Do I need to beef up suspension or not

I'm new to all of this. I bought an awesome 'new' 2017 Tacoma TRD 4x4 Sport last year and a (2009) Northstar 600SS just recently. EVERYONE says I NEED to enhance the suspension. Airbags sounded like more trouble then I wanted to take on (like the camper isn't). Then I learned of SumoSprings, sounded like a great alternative. I figured (being sadly clueless to all this) I'd go to experts in springs to do the work. Two local shops definitely do NOT advocate SumoSprings and advised adding a leaf. New concept to me. The more I learned/talk to folks the better that sounded. Then I talked to a friend who said NO WAY. He added a leaf to a Samuri and the ride was forever brutally rough. Is that an issue of smaller wheel base? Payload weight are pretty close to the camper - about 1500 (water on board); do I need additional? What is the wise, safe, lasting - easy for clueless - answer?

 

Don’t know but welcome to TW!

 

Sumo springs are for occasional load, if you have heavy constant load air bags or leaf upgrades are the answer.

You can always start with sumo springs and do an add-a-leaf later.

Add-a-leafs ride rougher without load yes.

 

Sumo springs work all the time

loaded or not they provide additional weight resistance...........the ride either way will be rougher

adding a leaf has a similar result..............added weight capacity = the ride suffers

some dont mind

some get used to it

some find its acceptable

Air bags are adjustable if U dont have ‘ lift ‘

Not interested in gaining undercarriage clearance

the ride suffers the Least with the bags

of the three the bags are the easiest to install

maybe U can find someone with bags get a test ride

 

Welcome to TW…I went with Firestone Ride Rite air bags and like them a lot.

 

Hello Maggie,

Welcome to TW.
Samurai's have an extremely short wheelbase so at 79.9" so I do not doubt your friend experience a rough ride with add-a-leaf. Tacoma has a 127.4" wheelbase so your experience with an add-a-leaf would be alot better than your friend's.

That said what do you plan to do with your truck?
Just tow a trailer on gravel roads or take it on off road trails?
Add-a-leaf should serve you just fine and are a low cost investment if you decide you would rather invest airbags later.
If and when your stock leaf springs flatten out you can just replace them with a heavier leaf pack.
If someone jumps on this post and says "NEVER do add-a-leafs!" ignore them, it's a weird TW snob thing that happens here.
If your goal is to do moderate off roading we should be having a different conversation but I don't get the impression that is your goal.
*Just realized that Northstar is not a trailer, lol. Invest in a new set of heavy leaf springs and airbags especially if you are going to always have that on.

 

Her profile implies DCLB so 140.6” wheelbase right?

OP, you might want to give a bit more detail on this statement?

“Payload weight are pretty close to the camper - about 1500 (water on board); do I need additional?”

Does that mean your bed has 1500 lbs in it regularly or are you referring to the stock Tacoma payload rating? Are you carrying a tank of water for some reason? If you regularly transport something close to the max payload, I do think AAL or even a replacement leaf pack might be worth considering.

More precisely, what exactly do you plan to do with your vehicle on a regular basis?

Mine is mostly for hauling one child to something close by on a paved road so for me, unloaded ride quality is most important and the softish offroad suspension isn’t ideal, I’d be better with a more street oriented suspension.

 

I had missed it was a lb, but the biggest contributor in ride quality when comparing to samurai is the wheelbase and the length of the leaf springs themselves. Also if I remember my friends samurai correctly it had leaf springs at all 4 corners which I imagine would be extremely brutal with add-a-leafs combined with that short of a wheelbase.
My Jeep TJ is miserable to drive anywhere that isn't off-road IMO and it has no leaf springs so I can't imagine how bad Maggie's friend's was to daily drive.

 

Maybe the @Timbren-Industries SES could help. They’re usually happy to post here but this is the link to the item. Can’t really help any more than @ing someone else. Welcome to TW and good luck! https://timbren.com/i-30497951-timb...OMA||submodel=WITH 3 LEAF OEM REAR SUSPENSION

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld
Air bags for occasion heavy loads with towing.

 

The OP's camper weighs 1,250 pounds dry, add in water and "stuff" and she has 1,500 pounds. I would definitely look at replacing the leaf packs with something designed to carry that weight constantly. Adding a leaf might help, but I would go full leaf pack. Air bags are better for occasional loads. A custom Deaver pack specific to your application is going to perform best.

 

sumos made the rear of my truck buck like a horse at highway speed. and i wore them out nearly to pieces using them. they are an effective yet crappy shortcut.

welcome to the forum! @CluelessKId

 

First things first, that Northstar is too heavy for a Tacoma! At ~1300 lbs dry, the camper plus your body weight and your truck is going to be over payload capacity (assuming 1440 lbs for DCLB), and that's without several hundred extra pounds of other people, water, food, gear, or beer.

I mean, sure, you can put the camper in the back, beef up the suspension, and you'll get to where you're going, but you're going to be beating the shit out of your truck. You should definitely cut maintenance intervals (especially driveline fluids) in half and make sure to do consistent checks of driveline components. You'll also going to be a hazard to other drivers, especially at highway speeds or in inclement weather (make sure you have load E rated tires).

I don't care what truck camper manufacturers claim or how their campers are marketed, mid-sized trucks are not intended to carry truck campers. What you need is a 1/2 ton truck, but probably not a Tundra since their payload capacity isn't much better than the Tacomas (although beefier axles, wheels, frame can probably carry more than door sticker indicates).

For reference, my wife and I used to have a Northstar 850sc (dry weight of 1800 lbs). Us (350 lbs), a 60 lb dog, and four days worth of food, water, and hiking gear added 1100 lbs over the dry truck + camper weight. We were just under payload capacity in a Ford F250 (3050 lbs payload capacity), but would exceed it if we brought mountain bikes, bike rack, and that additional gear.

 

Sumo springs worked well for me, I pull a 2000lb camper with a bed full of bikes and family shit, no more 2” sag and ride feels much more stable. Not a bad solution for 200$

Edit: read your post wrong. Thought you were pulling that weight, not carrying it.

 

Thank you for tagging us! Our Timbren SES kit will definitely get the job done and they're easy to install yourself!