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EMU Dakar owner reviews needed

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by MagnumTaco, Mar 26, 2014.

  1. Mar 26, 2014 at 8:22 PM
    #1
    MagnumTaco

    #1
    MagnumTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Supercharger, Baja Suspension, TRD exhuast, Stealth pulley.
    I am looking to buy the EMU Dakar leaf springs when I get my Icon suspension. I am wondering about off road feel/flex and load capacity of the springs. I am running the load leveling air bags. If the springs can handle a load well enough I could eliminate the air bags and go with hydraulic bump stops. I will be adding additional weight. Such as 80 lbs for rear bumper, 200 lb camper shell, sleeping plank 50 lbs, rock sliders 200 lbs. Gear 200 lbs. I know the rear leafs wont be support all of the rock sliders weight. So for an additional 600 lbs would the Dakar springs sag?
     
    MagnumTaco, Mar 26, 2014
    #1
  2. Mar 26, 2014 at 8:41 PM
    #2
    OZ-T

    #2
    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
    OZ-T, Mar 26, 2014
    #2
  3. Mar 27, 2014 at 7:15 AM
    #3
    GroupW

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    GroupW Well-Known Member

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    Mark
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    Red TX
    3 inch lift with Toytec Boss and All Pro UCA's up front. AP expedition leafs with Bilstien 5100 shocks in the back. 255/85/16 Cooper S/T Max tires. All Pro skids, rear bumper and sliders, Hidden winch mount with XRC 8000 winch. Dual Optima batteries with IBS combiner/isolator and solar. CMC. Auto sliding rear window mod, hidden CB, CVJ axles and plenty of other little mods.
    I've had my Dakars for about a year and a half. Overall - they're very good. Absolutely no issue with handling the weight of the rear bumper, skids and sliders. Fully loaded with camping gear/water/extra gas for a 2 week off-road trip they sat down about an inch. They do great wheeling when loaded. No lingering sag when the trip was over.
    Unloaded, they're fine in the city and highway. Offroad, they're rougher than a cob when unloaded. Don't even think of hightailing it down a washboard road. Nowadays I toss a couple hundred pounds in the back when I go out in the dirt…much better!
    Also to the good, after a year + of dirt, rain, snow and friggin mag chloride - no squeaks!
    That being said, if I had to do it again I think I would get AP standard springs and install some air bags to compensate for heavy loads.
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2014
    GroupW, Mar 27, 2014
    #3
  4. Mar 27, 2014 at 7:25 AM
    #4
    MagnumTaco

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    MagnumTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Supercharger, Baja Suspension, TRD exhuast, Stealth pulley.
    Sweet thanks guys.
     
    MagnumTaco, Mar 27, 2014
    #4
  5. Mar 27, 2014 at 10:58 AM
    #5
    J4RR

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    J4RR Well-Known Member

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    Your sliders will weigh 200lbs? Wow..what are they made of?
    Anyhow I've had my Dakar's for many years now...definitely great...excellent handling of heavy payloads...I'm surprised how much weight I can stick back there without much flex.
    They will ride stiff on the road for a bit until they settle...mine are perfect now.
    Flex offroad is great!
     
    J4RR, Mar 27, 2014
    #5
  6. Mar 27, 2014 at 11:29 AM
    #6
    OZ-T

    #6
    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
    [​IMG]
     
    OZ-T, Mar 27, 2014
    #6
  7. Mar 27, 2014 at 11:30 AM
    #7
    happy

    #7
    happy Well-Known Member

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    '14 DCSB SR5 4x4 Silver Sky
    CBI Moab 2.0, 2.5" Radflo Coilovers, Light Racing UCA, Dakar Leaf Pack, 265/75 16 Kelly Safari TSR, Leer XR100
    If the dakar sag then anything else would too. I love mine.
     
    happy, Mar 27, 2014
    #7
  8. Mar 27, 2014 at 11:32 AM
    #8
    mach1man001

    #8
    mach1man001 eh whatever

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    Toyota bed mat (1st mod), Toyota all season floor mats, Rear spring TSB, Map light mod, Fog light mod, Putco yellow fog bulbs, Weather Tech window vents, Extra d-rings, Mounted mag light, TRD CAI with AFE pro dry filter, '05 front mud flaps (winter only), 2 set's of wheels/tires, 285/75/16 Hankook MT's, Black Painted 1st Gen TRD wheels (wheeling set) Black powder coated FJ Cruiser with 265/70/17 BFGoodrich KO2's (everyday), painted center of grill & bumper black, Devil horns, OME with 885's + spacers front, OME shocks w/OMD designed rear springs, Front diff drop, Rear trailer plug relocate, ATO IFS skid, Relentless Trans & Transfer skids, BAMF bolt on rock sliders, Relentless tailgate reinforcement, Uniden 75 CB radio, BAMF antenna bracket, TRD exhaust, high lift jack w/ATO mounts. And of course ProEFX Towing Mirrors!
    ^^^ Holy shit OZ!
     
    mach1man001, Mar 27, 2014
    #8
  9. Mar 27, 2014 at 11:43 AM
    #9
    Benson X

    #9
    Benson X My build thread sucks...

