Compensating for bed weight -- lifted stock rated springs or Heavy duty?

I have an ARE shell on order, and after it's on, I'm likely going to have a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the bed + the weight of the shell.

I'm doing my research, and I've seen two schools of thought.

1) Go with a normal leaf pack lifted an inch or so and let it sag

2) Go with a heavy duty pack at stock height

I offroad my truck on weekends, and it will get loaded with extra camping gear on occasion. Option #1 seems like it would wear out the springs too much. Option #2 seems like you're sacrificing ride quality.

Thoughts?

 

I am in the same place as you. I have an ARE topper with a prinsu rack and Tepui RTT. I also carry a few mtn bikes in a hitch rack or in the bed. I have gear in there too. I see people buying lighter weight springs with similar setups and experience minimal sag. I think I would rather have a little stiffer ride and no sag at all. I emailed Dobinsons this morning. I will wait and see what they say, but I am leaning towards the 59-111-R leaf pack. Says 2.1” with 600lbs constant load.

 

Following

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-deaver-vs-dakars.699299/

 

I did single aal and people said it would ride stiff but it rides great. I too plan on a camper and at the moment have 300 pounds in the bed. It rides great but there is a sag, which is why Im going heavy duty dakars when I get my shell.

I dont anticipate any ride quality issues with the constant weight.

 

I have a 18 TRD OR LB with ARE topper and few hundred pounds of extra weight (and haul a trailer on weekends) that desperately needs new leaf packs. My stock leafs have sagged and bent so much it's caused the drive shaft angle to change and is causing a vibration in the rear at certain speeds. So I'm thinking of the Deavers HD. But I really don't want to upgrade shocks at the moment. So for those considering the HD leaf packs, what are you plans for shocks???

 

I am upgrading the shocks with my purchase. The stock length shocks will be fully extended and limit the wheel travel of the new leaf pack.

 

Decided on a shock yet?

 

I have been watching all of the threads in the suspension forum. I had originally decided on Dobinsons, but they are sold out of leaf springs. Estimates for arrival were all 3 months or more. I had also been reading the Ironman 4x4 thread on here. I ordered an Ironman kit last night. Nitro fronts with performance springs and performance leaf springs with nitro shocks.

 

Airbags or a new leaf pack dobinson deavers icon RXT or whatever/ Just avoid dakar IMO