TRD Pro Suspension Problems

Hey TW. Looking for past experience and good ideas.

Just took my 2018 TRD Pro out to Capital Reef with with a group including another Pro, a stock TRD OR, and a couple ZR2s. Over the last couple of years I’ve slowly added quiet a bit a weight to my truck including:
SSO stage 1 and 2 Slimline bumper
Full skids from RCI (steel)
Sliders from RCI
Prinsu roof rack
diamondback tonneau
Front runner load bars on bed.
Dual ARB compressor mounted to driver side rear bed cubby.

while on the trails this past weekend I noticed my truck was sitting with quiet a bit more squat than all the other trucks in our group. This resulted in mine having the least clearance over rocks and bottoming out a few times while driving some whoops more aggressively. (Bed was fully loaded with camping equipment and supplies for 2 and a dog)

I’m planning to do quite a bit of camping this spring/summer and using my Tacoma as a moving base camp. I’m worried that I’ve exceeded my stock TRD pro’s Fox shock weight capabilities and I’m looking for solutions to the problem. As I see it I have 3 potentially realistic options but wanted to proof check my assumptions here before diving into the shallow end by mistake.

1) Westcott designs TRD Pro Lift Kit. https://westcottdesigns.net/product/fox-trd-pro-lift-kit/
This kit claims not to be a spacer lift and uses the stock spring, but it looks to me to do the same thing as a spacer by simply adding preload. If I’m wrong, please let me know.

2) EIBACH TRD Pro spring. So sometime last year A rep from EIBACH posted on here that they are developing a spring specifically for the TRD Pro Fox suspension. This was supposed to simply swap the spring on the coil overs to achieve a heavier load capacity and consequentially add 1-2 inches of lift. Sounds perfect right? Well it’s still in development (thanks COVID) and no real deadline has been set for its release. Additionally there’s been very little testing done and I’m concerned that even this measure won’t be enough to solve my added weight problems.

3) rip it all out and put in some Kings or Upgraded FOX mid travel suspension systems. This will definitely work, but the additional cost is why I’m here and not already on them. In theory I could then Sell my TRD Pro suspension, but at 31K miles I’m not sure what price I would get for them.

I’m sure someone else out there has had similar issues and even more will have an opinion so let’s hear it. What am I not considering?

(Note, I’ll also be doing and AAL of some sort for the back end)

 

I’d give you $500 for the stock suspension.

You are at the realization that many get to with the TRD PRO suspension- you can’t do much for lift so most people have to remove it all and replace it with adjustable coilovers with the appropriate spring.

 

If it were me, I'd be considering a full leaf pack replacement (like Dobinsons 111), and a new coilover up front with the Dobinsons 354 spring. I currently have aluminum armor, SSO slimline (with winch), sliders, etc. IMO, you'll need to replace the suspension to hold all that weight. The TRD Pro suspension was designed for the OEM weight of the truck, plus whatever payload is allowed. GL!

Edit: Links over here

 

This^^

 

These are mid size trucks. Add all that weight.
Good luck

 

Curious what led you to chose the Dobinson’s System?

 

I remember someone on here weighing their “overland” rig and finding out it was almost 7k pounds lol.

 

Great reviews about the leaf springs, price point, 3-way adjustment for the MRA shocks, assortment of coil over springs, and excellent support from @Crikeymike at www.exitoffroad.com (prices go up May 1st, FYI). In the end, their product delivered. As always, it took some adjustment to get the suspension dialed in, but I couldn't be happier.

 

I put the Firestone Ride Rite airbags on mine (and I had them on my 2012 OR). I estimate my weight, divide by 40, and add 5 to set the PSI. This gives some extra spring rate to handle variable loads. The stock rear leafs are fine for empty or light loads, but add all your gear and they don't quite cut it. They just need a little help.

 

My truck weighs 5960 fully loaded for a week long trip with two propane tanks, water, fridge, mountain bikes, etc. all that weight is in the rear though since the only extra weight up front is the supercharger, larger radiator, and AGM. But when you put all the weight in the back, it actually makes the front weigh less according to the CAT scales which measure each axle.

 

I don’t think airbags are going to help out OP as they have a front bumper, heavy skids, sliders... the front coils just are not designed to account for that extra weight.

 

yep!
The OP needs to get heavier load front coils and rear leaf springs all the way 'round.

 

Whoops, yeah, helps if you read the details. I have sliders, bumper and winch and lost very little in the front, although I do have one of the lightest bumpers out there (80 lbs.) and synthetic line. But I have the stock aluminum skids. OP has a lot more weight than that. I do continue to watch the Eibach thread for upgraded springs.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the airbags, other than it seems to be primarily used for towing?

you’re all correct about the springs being designed for a particular weight, I just caught the bug after that first mod and couldn’t stop .

Unfortunately those skids in particular have really added some lbs. and there’s still a winch in my future so it sounds like I’ll need to budget in a full swap for my suspension.

 

Airbags are fantastic for supporting loads in your bed and towing on the road. They are t going to do squat (pun intended) for your issues.

I would go to go coilover setup. Sell your Pro setup for $700-1000.