Which AAL for carrying more cargo?

I just got a '10 access cab TRD off road last week and I plan on using it for quite a bit of hauling. I race woods motorcycles and regularly haul 2 dirt bikes in the bed. I also plan to put a camper shell on the truck this winter for ski season. The truck currently has a 3 leaf pack and I would try to get the TSB done but I bought it used with 36,500 miles so I don't have high hopes of that happening.

Does anybody have a recommendation for an AAL to use with stock suspension for hauling? I don't plan on lifting the truck and will be keeping the stock shocks in the front. It seems like most AAL's are made to lift the truck. I don't mind raising the back alittle but I don't want to put a 3" lift in the back with the front at stock height. Anybody know of a good AAL that won't put my ass end way up in the air?

 

Don't know about the AALs but I need more capacity than my TSB can provide so I plan to go with the Ride-Rite airbags from Firestone. More expensive than AAL at about $250 but they're adjustable so you can have as much stiffness as you want for big loads and maintain a softer ride when empty.

It should be noted that no spring addition is going to increase your legal towing capacity or GVWR or GAWR but of course some kind of helper spring will keep the truck closer to level when loaded and that will make it safer and more comfortable to carry a load.

 

Airbags if u dont plan on lifting the front.

 

I don't want to do airbags because I don't need any kind of huge cargo capacity. At most I'm going to be carrying about 500lbs in the bed. I'm not talking about towing a 6000lb trailer or anything.

Is there any kind of AAL that would be a comparable lift to the TSB spring set? Only about an inch or so of lift?

 

A 1.5 non tsb aal from wheelers should do the trick. And if u want the front up a little to compensate for the extra rake, i've got some spacers for sale. Check my sig.

 

You could try to buy a TSB spring used on here from someone who replaced their leaf pack. You're correct, any AAL's will increase the rake of the truck. Air bags are your best bet for stock height and load handling.

Another and more expensive option is to get a leaf pack made for you custom. Alcan can build you a set to whatever specification you require (ride height, load capacity, etc.). Visit their website, they can give you a quote through the internet. It isn't cheap though with shipping.

 

I think I'm going to drive it with some more loads for the time being and see how it does (only have had the truck for a week). If I do have trouble I'll probably just put a 1.5" toytec AAL on it. Now that I think about it everyone was saying the TSB lifted the rear about 1" so another 0.5" isn't going to make a huge difference. I'm not super concerned with the truck being level, just didn't want the back WAY higher than the front.

Anybody have any experience driving on the stock 3 leaf pack with 2 motocross bikes in the bed? How'd it do?

 

With a 1.5 AAL and a shell, it shouldn't be too bad. Or if you don't want any lift, then just get some Timbrens. I got my Timbrens long before getting an AAL.

 

I'm probably going to just go with an AAL. I've read that timbrens ride like crap when the truck is unloaded.

The more I think about it I'm kinda tempted to put in a 1.5" AAL and raise the front up alittle bit. The main reason I'm hesitant about the lift is I don't feel like getting an alignment right now. Does any body know of a small front lift spacer? Like 1" or so? I can't find anything under 2". I'd want to put a 1.5" AAL in the back and keep the stock stance, not leveling.

 

bilstien 5100's are adjustable shocks up to 2.5" from .85

 

Air Bags. And this guy is selling a set for cheap,http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/170517-bye-bye-tacoma-hello-f150.html unless he is charging a lot for shipping, i got mine new for $259. Firestone Rite Ride seem to be the best rated, you can get Air Lift brand for about $215.

 

OP, have you considered helper springs? Just finished posting about this in another thread, but I recently purchased some helper springs for my Dad for his birthday for his 2008 Tacoma. He doesn't have the TSB springs like I have on my 2010, and sometimes trying to pull trailers or with any medium loads in the bed he was sagging like a mofo. I got him the helper springs and it fixed it! I even only got the light duty ones. They are definitely cheaper and easier to install than airbags. In fact, it takes about 30 mins to install them. And, you can loosen the bolts a bit when you aren't hauling and the stiffness goes back to normal.

$154 Hellwig 1250 EZ Level Helper Spring Kit

http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-1250-...XS26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312727049&sr=8-1