Bed weight

I’m planning on getting an OVS truck cap (about 220lbs) and a rtt (about 130lbs) on the bed of my truck for a summer trip. Factoring in gear and everything else, do I need to do anything like upgrade my leaf springs? I don’t want to ruin the suspension. What does everyone else do when putting that weight in the bed? Am I just overthinking it?

 

I’d say wait and see before spending $.

BUT be prepared to upgrade to either airbags or suspension. not sure if you’ll have passengers in addition to that load but weight (especially higher center of gravity loads like RTTs) impact the ride quality.

hopefully it’s negligible

 

You are definitely going to need new leaf springs for the weight.

I carry a few hundred pounds in the bed daily for work. At first I just upgraded my bumpstops to Sumo Springs, that helped but after awhile the truck pretty much always sat on the bumpstops.
Add-a-leaf is another bandaid option but the factory leaf pack is garbage and it will start to sag in a few thousand miles.

I now have the Icon RXT leaf pack on option 2, absolutely worth $700. I can carry 1000lbs in the bed and still not touch the bumpstops.

Also you should invest in "bed stiffeners"
The cap and tent put a lot of pressure on the bed sides.

 

I’d be ready for new springs.
Something else to keep in mind; most aftermarket spring packs also add lift, so if you don’t want any lift consider that.

 

Wait. Wut? Am I missing something here?

a 220 lb bed cap and a 130 lb roof top tent = equals = 350 lbs.

That's it? 350 pounds?

There is no way those two simple mods alone require a suspension upgrade - even with the bed loaded with ordinary camping equipment. Like sleeping bags and 2-3 days of food and beer.

What kind of camping "gear" are you planning on carrying??????? Bricks?

 

Mine sags a bit on OEM leafs with just a snugtop cap and prinsu on it. Will definitely upgrade to new leafs at one point as I want to run a bike rack with swingout too.

 

If it will be constant day to day weight yes a static 350lbs constant load will crush factory leafs before you know it. Then pending how fancy the camp set up is and term of travel yep that can quickly add another 1-200lbs before passengers. These have spaghetti springs out back.
I would encourage a new leaf pack or airbags at the least. I had a leer 100xl on stock leafs and they flattened real quick.

 

Keep in mind that these trucks are only rated for around 1300 lbs of payload. I use a 160lb RTT and no topper (see profile photo). I fill the bed and my cab with equipment and one extra passenger and there is noticable squat. I will even hit the bump stops on occasion on the roadway. That's all with stock TRDOR suspension.

 

I bought mine used with a cap installed and as soon as I started carrying tools it began to hit the bump stops. It wasn’t sagging but even that ~400 lbs in the bed was too much to any absorb hits. I added air bags for load flexibility but other fixed spring rate options might suit your needs better. Those include:
Sumos or Timbrens.
Air bags.
Road active suspension.
Add-a-leafs.
Complete leaf packs.
Each one has different costs, & benefits. I’d suggest you look into all of them before deciding on one even if you’re predisposed in favor of a particular one.

 

When I put my GFC Camper (300ish lbs) on my stock TRD OR suspension it noticeable sagged, and felt bouncy/floaty when I hit bumps on the hwy so I quickly ugraded to the OME 2" suspension lift w/ the HD leaf pack (2.75") in the rear. Truck rides like a sports car now, and you can't even tell I have the GFC on it.

 

This is Icon RXTs at option 1 with a constant 400lb load. If you wait for Icon to run a sale, you can get them with u-bolts for under $700 shipped (Black Friday).

 

Best upgrade on any of my trucks. Firestone air bags.

I haul up to 1,000 pounds about 20 trips per year with that load.

I can fill the air bags to only 35lb (max 150lb) and it sits higher in the back than stock. Plus with the air bags, at 1,000 pounds weight it feels and handles like the bed is empty. Don’t even notice the weight.

 

Only thing to note with bags is if you do much trail running they do reduce overall travel which reduces articulation. Only reason I didn't go the route of bags. Their ability to adapt to the present load work of been awesome.

 

I would say wait till you know exactly where you want to go with the truck. I have a leer cap on currently with 0 issues and tow as well. Until I know what I want to do next lift/tires/tent or until it breaks I am not fixing it. Once you put the tent on you may need it but its all up to the owner at the end of the day. You can get by but I hear it does help just preference besides majority of us aren't jumping the truck lol.

 

Has not been any negative affect for me.

I do about 40 off road trips per year on nasty trails. Zero issue with the air bags, nothing but positives.

These pics are standard stuff for me.

 

You can get cradles for the air bags, that way they are only attached on one side so you can more articulation.

 

It's still more bulk over the bump stop

 

Are you getting the cap just for this trip or is it something you are wanting regardless? If it is something that would not stay on the truck, I would start with just using totes for gear and a rack for the RTT that keeps the RTT below the cab roof line or keep it simple with a quality ground tent. Start basic and build on with what you decide you just can't live without.

 

I would like to get a cap regardless. Especially for the security aspect of it. A normal rack would be awesome, and cheap, but there's no security to it which sucks.

 

The security is nice but they definitely limit access for you as well as the unwanted. At a minimum get windoors if that’s important to you or consider a topper lift or the like for even more access. You can reach in through windoors but lifting anything back out is awkward and risks back injury.