What rear lift I need to avoid sag with load increase

Hi! Super new to this forum and just got my first ever car and it's a 2020 Tacoma ACSR 4WD. I plan to build it out into daily driver + capable off-roader to go camping and fishing, fire roads + rocky roads to get to the spot usually.

I will be adding the permanent weight to the truck and want to avoid rear suspension sag so I can still offroad successfully.

My research here led me to this setup - https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/...15-5160-lift-kit-for-2005-2015-toyota-tacoma/

The permanent weight I'm adding to rear total is around4 00lb

• leer shell - 200lb
• platform bed - 70lb
• leer prinsu rack - 50lb
• gear - 80lb

Permanent weight to the center of the truck is CBI Rock sliders 150lb.

From what I understand stock sits 1" higher in the rear. So I wanted to do 1" lift all-around to at least keep the stock height front and back, but with this added permanent load in the rear, I'm confused which leaf springs will give me 1" even lift.

Which rear leaf springs would you recommend?

Is Icon AAL 1.5" enough couldn't find how much they sag with any given weight.
I'm leaning towards Dakars 2" Heavy Duty rated for 680lb permanent weight.

 

Hey welcome to the forum

Headstrong off road might have better deals than bilsteinlifts im not sure

Dobinson also makes good leaf springs
Cant go wrong with OME

 

Thanks just went to headstrong and it seems like I can get 6112/5160 + springs.

Silly question, I have lots of hilly windy roads here, does 2" lift pose rollover risk?

 

A leaf pack will make it way more stable. But no 2" doesnt make a huge difference.

The tall campers in the back make a big roll on corners, but a topper with weight is just heavier.

 

According to the Headstrong website, Bilstein disclaimer for Access Cab 2.4L maximum notch setting is #5/#4 = 1.65" for the front, OME Dakars HD with 600lb load sits at 2". And Medium Duty at 0lb sits at 2".

I wonder if Medium Duty OME Dakars will give me a more even all around lift with my 400lb load?

 

Welcome to the best damn Tacoma forum on the interwebs

Make sure when you contact Marie at @HeadStrong Off-Road you let her know you you have a 2020. In your initial post you linked a setup for a 2nd Gen. You have a 3rd Gen aka 2016 and up. I ran the shocks and coil overs your looking at. I also added the Headstrong 3 leaf Add A Leaf aka AAL.

Shocks do not add lift, the leaf springs and coil springs do. The shocks will control the bumpy ride. The AAL is also going to make your rear capable of handling added weight.

If you're going for the full height this kit provides, you're also going to have to consider replacing your Upper Control Arms aka UCA's. I recommend JBA Medium Duty. And while you're at it, you should also consider replacing the drivers side front axle needle bearing with a East Coast Gear Supply aka ECGS axle bushing.

Now, all this can be avoided if all you do is the AAL. Your truck is already capable of most off road tasks. If you want the increased height aka Lift, then go for it. This is an excellent kit.

 

Check this thread out. Looks like some peeps with a lot in common with you here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-access-cab-lifts.665515/

 

Thanks that's very insightful! Yes I realised i linked gen 2 instead of 3, then looked more and they don't even have kits for gen3 on that website.

I agree 2020 stock truck is pretty good already! My thought was if I do replace shocks might as-well do something small like 1" lift. So with Dakar's it seems like my truck unloaded it'll be 2" higher in the back. I was hoping 1" setting (wasn't planing maxing 6112 out) will let me keep my stock UCA?

My only question how do I choose rear AAL or leaf pack to deal with permanent ~300-400lb load in the back. (I think rock sliders will sag all front and back uniformly).

 

Give Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road a call. She will get you sorted out and be able to answer all your questions.

 

Thanks! Will do.

 

For 400+ constant load either air bags or a full replacement pack is the only long term solution, IMO.

I had 4 different setups on my Tacoma and learned this the expensive way.

You’ll add weight to the bed to go out of town, do a dump run, etc. and you’ll be sagging. Dakars were fantastic for me and my uses (constant 350 lb load, haul up to 1100 lb on occasion, daily loads between 5-800 lb). Never left me wanting for anything else, and ride was an improvement over stock. 3 leaf did not cut it for me unless my bed was empty. With a 200 lb load it rode worse, visibly sagged and inevitably didn’t do what I needed it to do because it was helping an insufficient OEM leaf pack. The Toyota leaf pack is the problem. Piggybacking it with an AAL setup doesn’t fix that core issue.

 

Well, you could save some money and go with the 5100's all around on 888 coils and a Dakar leaf pack.

It will lift, and be sound with some weight.

 

Yeah I'm thinking OME Dakars Meidum Duty with 400lb will sag rear down 1" from 2" which paired with 4/5 6112 will result in even 1" lift, will be calling headstrong tomorrow

 

I added more to my post, maybe worth .02.

Maybe not.

Here’s the only pics of my truck I have left. I had approx. 2.5-2.7 inch of lift up front.

 

So before your suggestion I was hoping 6112/5160 + Dakar Leaf pack was a direct swap Now I went down the rabbit hole of UCA's + ECGS, and ECGS makes a ton of sense, not sure why Toyota even put a bearing like that in there ...

I decided to strategically go with 1" lift front with 6112 set to 3/4" (for 2020 AC models this setting sits at 1"), And medium Dakar leaf pack, which should give me 1" rear lift vs 2" with my added weight. I'm hoping to get an even 1" lift.

Do you think with 1" all-around lift my steering will be thrown off and I must get UCA's? Or I can get away with using stocks for now?

 

Sounds like a good plan. At 1 inch you shouldnt need new UCA’s.
As always, you will need to get an alignment after installing the lift

 

Damn... That's lot of snow!

The highest we had was 16"

I can't imagine if we get that much here.. I might be off from work for so long if that happens.

 

yup! thank you!

 

Welcome to the forum @hella_tacoma ! If there is anything we can do to help please feel free to PM us

Thank you @boston23 @RobP62 and @bodean for your recommendations. It really does mean the world to us

 

over time most vehicles 'settle ' ............
they sit lower than original

no less most owners will hedge towards lighter weight in conversation
than what they really pack & haul

from Ur orig post U are only dealing with approx 600lbs

thats each seat full with guys such as U + a cooler o beer
if Ur new Taco wont handle that ........................ Uv bought the Wrong truck
NO reason for a lift or spring pak + a 2 axle alignment
yes 2 axle if done right

firmer shox + a spring pak will usually ride like a truck
the air bags actually Save the rear end
springs
Shop
etc

simply a diff POV

good luck