Suspension Experts!!! (need advice...)

The weight of at least the box is constant, airbags would work but I’d go with upgraded leaf pack for the constant weight rather than airbags. Airbags are great for compensating for a trailer once in a while, but I couldn’t see having to run them at 30-40 pounds all the time for a constant load.

 

So that dog box is modular I see. It tensions down and can be removed whenever you want. Pretty slick.

 

Watching the Aussies on 4WD/7 on YouTube and those guys run similar Trays on the rear of their trucks and none of the guys run shocks with reservoir. They are running long, tough tracks on tube shocks, like the 2inch Tough Dog. Along with air bags at low psi off-road. Definitely a different mindset than here in North America where we like shocks with external reservoirs.

 

First I would figure out how much lift and tire you really want. What size tires do you want to clear? Honestly I’d start with a set of 5100’s and consider a custom leaf pack for the back. Atlas makes great stuff and will custom make a set for your needs.

 

255 80 17 or 255 85 16 tires on OE wheels will fit no lift no rub no cutting. Also easy to find in E rating, good for your load.

When they install the flat bed that's a good time to box the frame, treat it inside with Fluid Film, upgrade the leaf springs/shocks/bump stops.

New set of gears for F/R axles.

New front shocks/springs may be in order as well.

Winds up being a fairly substantial investment to get it right.

 

No reason to leave the thread. The forum has a spiffy feature called an 'ignore list'. Some of us prefer to think of it as a 'safe place'.

 

my apologies if i came off mean- long days at work while reading TW posts can do that to you...

 

I wheel multiples times weekly. Road to my house is dirt, driveway is dirt....both are indifferently graded....they are as good as fire trails - and 4x4 and mods are NOT needed. These trucks do fine in these sorts of conditions without any mods.

The BLM roads cutting through the National Monument surrounding our property are poorly maintained and are susceptible to extreme rutting and very slippery conditions when wet.

For roads like that, better tires, skids and sliders (in that order) are the best upgrades. Even at this stage, lifts aren’t really necessary. However, all our vehicles are lifted and on aftermarket suspensions.

On the Taco, I was on my second set of rear stock bilsteins (warranty) when I had enough and swapped everything out. The stockers just did not like the washboard dirt roads out here....and the ride was punishing to boot.

I’ve modified the suspensions on all of our Toyotas (80, T4R and Taco) and would recommend that you do three things:

1. Generally ignore forum advice unless that person is actually using their vehicle off-road. Many mod, less use those mods, all will give advice, little of the advice is useful, lots of it isn’t. The forums usually offer little but preference and opinion. Again, there are people here who lift for function and who can share....I’d take those conversations to PM.

2. Talk to a vendor that sells multiple QUALITY brands. Tell them what you goals are.

3. Find a forum member or members in the regional forums who has the suspension your interested in and ask them if they’d be willing to let you see how their vehicles ride.