Add-a-leafs

Hi all,
I know there are tons of threads about these but I have a specific question.. I have a Snugtop Xtr canopy which weighs a good 300lbs and I am down about 1 inch to 1.5 inches in the rear..
I was told by a local 4x4 shop that tacomas had a bad time with the rear springs and that an add-a-leaf wouldn't do a good job at what I want.

Is that true?

Questions 2,
Would I need to get new shocks (Have stock ones right now) If I went with a 2.5inch aal or block? Or would the canopy weigh me down enough to have enough travel before I max out?

Thanks!
Brian

 

Do it right the first time...... Get a new set of rear springs with the appropriate amount of 'lift' to accommodate the weight.

Add-a-leafs will sag over time - especially with that much weight on it on a regular basis. Add-a-leafs will also stress your leaf pak because the 'arch' doesn't match (so to speak).

 

i put aal's on for towing a trailer...a heavy one at that. ive had no issues. its only been a year though

 

Correct the stock Toyota leafs are weak and a normal AAL doesn't last long.

Doug (4wd) has come up with a method of taking Chevy leafs and adding/swapping out leafs to get your desired result of lift and weight capability. It works fantastically and doesn't start to sag like normal AAL. Check my sig for the link.

idk if the stock shocks will take more lift. Most people upgrade them to OME, Bilstein, etc..

 

Maybe consider some firestone ride rite airbags. They work well and add a little lift and your truck continues to ride nicely. I had the TSB done which was hardly worth it, so I decided to put these on. I have a fiberglass cap, home made tool boxes on each side and a platform with a slide out drawer. No sag! Just a thought. I also have a 16' double axle trailer that weighs about 1600 lbs dry. No issues. Good luck with your decision.
Cheers

 

oh yea...i have bilsteins in the rear...i would definitely upgrade your shocks

 

Thanks everyone for your opinions..

I want to keep it as cheap as possible as I am a college student then going on to medical school in the next few years. Im thinking a 1.5 inch block in the rear and keep it stock ride height so I don't have to worry about new shocks. Also because I have to commute 40 miles a day and I don't want my mileage to drop at all.

I just joined up so Ill say a little about my self. I got the truck from my uncle back in august with 98xxx miles. He had literally everything done at the dealer and so this truck was in immaculate condition.. Never seen a dirt road in its life (2007), that was until I got it. Still in great condition but ive taken it places he would never have thought too.

 

OMD Chevy leaf swap is about the cheapest route for a spring suspension lift. Talk to doug (4WD) I'm sure he can get you the setup for stock or 1.5" lift. This will also help with any load you put in the rear unlike the blocks. *Personal opinion stay away from blocks*

 

Do I then just swap out the leaf springs then? Or do I have to do the grinding? I looked at your link.
Also how much stiffer of a ride is it in the rear? My dad has a f350 and without any weight in the rear its pretty stiff.

 

In reference to your question about NEEDING new shocks.. And anyone who knows more feel free to correct me as I've only read about this so far and not experienced it....

There's a similar problem up front when people do spacer lifts and over extend the shock on trails. The stock shock (or any shock for that matter) has a certain limit to the down travel that you'll care about here. The problem comes when at full droop (usually only ever off road in wheeling situation) and what it means is that with the blocks you've essentially set it to ride constantly 1.5" higher than it normally would, that's the height of your blocks. So now when you go to full droop you've essentially extended it 1.5" past where it would have gone without the blocks. Now while it's in air this isn't an issue, but when you come back down on that wheel the shock are is all the way at the top of the shock chamber and if it doesn't align perfectly it COULD blow out or pinch.. I'm not saying that this is garunteed to happen but it IS a risk you run when lifting a truck and not beefing up the shocks.

Simply put, they have a stock range of travel, and if you extend that range you risk breaking them.

 

It depends on what you want and what you put in. I swapped the 2nd from top Toyota leaf for a leaf out of a 3.4 ton chevy. It's pretty stiff but not too much. You can get a leaf out a 1/2 ton or other truck and get exactly what you want. PM Doug and you'll get answers.

 

Thanks that does make sense!
Even though I have my canopy on which weighs it down a good inch if not a little more, wouldn't the block put the shock back to the height it was at before I added the canopy?

 

OP,
If you want a used set of hellwigs, PM me. I had them on my truck for about 6 month.

 

Yes but consider that at full droop that means the wheel is actually floating in air or almost not touching the ground. So on road, yes it should be back to stock height, but off road at droop you've pushed it down that extra distance with the block no matter how much weight is on the truck.

 

I'm with him ^

 

X2... The block will only make your leafs sag more quickly