Need Rear Suspension Recommendations !

Hello TW, ive been lurking as a guest for a while but this is my First Post here.

My Rig is a 2018 TRD OR and im looking to upgrade my previously upgraded suspension.
At the time i didnt have the funds nor were the parts available to do the proper lift that i wanted for my tacoma. In the rear i am currently running fox 2.0 with remote reservoirs, and a dakar EL095R leafpack with OME Bushings. The Leafsprings were unfortunately overloaded when hauling new flooring to my house (whoops) and i now have the funds to do complete my ideal suspension but am stuck on which leafsprings to get. ive been very happy with the overall ride of the dakar EL095R but they squeak like a banshee (tried many different lubes to calm the squeak) and sag like crazy. i figure since they were overloaded and i am about to increase the weight yet again i should swap em while getting the shocks upgraded. I run a LEER 100XQ Campershell (weighs about 180lbs from what ive read) and a fullsize 285 Spare Wheel and tire (about 85lbs) and have a RIGD UltraSwing on the way (70lbs), so there can be a minimum of ~350 lbs of weight on the rear while daily driving, and up to 150-250lbs additional weight when doing BAJA and long desert trips. Ive been looking towards deaver HD, Icon RXT, and another set of Dakar HD's. Should i do a U-Bolt flip? new bumpstops? Im looking to achieve about 2.5-3" of rear lift to account for the weight, and keep the truck level. There is currently have a 2.5 lift in the front (fox 2.5 Resi).

Any recommendations or previous experiences with different rear setups that can handle weight would be appreciated.


The shocks i will be getting are:


Fox Shock Kit: 05-On Toyota Tacoma Rear, 2.5 Series, Remote Reservoir, 9.4″, 1.5-3.0″ Lift, DSC
$1,339.95

Thanks,

FishN'Taco

 

I like Dakars HD however my setup and use different than yours, i'm DCLB 2nd gen. Daily the bed is empty and maybe once a month i tow a boat i dont h/ave any complaints so far over the years but then again you/ have a shell so that matters... DK if my response helped but at least itll bump it

 

I'm running the springs you're getting rid of and you're 100% correct, so I'm interested to see what you come up with. I'm also running these shocks you're about to order and am very happy with them

 

Nice shock choice

I'd go with Deaver U402 stage 1, or Icon RXT stage 2.
The Dakar pack doesn't ride as well as either of the springs above.

The U-bolt flip is a good way to get some extra ground clearance and a 1" bump stop spacer that is required with the adapted tundra rears.

 

From the online specifications for the dealer u402s the stage 1 says 0-300lbs and stage 2 is 3
4-600, since I’m already at atleast 350lbs without any extra weight shouldn’t I go with the stage 2? I load up with quite a bit of gear, and a bike rack quite frequently. Thanks

 

I added air bags for when I put a lot of weight in

 

I think Stage 2 is too much for you, you're better off with a softer spring and good valving.
We did a Tacoma with a go-fast-camper, ultra swing with 35, and front LT kit (4" lift). Stage 2 was the right choice.
For a mid travel setup and a lighter camper I think Stage 1 is correct.
If you're not sure you can contact Deaver and get their opinion too.

Keep in mind springs aren't tuneable like shocks, so you generally want just enough spring rate to get the ride height and carry the load.
Too much spring rate will ride stiff.

Air bags are also a great way to support occasional heavy loads without blowing out your nice daily ride.
Just make sure you can rotate the air bags out of the way or otherwise remove them when unloaded.

 

I have the icons and found they rode stiff on option 2 even with 200-300 pounds in the back. 6-700 pounds and they rode nice.

 

@AccuTune Offroad so with the stage one I will be sitting around 2” of loft in the rear? What Valving setting should I put in when I order the shocks, or just make sure the weight is listed? Thank you very much for the help.

 

I would just call Accutune, they're super easy to talk to!

 

The ICON-51100 mini leaf pack will give you a 1.5-2" lift in the rear. Valving depends on how much weight you're running in the back and the type of terrain you're mainly running on. Typically we'd set you up with our Street Tune, and accommodate for added weight with some stiffer valving added to the Street Tune.

 

we are working on a kit that pairs the archive garage setup with icon 2.5in piggy back shocks and the rtx spring pack. the rtx setup is nice bc you get all three stages in one kit and can dial in what you need. they also net about 14in of rear travel and nice articulation.

 

Welcome to TW!

The dakar leaf back is a great leaf pack for heavier expedition style of a tacoma. I am around 300~ of weight in my rear and have swapped out to the Icon RXT leaf pack, and set at their stage 2 option. It is a much better ride, and it performs very nicely with and without weight! It sounds like the RXT will be right up your alley

A U bolt flip kit is a nice option to account for and will yield a hair more ground clearance.

 

Has anyone had experience with doing relocation towers and running a 12-14” shock?

 

Working on that setup now. Waiting for parts to test fit piggybacks

 

@AccuTune Offroad is pretty well versed on doing the 12-14” relocation shock setups with specific Tacoma valving with those shocks.

 

Thanks, we can certainly help with that. What questions do you have?

 

@AccuTune Offroad
Talked to Kenny on the phone today gonna end up going with fox 2.5 dsc 1.5-3” with a u402 stage 1 as per your recommendation. Was gonna go with archive garage ubolt flip and bumpstop but I have a trip in about 1 month and they have a 10wk lead time, do you have any other recommendations for ubolt flip and bumpstop kits? Thanks, you guys along with TW have been extremely helpful

 

Currently, the Archive Garage stuff has really been the only stuff we use and trust.

 

Same here at Down east offroad