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    Ben
    Olympia, WA
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    If you don't draw blood, you're doing it wrong!
    I have the Dakars with the
    $81 D29XL Leaf Spring
    D29XL AAL, and have absolutely no sag. Fully scragged and 2-stage progression helps with longevity and weight dispersal.

    They've been on there for over 3 years, and the back is still slightly higher than the front (w/ 90k Sport Shocks, 886 coils, and 1/2" spacer).

    My DC/LB has a daily driving weight of 5660lbs: Leer Canopy, Sliders (.188" wall), ARB front bumper, Warn 8k Winch w/ Syn. Line, IFS & Mid skid (one-piece), full sized spare, FUll recovery tote + recovery gear, etc.
    [​IMG]

    I say go for it. The ONLY downside I can think of is the "leaf-sqeak" which can easily be cured or prevented. :thumbsup:
     
    Benson X, Mar 27, 2014
    #9
  10. Mar 27, 2014 at 3:41 PM
    #10
    MagnumTaco

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    MagnumTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok, you guys got me filling confident about the Dakers. I looked up the wieght on the sliders they are less, just over a hundred pounds. Thanks
     
    MagnumTaco, Mar 27, 2014
    #10
  11. Mar 27, 2014 at 7:10 PM
    #11
    garys05tacoma4x4

    #11
    garys05tacoma4x4 OneLife

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    Synthetic oil/lubes used throughout. NGK Iridium Lazer 100K spark plugs. Rear differential breather extension modification. Toyota front skid plate, roof rack, bed mat, chrome exhaust exhaust. Runs like new!
    That is hilarious! I'm not surprised the suspension can take a beating but that poor tailgate. Just enough room to throw a small atv on the lumber.
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2014
    garys05tacoma4x4, Mar 27, 2014
    #11
  12. Mar 27, 2014 at 8:06 PM
    #12
    OZ-T

    #12
    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    It's not touching the tailgate and never did on the drive home
     
    OZ-T, Mar 27, 2014
    #12
  13. Mar 28, 2014 at 5:41 AM
    #13
    ozmon420

    #13
    ozmon420 Well-Known Member

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    looks to me like its hitting the tailgate
     
    ozmon420, Mar 28, 2014
    #13
  14. Mar 28, 2014 at 5:45 AM
    #14
    XXXX

    #14
    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    This pic is making me reconsider installing my purchase.

    If they are that stiff my rear end is going to be bouncing everywhere in the trails. The shackle flip will help that but still.......
     
    XXXX, Mar 28, 2014
    #14
  15. Mar 28, 2014 at 7:27 AM
    #15
    OZ-T

    #15
    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi

    It's not , I slid the rope in afterwards , they are 10' , 6x6 posts and 6' is in the bed , 4' is out , they aren't even at the tipping point
     
    OZ-T, Mar 28, 2014
    #15
  16. Mar 28, 2014 at 7:28 AM
    #16
    OZ-T

    #16
    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi

    They are stiff unloaded , everybody knows that
     
    OZ-T, Mar 28, 2014
    #16
  17. Mar 28, 2014 at 7:35 AM
    #17
    Mademan925

    #17
    Mademan925 Senor Taco

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    enough to go over stuff
    The dakars are great. Mine hold up a plate bumper, full size spare, gas tank skid, bed rack for spare, a soft top bed cover. Even with a full load of camping gear and bikes there is almost no sag. I have had 1,000 punds of gravel in the bed with very little sag.

    Here is a photo offroading with the bed loaded for a weekend of camping. There is gas and water, camping gear, bikes on the back. three people in the cab, sliders, skids, rear plate bumper. I had no problems offroading and flexing that weekend.

    [​IMG]

    Flexing a loaded truck at the top of a mountain

    C2CE4371-FA7A-4D53-A4A2-EA6289FDFDA3-487_aa6f728249cb40c3bc5eef76c0c69e0b335c03c3.jpg

    7BE9A327-9752-4F39-A237-20D4B47EDE0E-487_d19409b1d0c9df02b82f91552f38f1fa4da8246c.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2014
    Mademan925, Mar 28, 2014
    #17
  18. Mar 28, 2014 at 3:00 PM
    #18
    J4RR

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    J4RR Well-Known Member

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    How's that RTT on the roof on the highway or higher speeds? Noise?
    Sorry off topic.
     
    J4RR, Mar 28, 2014
    #18
  19. Mar 28, 2014 at 3:20 PM
    #19
    Mademan925

    #19
    Mademan925 Senor Taco

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    enough to go over stuff
    Its not worse then the tires or exhaust. I lose A few MPG's when its up there. Jerry is going to build me a bed rack to go over my becover in a couple weeks.
     
    Mademan925, Mar 28, 2014
    #19

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