Best suspension update for my situation

I'm getting lost looking through the many posts regarding ways to update the suspension so I thought I'd post something in the hopes of getting a more focused idea of what would be best for my specific situation.

I have a 2015 double-cab short bed with the TRD off-road package and the V-6 tow package. The rear suspension has the stock 4 leaf springs. It also has a Leer 100R topper.

About 6-10 times a year it gets loaded fully with several hundreds pounds of gear and equipment and 400lbs of humans. A few of these trips are 8-16 hour drives each way. The rest are usually under 4 hours. Once at my destination, with all of that original gear removed, it's common to have 5 adults plus 300lbs of gear on the roof racks I've added plus another 200lbs of gear in the bed. Loaded like this the truck gets driven a few miles up a mountain dirt road. Nothing too nasty. No rock hopping. Just bumpy dirt, taking it slow.

Over the last nearly 5 years I've been doing this, it's done well. But there have been times I've definitely hit the bump-stops. The rear is definitely low and I've had more than a few people flash their high beams at me thinking I had mine on even though I didn't.

Starting in several months I will be towing a cargo trailer converted to a camper. I plan on traveling with the trailer full time for a couple of years. I expect the trailer's gross weight to be 4000-4500lbs. I could be towing a bit everyday for a week and then maybe stay put somewhere for a few weeks. Once I'm settled in a spot for a few days or more, it may be common to be driving it up mountain dirt roads with lots of gears and bodies as I described earlier.

OK, with that really long intro of my use case out of the way, what's the best solution for this? Something that will help with the occasional big loads up mountain dirt roads and something that will allow me to safely and properly tow the trailer?

I'm assuming some appropriate weight distributing hitch for towing would be good. What about airbags or more/better springs?

When responding, please avoid too many acronyms (or at least spell it out the first time it's used). I mention this because in my attempt to research ideas, some posts were so full of acronyms that I had no idea what was being suggested.

Thanks a lot if you managed to read this whole thing.

 

Air bags

 

I'd try the Icon Rxt leaf pack, you could try option 2, you have the ability to set it up with 3 different weight options.
See how it rides, and then air bags for when your towing.

 

Cap+rack = 200lbs
5 Adults = 700lbs
Roof Gear = 300lbs
Bed Gear = 200lbs

I'll be that guy and point out that right there you're already over GVWR by at least a couple hundred pounds being conservative on the people weight. If you really want to tow on top of that, you're going to need to dump a lot of the weight in the truck - likely by driving solo and sticking some of the bed gear in the camper but I'm still assuming you have done no other mods that suck up capacity.

Otherwise buy a full-size. You're trying to do things a Tacoma was never intended to do.

 

With the consistent added weight, I’d replace the rear leaf pack with something like icon RXT or Dakar’s setup for the constant weight. It’ll make a noticeable difference, especially when you start towing too

A bigger diameter shock will also help. It’ll make a difference both on and off road. I put fox 2.0 on the rear of my truck and it’s made a huge difference in how the truck handles weight and towing.

with the size of you camper weight distribution is probably a good idea. If you do springs / shocks / WD, I don’t think you’d need airbags.

 

Replace the stock bump stops with a set of timbrens.

(Really helped me with the quad in the back, hauling my camp trailer, hauling my boat, oncoming drivers flashing me)

Rear leafs with deavers.
Or whatever spring pack would work best for you.

(Same as above also gave me lift for getting in and out of hunting spots. 1st gen tacomas were always good for ground clearance off the lot, 05s and up not so much)

Whatever you want to do to lift the front.

(Same as above ^^^)

Bilstein 5100s all around.

(Stock shocks are fine too. 5100s are like riding on a soft cushy bilstein cloud on and off road. Yet to me feel slightly stiffer than stock which also helps me when loaded down with gear + quad + trailer + another 200lb guy + 90lb dog x2)

Done
Good to go.

 

Is your suggestion of using air bags meant to be in place of or in addition to using a weight distribution hitch?

 

I suggested it in addition to the hitch. I guess the best thing is to hook up the trailer and see if your still hitting your bump stops, maybe you won't need them with the hitch. Your tongue weight might not be that bad with the hitch.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear but when towing I would never have the truck loaded up like that. 99% of the time I am towing, it will just be me in the truck, of course the cap, and maybe 100lbs of gear on/within the truck. The example of being fully loaded with 5 adults and lots of gear will be without the trailer or hitch.

 

Excuse my ignorance but is this a list of options that I choose from or do you mean add all of these things? I think I'm more confused now.

 

You should be cool then. GVWR is conservative in these trucks and you should be ok as long as you aren't exceeding the axle ratings (which are like 600lbs more combined than the GVWR in my 3rd gen at least).

Full leafs will give you the best performance of anything and Deaver can build you custom stacks if you just want more payload without lift. The downside to the Icon, Dakar, or off-the-shelf Deaver is that you will get lift when not loaded down. Also keep in mind that you will suffer on the ride front if you just want heavier springs without lift.

