Rago Fab Hangers vs Archive Garage Hammer Hangers

Does anyone have experience or insight with both of these hangers? If not, throw your experience, pros, cons, etc. with one or the other down below.

I’m redoing my rear end suspension by installing an archive garage shock relocation hoop and running a 12”x2.5” shock. I was originally gonna go with the Archive HH until I saw a video of the Rago Hangers. Here’s where my heads at

Rago:
Pros
-Look a lot beefier/nicer
-Have a 3rd mounting point
-Have a grease fitting on them
-Comes with a new shackle instead of having to use the stock one or pay for new one (more bang for buck)

Cons
-Don’t have the option to run cross tube/bar as easily as I would with Archive
-Mix & Matching parts
-Not a lot of reviews or people running them to get insight from

Archive:
Pros
-Have a lot more reviews/people running them
-Would be a complete Archive rear end
-Allows the option to run a cross tube/bar if I choose to do so later
-POSSIBLY higher clearance than the Rago (I truly have no idea)

Cons
-More expensive (if I want to add the new shackle and not use the stock one)
-No grease fitting (UPDATE: There are grease fittings if you add the shackle option and don’t re-use the stock ones)
-Doesn’t look as sturdy or nice as the Rago

Any personal experience with either would be much appreciated. Please don’t come in here dropping info that I can find on their product page.

 

Sub’d

 

Also, for anyone who wants to follow this rear end rebuild, I will be making videos out of it and putting it on my YT Channel @ Jacob Enright. Might throw some updates on the IG too @ desert.dime

 

Rago used to be on this forum but are now banned/deleted/gone. @ARCHIVE is a very active member and contributor to the community. Take from that what you will.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rago-rear-hangers.751201/

Might ask this guy...looks like he just put a set of Ragos on his truck in Jan. I've never heard of them so I had to Google.

I cant speak to the hammer hangers specifically, but I have purchased and used other products from archive and his customer service is top notch as is the quality of his product. Hes active on the forum with pompt, thoughtful replies and a wealth of knowledge. That's hard to find with vendors these days.

 

I'd go for the @ARCHIVE rear end. I'm bias tho as that's what I got but at least if you have any issues he or his thread will get you strait.

 

There is also BAMF HD hangers to throw in the mix, don't have them yet but I will be buying them this summer.

 

Another vote for @ARCHIVE here. The product is outstanding, customer service is excellent.

I suppose there's a small chance the RAGO could be marginally better in some way, but I'll take a known good product with fantastic responsiveness from their representatives over all the unknowns from the other guy's stuff.

 

First of all i wouldn't say Rago is better than Archive. It has one extra mounting hole which could be beneficial but ive banged the crap out of my hangers and they have never batted an eye. Second of all the customer service that eric provides is second to non. I have no clue about Rago as i use non of their products. Archive is the OG as far as i know of rear hanger setups so i chose to support him over some others and im glad i did. No complaints at all with anything Archive offers and i know anyone who buys would be satisfied.

 

I'd suggest these

https://www.bayareametalfab.com/2005-2022-Toyota-Tacoma-HD-Shackle-Hanger_p_82.html

 

-First, Hammer hangers are the gold standard for replacement hangers and are pretty much getting copied by new competition with basically zero time on them.
-Hh give you 4.5 proven years of experience, getting hammered on rocks
-Hammer hangers are the highest clearance hangers available, and have 2 mounting positions
-Hammer hangers are properly designed to align with leaf springs, not be cocked
-Our shackles have a grease fitting, please correct your misinformation.
-You get what you pay for
-We always offer TW member discount

Thanks @wi_taco @Littles @skeletron @Brian422 for feedback

 

There’s also BAMF. Curious to know the same

I imagine you can add greasable bushings or drill holes to thread tap and install zerk fittings

 

I'm about to install the BAMF hangers in my 09. I chose them over the others due to the price, the design is definitely quite strong, and they are built to stock dimensions (offering no +/- lift). I almost went with the Rago's due to that 5th mount-point (there are two under, two on sides on all others). The Archives didn't meet my budget earmark, despite the realization that they're excellent quality.

All said, my current plan is to add greasable bolts, and cross-drill the bushings in the springs and shackle pivots to allow grease through to the bolt bushing-to-poly bush interface. I did learn that most of the shackles and heavier leaf spring bushings are sized to 9/16" (d=0.5625"), whereas the stock bolts are M14s (d=0.5512"). Which leaves users with a few wacky options; Drill out the stock mounts to fit 9/16" bolts, or use the stock bolts with the knowledge that you'll have a gap of 0.0113", which I've been told is not noticeable (TBD). With the greaseable bolt plan, the gap could actually be a solid benefit, allowing grease to pass through the channel. Without a greaseable bushing sleeve, there's no point to the greaseable bolts since the working surface is the poly:bolt bushing.

There's a small chance I will change course and drill the shackles instead, add zerks, then use a greasable bolt in the forward pivot only (another TBD).

~
An aside about these aftermarket spring mounts:
After removing the stock hangers, one of which was bent from the previous owner, I confirmed a pretty intensive wonder I had when buying them ... the aftermarket designs might be overkill. The chassis they're being bolted to is 0.125", whereas the BAMFs measure in at 0.265" thick. I have no doubts the hangers are more durable and ride better, but am now wondering how the chassis will respond under stress since it's now the weak link, and whether a crossbar might be the only way to make the most of the added strength. I almost wish I had been more willing to experiment with the 4X-Innovations shackle flip to make it more of a conventional setup.

 

I got the rago's I haven't installed them . R4t changed from archives to rago
Pro's
$420 on Xmas sale
Beefy AF
access hole/cover plate
Back side bracing plate


Con's
They are not archive 's

Welded at corner seems not bent smooth for slipping rocks
No cross brace option
Lame logo ..just sayin

I choose them for budget reasons hangers with shackle $420

 

I have researched shackles hangers and shock relocation quite a bit.

i personally have 30k miles on the archive garage hangers and shock relocation. Good quality parts and have had no real issues.
Only “con” I can think of is the shock relocation hardware seems to be a bit rusty but reasonable for 30k miles.

things to consider:
- leaf spring length (eye to eye at rest and flat). A really short leaf pack might invert the shackle at full droop and a really long pack might require a longer shackle.
- ground clearance. Some hangers are lower than stock and some are higher.
- shackle length. Stock is 3.4”. I’d shoot for 3.6-4” depending on leaf spring length.
- material. Most are A36 steel or 1018 steel. 1018 has a higher yield strength.
- the cross brace will help with the very flexy C channel frame but not e requirement

In my opinion the hanger alone wont make a big difference. You need to couple them with a 3.6”+ shackle, an aftermarket leaf pack and the shock relocation (2.5x12”).
Might as well do the U bolt flip at the same time and get some good bump stops.

Highly recommend Accutune for the rear shocks as they have specific shock tunes for the weight and shackle relocation kit.

every inch of up travel in the Tacoma is very important.