Dakar leafs with one removed review?

I just sold my Dakars after 1yr. They sagged and with the weight of my armor they bottom out easy. I would have just ordered the stupid add a leaf but it's on back order for last few months and no one could give me a date of arrival. So I ordered some expo leafs.

 

How much weight / how much sag ?

 

Well I have a homemade 3/16" thick belly pan skid, sliders, on board air system with extra battery, full size spare 35×12.5 , shell. Hi-Lift, tools .. I think that is it. Also building a rear bumper with tire carrier. I loved how they worked just needed the aal. But I am a spaz I can't wait for something that no one know when it will be available.

 

Almost fforgot. . They sagged about 2" just about back to stock

 

Interesting

I carry a constant 400-450lbs , my Dakars compress about 3/4" with that load , but removing 200lbs returns them to their install height

They are over 4 years old too and I haul heavy loads quite often too

 

Maybe 1st gen are different. I have heard of people having them sag over time but not in 1 yr. . But who knows.

 

Subbed.

 

Everyone says they removed the 3rd leaf. Is that counted from the top or bottom of the leaf pack? I've never taken apart a leaf spring, is it pretty easy, any speacial tools involved? Thanks.

 

I think it was 3rd from the top that i removed. It sat perfectly level and rode fine without cargo but the back settled more than the front pretty quickly. I also thought it didn't handle cargo weight very well without that leaf. It didn't take long at all for me to put the leaf back in to regain height in the rear. Now that everything is settled in, I think it rides fine and carries loads great.

 

I am under the impression that it's counted from the top. When I separated the leafs to do OZ-T's Dakar squeak fix( http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/156353-squeaky-dakars-any-advice-others-dakars.html ), I used a socket wrench(I forget the size socket), 2 C-Clamps, and a Flathead Screwdriver.

I just got the full Dakar pack on my truck and I don't think it rides too harsh. As of now, I wouldn't consider pulling any leafs out of the pack.

 

Third from the top. With a bit of weight, they're not bad. I pulled the second overload because I didn't want all of the lift.

 

Which leaf will give less total lift when removed, top overload or third from top?

 

Third

 

I'm wondering, I'm going to be installing the Dakars with the extended length Icons with an empty bed about 80% of the time, 20% of the time with camping gear loaded (usually once a month for about 5-7 days). Should I just leave the overload leaf in and maybe add some concrete blocks to the bed to keep it weighed down when not driving with a load in the back? if so how much weight to keep it from bouncing around on the road or being too stiff? Or should I just remove the overload leaf since most of the time it will be without weight in the back? I just figured in the future of getting a bed storage system similar to the Truck Vault and add a HC bumper with swingout so i didn't want to pass on the deal I'm getting on it. Thanks in advance.

 

Just got my Dakars. I'll report back once they are broken in.

 

Remove the third if you want to lower the spring rate for unloaded driving , removing the upper overload won't effect that at all

 

I just bought Dakars with Icon extended travel as well I will also let yall know how it is and I will post pics once its on.

 

Interested in some more reviews

Looking for a suspension upgrade in the spring and trying to decide between the all pro standard, expos or the Dakars. will be unloaded 7 months out of the year and a cap in the winter.

 

anyone have pic of icon setup with the dakars in the rear? ive been thinking about this setup but i feel like the dakars are to much of a lift for the rear and also heard they ride stiff. i do have a leer camper shell on my truck.

 

How do you like the setup?

Any Pics?