Bilstein 5100 setting question .085 or 1.75 front?

Two problems... One, you obviously want some lift in the front, secondly, you tow, so need to account for the extra weight. Definitely not an uncommon set of problems that many have to deal with. Personally, I don't think .85 will give you the satisfaction that you are looking for. With that said, many end up doing one of 4 things for the rear. AAL, new leaf pack, airbags, timbrens.. If I could afford the new leafs I would do that in a second.(saving up).. Actually Looking into timbrens now...

 

Thanks for the input.

 

There are 4 settings: no lift, .85", 1.75" and 2.5". How'd you do 1.5"?

 

Good catch....I meant 1.75

 

Well, I installed the 5100's all the way around and had the TSB done went with .085 in front setting.

I finally decided to go with the .085 setting since I pull a boat regularly and cound not be any happier with the unbelievable quality ride WOW! and is dead level while towing. Thanks for everyones input.

Here are some pictures with the lift completed



Here is a picture with my boat attached to my taco

 

Personally the 1.75 setting will almost bring you even height with the back, especially after the TSB work was done. Your tow, depending on weight won't sqwat you anywhere near as low as it used to. The settling of the new springs won't be much if any since these trucks tend to be light and more so on the back. I had the TSB done on my 09 TRD Sport short bed last week. The back is about 1 inch or so higher than it was. Traditionally the back was already about 1.5 inches higher and now sits about 2.5 - 3 inches higher. With the 1.75 setting, you will come pretty close to level and adding weight without weight distribution bars, again depending on how much, shouldn't lower the truck nearly as bad.

Best thing to do is to set it at 1.75, hitch your boat and see how it looks. If it's too high in the front, then adjust the shocks to .85 and back to 1.75 when not hauling/towing if your concern is front end up. I just don't think you're going to experience that even if I haven't yet done mine, but it's just a hunch. Besides, it's only 18' and aluminum. What's the weight of that thing?

I tow my 26ft travel trailer and fully loaded without weight distributions set, the front comes up about 3 inches higher than the rear, but once I set the weight distributions on the third link, the truck levels right back. All this was without the new 4-leaf springs. My trailer is right around 7,000 loaded. It's a light, so it's not as heavy as a traditional 26ft.

 

poster # 26, see my post #25 updated from my original post on this thread with pics. The .085 setting is awesome! I could not be any happier

 

The aluminum boat & trailer weight is appx 1300 lbs. about 200 lbs on tongue weight.



It sits dead level with my boat attached with the front setting set at .085. Exactly what I wanted.

 

Looks great....I think you made the right choice.

 

I have had no regrets with the .85 setting

looks good

 

Thanks. I have no regrets either. I know I made the right choice going with .085 in the front settings. Thanks to all for the valuable input.

 

I've actually had the shop set my 5100's to 1.75 setting. Not sure how they did on the aliginment but currently tires are pretty well centered. I haven't yet changed out the tires and wheels but thinking about a 275/70R17 which will give me the wider look and taller height, yet not necessarily the off-road feel. I don't take mine off-roading and don't want to deal with increased road noise. I decided on the Pirelli Scorpion A/T. It reports to be quiet and smooth. Since adding the 4-leaf springs my ride is still pretty smooth and actually more of an even bounce. Not so saggy. The 5100's sure do make a big difference in handling and ride, yet still smooth. The bag of my truck increased in height about 2.5 inches so setting my 5100's at 1.75 is just right. I did also hook my travel trailer up and made sure to set the weight distributions as recommended. Truck looks and rides even level and much better. It's not so see-saw feeling now.

 

Just had the TSB done yesterday - will be getting 5100s installed up front next week. Question is - I'm getting a Leer shell installed in another month or two, will I be better off just having the 5100 set at .85? I don't want to be Nose High once the shell is installed or will 1.75 be OK?

 

With the camper shell added on back of your truck, you will need to do something with your back if you go with the 1.75 setting on the billies up front, that is, if you are only going with the TSB in the back right now, or you will be nose high, especially if you ever plan to tow or haul any kind of load, from all the research I have done. Good Luck.

 

Would a 2" toytec aal be too much for a 2008 access cab trd 4wd with billies set at 1.75 up front? It has the factory leaf pack. I appreciate any and all help. I'm not meaning to thread jack, im just asking a 5100 question too. Thank you all.

 

See pic. Billys @ 1.75, rear tsb, I added a 5mm OME trim packer to the rear springs and it sits really close to level.

I will probably do a full OME lift or coilovers in the future, once I get some new rims.

 

I had the 5100's set @ 1.75 on my 09 TRD Sport double cab. Since I had also had the TSB rear leaf's done prior, I made a good choice and call with setting the 5100's @ 1.75. The truck is very level now and when I dropped the tongue weight of my travel trailer on it, it did sqwat it down some, but nothing like it used to. Now I set my weight distributions up to the fourth chain link and the truck is nice and level, plus not to mention how much better it rides and handles. No more teeter-totter going down the road.

Just drove over to Paso Robles, CA for some wine tasting over the weekend. Took the trailver and even though the weather was not great (windy/rainy), the truck handled great. I had also upgraded to a K & N OEM air filter so was wondering how that would help. Overall, the truck drives, performs, and has more power towing.

My next wish list item to to purchase the performance board for the computer and have it installed. No factory settings are messed with, just the way the air mixture comes in to allow for better fuel/air performance.

 

With those settings, what size wheel/tire did you go with? Notice any difference with aftermarket rims over the stock with the 1.75 setting?

 

I initially had the Bridgestone Dueler A/T S 285/70R17 installed, however they presented a challenge since they tended to rub on the upper control arem just a bit plus also had to remore the spalsh guards (front). This was due to the stock TRD wheels, which have no off-set. I decided to replace the wheels with Ultra's 17 x 8's and then also the tire shop as a courtesy exchanged the tires to the Yokohama Geolander 285/65R17's. These have plenty of clearance now and I'm thinking that I could have actually kept the Bridgestone 285/70R17's. I will say that the Yokohama Geolander is much smoother on the road and not as bumpy. Both tires have nice tread design but really, the Yokohama has a better look.

I've uploaded a couple of pics for you to view. The first is with the Bridgestone's and the second the Yokohama's. It changed the overall tire height by about one inch. I'm pretty satisfied with the look and ride. Still very comfortable. I'm thinking about also adding the rear Bilstein 5100's just to add a bit more strength when I tow my 6,000lbs travel trailer, although had it out this past weekend and it tows and handles great.

 

This I question.

This is the way to go IMO. I had the TSB rear springs done...and have all 4 Billy 5100's in a box in my garage waiting on my part lazy...part busy self to get on it.


btw..."level" is subjective. Some guys use the rocker as their "level" eye...others look at the top of the wheel wells...and many look for the bed top rail to be level.

myself, I like the factory profile only an inch or so higher. YMMV