OME Coil and Leaf Spring Questions

Background:

I have been considering upgrading the suspension on my 2020 OR to increase performance off-road without sacrificing too much on-road daily driving, hauling, and towing performance. My truck is a daily driver that occasionally tows a 2300 lb boat, hauls some furniture, or goes off-roading at a OHV park or state forest in the in the midwest. I had settled on the light duty OME 2" kit because I wasn't planning on adding any fixed weight except 150 lb rock sliders.

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/arb-old-man-emu-2-inch-lift-kit-ometac16lksb/_/R-BHWQ-OMETAC16LKSB

But then I read that the spring rate of OME light coil spring is 590 lb/in vs 700 lb/in stock spring and that got me worried that I would be sacrificing a significant amount of hauling performance. I still want my truck to be a truck and not an off-road buggy. I could go with the heavy duty kit, but ARB does not recommend it unless you have a constant load of 660 pounds. However, I have started thinking more seriously about adding front and rear bumpers and skids, so I could have a lot of extra weight in the future.

Questions:

Why do the OME springs have a lower spring rate than the stock springs? What is the advantage? My only guess is that it increases the articulation of the suspension.

Should I buy the OME heavy kit with the option to add weight in the future, buy the armor at the same time as the OME kit, or buy the light kit and bury the idea of adding weight in the future?

As an aside, I have been unable to find any information on the spring rates of the stock and OME leaf springs. I assume the OME leaf springs have greater spring rates than stock in order to increase ride height. Can anyone link me that info?

For reference:

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p250/Old_Man_Emu_Lift_Coils_-__Various_Lift_Heights_Available_(PAIR).html

• OME 883: 375mm in height, 590 pound spring rate
• OME 884: 390mm in height 590 pound spring rate
• OME 885: 395mm in height 590 pound spring rate
• OME 886: 402mm in height 660 pound spring rate
• OME 887: 400mm in height 590 pound spring rate
• OME 888: 405 mm in height 590 pound spring rate

 

Not sure on all the questions but talk to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road and she will help you