Increasing Payload 2011 Tacoma

I have a 2011 Tacoma Doublecab TRD 4x4. I had the TSB done on it but I still run on the bumpers almost all of the time with the normal weight I have in the truck. In my opinion, even the TSB rear springs are worthless.

I have gone through a few options.
1. Airbags - I don't want to go this route because I had them on a previous truck and with the amount of off road driving I do it seems to be very high maintenance and prone to failure.
2. Add a leaf in the rear with a leveling spacer in the front. I am not sure how much more payload capacity this really will give me if I am on the bumpers all the time right now. $450 roughly.
3. OME 3" lift kit with new struts and a new rear heavy duty leaf pack. $1150 roughly

Can anyone give me some feedback on these options? I don't really need the lift but wouldn't mind the extra clearance it if it would also give me more payload capacity. I am really after payload more than anything. Ideas?

 

How much weight are we talking about? Dakars can handle a good amount of weight but i havnt went over 800lbs yet. Wheelers makes a HD 3 leaf AAL, i think it is somewhat new. Or you could look into helper springs, but i havnt seen anyone here with them, check out some helper springs here http://www.jcwhitney.com/leaf-springs/toyota-tacoma/c11307d2193j1s21.jcwx

 

All Pro Offroad Expedition leaf pack. Designed to keep about 3" of lift with several hundred pounds

$429 OTD

 

Probably 1000lbs most of the time.

 

Buy a Dodge / Cummins.

 

I would, but I am on muddy backroads most of the time. The old Toyota's were much tougher. I would sink a diesel to the frame everyday... Might only be 800 lbs. These trucks should handle that. Heck the springs are on the bumpers with 250 lbs in the back. I thought they were still a truck, apparently not.

 

Routinely loading a Tacoma with 1/2 ton in the bed is asking a lot of this truck, IMO. Others may disagree.

 

Yep it sucks. I went with dakars vs AAL because of payload. If you offroad alot i say lift it, get a replacement leafpack. Like volcom said expos are meant to carry weight, dakars also do very well, you can ever get dakars with the AAL.

 

Don't forget it's only a 1/2 ton axle no matter how big the springs are.

 

They payload capacity (out of the fancy Toyota book at the dealer) is 1260lbs. Is it too much to ask to put 500-800lbs in it without sitting on the bumper? Maybe I'm old school and I expect it to perform as they say it will when they try to sell it to you at the dealer.

I don't see how it could be a 1/2 ton axle and have a 1260 pound payload capacity. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

I would recommend the all pro expedition springs for your application.

I have used my truck in construction for 3 years and regularly carry a lot of weight and have towed big trailers. Many people on this forum seem to be scared and warn you not to put more than a toolbox in the back or pull a 100lb trailer or your truck will fall apart.... but it won't its a truck they are made to work.

I have the all pro expedition springs, with 800lb's in the back they ride really nice! I have had 1600lbs in the back of my truck and the springs only sagged about 3" to a little higher than stock height, obviously I wouldn't recommend this regularly but it can be done when needed.

The springs still flex great off road, the only downside is if you run your truck completely empty they are a little stiff but still comfortable enough. I had a 2" aal before them and it helped a little but at 1000lbs I would be pretty much at the bump stops.

 

I had about 700 lbs in mine the other day. I wasn't anywhere near bottoming out. I do have a 1.5" spring in the rear.

 

1/2 ,3/4 , the numbers are irrelevant to payload, even if they seem to describe it. Mine is described at 1400lb, that's all it'll ever be. some full size don't fair much better payloads.
A 1/2 ton might carry 1100 with all the bells and whistles , or it might be rated at 2600lb.

OP, your best be might be to call Deaver or Alcan, get spring sets set up for a fully loaded expedition vehicle, but don't be surprised if its not exactly what you want or need, you'll never truly increase the payload.

 

take away your weight and gas and other accessories also come off the 1260 lbs. new leafs is best solution in the long run, I run aal's has done the job for me but I do not carry 1k lbs all the time.

 

With my deck and sled, I've got a bit more than 1200 lbs of payload including passenger, full gas and other stuff. I've got OME with dakars and Firestone airbags inflated at 50 PSI to get a proper ride on logging roads. Got about 1000 miles with that weight and setup, I'm very happy with the results.

 

Thanks guys, that gives me some good places to look. I usually have 600-700 probably which I don't think is too much. But its clearly too much for the TSB leafs. I just don't want to beat the truck apart by riding on the bump stops all the time. Thanks for your help.

 

I don't know the weight of it but I recently hauled some mulch. Filled the bed all the way up to the rails. I still had a few inches of travel with the Dakar leaf pack and it road nicely on the road. Same load on stock springs last year had the axle resting on the bump stops. About 300 lbs was the max I could get on stock and still have some travel.

Driving around the yard to drop piles of mulch where it was needed, everything seemed fine. Gave it some good flexing going over big tree roots, through a ditch, and such. Like the others said, there is an add a leaf available for the Dakars for heavy duty application.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/194386-tacoma-spring-refurbishing.html

Shoot Doug (4wd) a message, he'll build you a leaf spring pack for pennies on the dollar compared to any spring manufacturer, on read the thread and build your own.

 

I know you said you are not into the airbags but I have had good luck with them.

Had them on an 06 2wd for 5 years no problems and have them on my 12 4x4 for a year and a half no problems.

And if you are not carrying much weight you can turn them down.

 

Honestly, I just left the dealer a few days ago, trying to get my TSB leafs (flat) replaced. I can stand on my bumper now and bounce off my bump stops. I've had the TSB leafs for maybe a year and a half...possibly two years.

Toyota Warranty peoples declined my warranty saying, and I quote, "It is a known design flaw that the leaf springs in Tacoma's do not stand up to the listed weight capacity" and yet they still will not replace them. The guy i always go to, never let me down, fought for me, (I was standing right there) and they still turned me down, he told me straight up, if I were to fight it, they would send an inspector out, the inspector would take one look at my 5100's and say that my aftermarket shocks caused premature leaf wear. Which is BS and even then I'd have to fight them more to make them prove it...

...which is why I just bought All-Pro expo springs and called it a day.


Oh, and I already had the AP expos when I went through all of that at the dealer...was just trying to scam another set of TSB leafs for replacement or for sale . Oh well.