with the 6112s.

 

Yup.... Set up the truck for a dispersed camping trip in BFE. Saggy drawers with my current set up. Ordered an Ironman4X4 Foam Cell Pro suspension kit with their heavier duty leaf springs to accommodate for the weight. Might get air bags or Sumo Springs too. My stock leaf pack was looking sad this weekend.

 

Deaver is the undisputed champion of leaf packs. It is literally all they do and have been doing it for 120+ years...They will provide the best overall performance. Icon spends the bulk of their cash flow on marketing, while leaf packs arent rocket science they are relatively new to the game, you'll see similar performance of the RXT as other packs like ARB and Dobinson, you get what you pay for.