Suspension upgrade options with heavy load

Hey guys, first time poster here mostly because I can usually find all my answers within previous posts. But I haven't been able to get comprehensive answers on this.

I have a 2020 access cab, sr, convenience package, 4 cylinder. I bought it brand new after graduating college hence why I went for a lower end package. Now its paid off, I'm making money and have been slowly upgrading. My suspension is still stock and I'm not super stoked on it. It never rode very smooth and now I have a cap with a wood camper setup inside, I have roof racks on the cap and over the cab with a yakima basket, an awning, i usually have a bunch of surfboards on top plus I have a swingaway basket in the back with a bike rack too. Needless to say I am sagging quit a bit. Also have thought about lifting my truck but not completely necessary but would be fun. I have done a ton of research on my best options:

Lift kit and AAL- I am really stoked on this option, I also was looking at the 1.5-2" bilstein 5100 kit with the icon AAL 1.5" lift, this also seems like a great option, improved ride quality, bigger tires, my only concern with this option is will adding the AAL be enough to keep the vehicle lifted under a heavy load?

Lift kit and upgraded leaf package- I would also love to lift my truck to get some bigger tires on it and help offroading, I was looking at 1.5-2" bilstein 5100 kit with the icon RXT leaf package. Expensive but this would greatly improve my ride quality and should level my truck out well.

Upgraded Leaf packages- I know I can upgrade my leaf package for one with a higher load rating, not a bad options, won't improve ride quality much? have people gone this route and with what success?

AAL- Also not a bad option, I kinda have the same hesitations with AAL as with upgrading the whole leaf package. But at least its cheap

Airbags- cheap but I almost aways have this load and i heard they aren't great for constant load, also heard they actually make the ride worse, more bouncy, at very least they don't improve ride from stock

Thanks! any advice on this would be great

 

How heavy is all above realistically? What brand camper top?

If you’re saggy diaper now, I’d stay away from AAL.

Figure out your weight (constant) and what/how much more weight you would add (say you go camping for example).
Once that’s determined we can start giving you some options

A full leaf pack replacement is the way to go, the AAL is just a bandaid

 

Okay, thank you. Its a taller ARE cap, I'd say its sagging 3 inches or so. I have no idea on the weight, I guess I should have it weighed? here are some photos, I'll get some better photos of the sag later.

 

Okay. Maybe the camper top is say, 300lbs? 250?
I have a softtopper so I’m taking a guess at the camper weight..awning and basket can’t be that much more, and the bike.

A lot of guys on the forum run either an Icon, or Deaver pack. I’m running an Alcan (setup that’s 600lbs over stock capacity)

Since the camper/basket/awning are the most permanent items on the truck - I’d say you’re looking for a pack with a minimum 300-350 weight capacity

 

yeah Probably like 350-400, I was looking at the Icon rxt multirate leaf pack. If I decided to keep everything stock except the leafs just to allow me to carry more load looks like maybe I would run the option 1? The thing I am unsure of is if I run an option that doesn't state it is meant for more weight but I put more load in and it sags to stock height is that bad?

 

Well that’s the beautiful thing - you can run stage 1, and if you feel like you’re surpassing its limits, add the leaf in and it’ll be stage 2 or 3, depending where you put it. And honestly, I think you’ll need stage 2 minimum
Have a look thru this thread. There’s some measurements you’ll be able to compare to your current truck

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/questions-on-icon-rxt-leaf-pack.790020/

 

To answer your other question - As long as the leaf isn’t flat, or arched in the opposite direction like a sad face lol

having a rake isn’t a bad idea either. Helps keep your steering wheels planted and from creating under steer

I load the shit outta mine (pre softtopper)

 

Okay thanks, would love to hear others say the same thing about as long as the leaf isnt flat I'm good. No offense but I'd just hate to spend the money and then soften the springs too much from load. But like I said itd be great to be able to run these springs or others close to stock height with 350-400lb load or maybe I will just say fuck it and do a 2 inch lift kit. Your truck is looks sick and makes me want the lift.

I really appreciate your responsiveness alwaysHI!

What shocks are you running?

 

ICON RTX for the win!

 

I hear ya, multiple opinions are always good
I’m using Bilstein 5100s up front and 5160s in the rear