Minimal lift for heavier loads. 5100s and General Spring leaf springs. For front?

Heyas TacomaWorld!

I want to give my self a little buffer when I'm hauling gear. Ideally I'd not have any lift at all and just heavier duty springs in the rear, but apparently that is not possible.

I'm hoping to learn the best method to maintain the factory rake after I put on the General Spring leaf springs in the rear and Bilstein 5100s all around? The springs are going to lift the truck 1.5-2", so I'll need to lift the front 1.5, I guess.

Tangentially, how much downward travel is going to be lost after a lift, i.e., if I end up lifting 1.5" do I lose 1.5" on the down, or is there some way to counter that? I cannot think of any.

How much impact is a lift of this level going to have on the drivetrain and other systems? My goal is to keep this beauty on the road for 10-15 years.

For reference, while I won't be doing any hard-core offroading, I will definitely be taking her into some hairy situations and occasionally pulling 2/3 of the load or tow limit.

 

You're overthinking this. If you want a small lift, then lift the truck. Anything you do to change things from the factory will probably result in parts wearing out sooner than they would have, but they can be replaced. And a small 1.5"-2" lift doesn't change things enough to make a huge difference. If the lift is worth it to you then do it.

Tacoma's aren't designed for hauling or towing very much and lifting it isn't going to help you carry heavier loads. If you want to haul more than a few hundred pounds buy a utility trailer. If you want to pull a trailer heavier than about 4500 lbs, buy a bigger truck.

 

Nope, max 5-600 in bed for a couple of dozen miles, but the beginning or end may be seriously sketchy terrain. Hauling not more than 3K in a trailer, but may be pretty hilly.
I will also go camping in it with my wife and kid, and we generally get into some pretty back country areas. 'Oh, the map shows this is a shorter route! Let's try it...' 7 hours later, I'm shoveling mud from under the engine of our Honda with my hands in 40F weather at 11:30 PM. I'd like to not have to do that any more; I've done it enough, proven I can, so yeah.

 

that is done by the leafpack. aka more leafs. And dictated by that.

So if you put more leaf(s) such as an AAL, that's what you'd be getting. But that would lift the rear and thus want you to lift the front as well, whatever amount you want
instead of only lifting the rear even more than factory rake, not lifting the front, resulting in extreme rake
which, if you do get 5100, that IMO is not comfortable
does give you height adjustability

 

Right, I get that.
The General Spring leaf springs seem the be the most mild lift (1.5-2") while adding on a 500# buffer for load.
My questions is, for the front, what is the best way to compensate for the 1.5" lift from the new leaf pack? Do I just keep the stock coils and set the 5100s to 1.5", or is there something else I need to do as well?
My understanding is that the stock coils should be maintained with the 5100s, but I wanted to confirm.
I tried to find a 'How to Strengthen Your Tacoma Suspension for the Compleat Idiot", but cannot seem to locate it anywhere.

 

Sounds like you might want helper springs instead. Sumo springs or air bags maybe.

 

Air bags? Googling now. THanks!

 

https://www.etrailer.com/susp-2015_Toyota_Tacoma.htm

 

Ahah, so they sit between the frame and axle housing to reduce load on the leaf springs. That may be the solution.
Any idea how reliable they are? Rather, do you have any idea how often they need to be replaced with occasional use?
Sorry if that is a silly question, this is all entirely new to me.

 

I don’t, haven’t ever used them , just have seen them around a long time. I have a similar conundrum on my truck and have been considering air bags as well. My daily drive is unloaded, but trips get fully loaded.

 

It looks like as long as we maintain sensible limits:
1/3 towing capacity max and good distribution
or
1/2 load capacity in the bed
The air bags will be useful for taking a little stress off of the leaf springs. It doesn't seem to be a good solution for steady or excessive hauling, but for the occasional load with a conscientious operator, it looks like they'll work well.
Definitely getting added to the list of potential solutions.
Interesting video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg

 

The other plus to airbags is that the rear end will remain "factory soft" when the bags are not in use which sounds like the norm for you. You could have a hella strong spring pack built for you that adds minimal lift, but the back end will be a brick. That does not sound like what you are looking for..? Check out Daystar cradles while you're reading up on air bags.

 

Sweet, thank you!