Airbags are a good option if this is mostly a pavement or dirt road truck. If you do real off-roading they are severely prone to popping but they can give you better support selectively when you need it.

IMO I'd also be looking at shock upgrades because all that weight cycling is going to put some wear on the generally softer OEM Off-Road shocks. Bilstein is probably your budget option while Fox does 2.0 and 2.5 rear sets in the up to $1k range designed for factory to 1.5" lifts. I highly recommend the Fox factory series 2.5's if you have the coin.

 

OK, so the upgraded leaf pack you suggested will help with my occasional fully loaded, non-towing excursions, correct? And I assume it will help some when towing as well.

Of course the WD hitch with sway control will help with towing (fewer white knuckles I hope).

The use of airbags may or may not be needed for either purpose. That could be a wait and see (or should that be weight and see

 

Srry
A list of options and reasons why they work for me on my truck.

Timbrens
Replace rear leafs
Front lift to even out the rear leaf lift
Upgrade shocks

Or you could go add a leaf or helper spring for the rear and not have to lift the front.

From what I understand about airbags you lose flex so if all you are going to do is tow on the street I'd say yes airbags but if you're unhooking the trailer and heading up the mountain then no to air bags.

Weight distributing hitch would definately help with a heavy trailer and as much as you're going to be towing it.

 

I know next to nothing about any of this stuff but I thought air bags were sort of like adjustable timbrens.

Honestly, with all of the varied replies, I'm almost more confused than before I posted my question. I really appreciate everyone trying to help though.

I have no interest in adding lift to the truck since it makes accessing the gear on the roof even harder than it already is.

From what I've seen, air bags have the benefit of helping with sag when loaded. And when unloaded and just driving around town without gear or the trailer, the air bags can be reduced. But I have no idea if air bags are enough for the times I'm driving fully loaded (without the trailer).

 

I will also suggest airbags. I put the Firestone Ride Rites on mine. Works great for $300 invested. Everyday driving they're aired down to next to nothing. If I load the bed with concrete blocks or tow a heavy boat trailer I pump them up. I don't think I've put more than 35 psi in them but pretty sure they'll go to 100 psi if needed.

 

I guess airbags all come down to if you're also going to offroad your truck, thats why I went with stronger leafs and timbrens, best of both worlds imo, towing and offroadability.

There are a lot of options I agree it can get confusing just stick with it, decide what you're going to be doing with your truck the most then set it up for how you're going to use it.

 

Going to be interested with what you decide to do for your suspension. My towing situation is very similar to yours. Just this past week I was pretty loaded up with some camping gear under my Leer 100R cap and my dirt bike on the trailer hitch carrier. I was sagging more that I liked so when I got back home I've been on the internet for a couple of days trying to figure out a solution. I've been running the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS) since right after I bought the truck in 2012. So the RAS has been on before and after the leaf spring recall and either I'm stuffing more gear in the back or just never noticed just how much sag was going on.
Here's a picture a friend of my youngest son took as I just got back in town. The sag isn't as bad because most of my supplies were used up and I loaded (stuffed) quite a bit in the cab.


Getting a lot of ideas from old threads on this site, I researched everything from Helwig helper springs, SumoSprings, Timbren SES kit (suspension enhancement system) air bags and replacing the leaf packs. Since I do this about 6 times a year or pull either my utility trailer with a couple of bikes, I don't want stiffen the suspension so much that it makes for a harsh ride.

Staying tuned in on this thread.

 

Heres a couple old pics with deavers & timbrens



You can also cradle the airbags so they dont tie the spring pack to the frame...until you come down too hard on them offroad.


So many options, I know.

Just do what you're doing and figure out your best options and run it and see.

Personally Id start with the timbrens especially you, blkdave

 

I understand about being more confused. One moment I'm thinking SumoSprings, then it's airbags, then a helper spring, then AAL or just replace the OEM leaf springs with a decent set... I've got a little time before my next jaunt so I'll just keep on researcher and reading reviews.

Here's a few links to what I've been looking at

https://www.suspensionconnection.com/ssr-610-40-toyota-tacoma-sumosprings.html

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Toyota/Tacoma/2007/TTORTUN4.html?VehicleID=2007304132

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Toyota/Tacoma/2007/SSR-610-40.html?VehicleID=200719636

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Su...a/2007/AL59561.html?vehicleid=200720071113081

https://www.truckspring.com/products/hellwig/leaf-spring-helper-980.aspx

https://www.generalspringkc.com/pro...4QXNj847vSQXZ2MNksDaQb1UDYfvvJJBoCasUQAvD_BwE


I think that's it. I've got so many tabs opened on my desktop...not to mention my laptop in the living room.

 

That is the coolest trailer! And your dog is cool too!