OME DAKAR HEAVY DUTY SPRINGS PROBLEM?!?!

I'm curious what you'll think of this. I just installed Bilstein 6112 in the front on the 3rd clip and OME Dakar heavy duty springs with Bilstein 5100 in the rear. The ride quality seems good, however when I loaded the bed with 650 pounds it had a "W" in the springs. Even 350 pounds there's a slight "W". It maintained height, but my understanding is the springs need an arc to work properly. Correct? I've read in a few threads this is common with ome. What do you guys think? Is it ok or no good?

I'm getting a Vagabond Drifter 8ish months and after doing a bit of research it's seems those guys run Deaver Stage 3 or Alcan.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

My HD springs are about a month old and the same way. They ride great though....

 

normal. Might want to remove “HELP!!!” from the thread title. I thought you were broke down somewhere.

 

Looks to me like those springs are losing or have already lost arc and therefore, lift. How much weight is on in that picture or are they unloaded there? The top five leaves are going to have to flatten out and bend downward before the first helper leaf comes into play. Then they all have to bend down further before the last helper leaf comes on. I didn't see in the specs how much the drifter camper weighs. I would get that number and load on that amount of weight ( sand bags or similar) plus anticipated gear weight and see how it looks. The air bag crowd will be chiming in soon, but you will be overloaded (GVWR wise) I suspect.

 

@Troyken

The picture of the springs is with 650 pounds of concrete. The truck pic is with 350 of concrete. The drifter weighs about 320, so with gear I would guess 650+. I'm waiting to hear back from OME... I may consider aal or If I can return and get Deaver Stage 3.

 

If you add another 600 lbs or so to the expected 650 lbs cargo, you will be approaching GVWR. I have tested my truck using a combination of garbage cans and totes,filled with water, with no occupants in cab,( in the driveway only) to get to 1250 lbs, about my payload max. That put me on the bump stops with stock suspension. You might try that and see how the OME springs support the weight. With driver, passengers and gear you will be very close to GVWR. Maybe Headstrong off road can advise you on the AAL. I thought the HD leaf pack already had the extra add a leaf but I might be wrong on that. If you plan to "overland" with this setup you might bottom out often and eventually break or bend a spring.

 

I'd be interested in hearing what OME has to say if you can send them that pic of them looking like a W.

I am running the Deaver Stage 3 and they definitely don't look like that. My Habitat is similar in weight, around 340 lbs. I've also got another 300+ lbs in the bed at all times between my batteries, fridge, chargers, propane, MaxTrax, etc etc...

 

I think that's normal man. My stock leafs look like that with no weight in the truck at all.

 

www.nationalspringinc.com
150 years in the industry.
Good luck.

 

Your thread title sucks.

 

Normal.

 

Sorry for "help" in the title. I didn't know it was for actually emergencies.

 

@YF_Ryan Thanks for your input! I just want to do it right and make sure they work correctly. I'm waiting for a response from OME on the issue and will let you'll know what they say.

 

Mine is the HD pack OP - here’s a quick pic



That’s completely unloaded. I have the extra Dakar AAL in the garage I’m about to install due to a rear bumper going on soon.

 

Wow, how old are they? Less than four years I'm guessing? You have extended bump stops so you must be hitting them often with very little load?

 

It’s about a year old. Honestly, there’s plenty of lift, 3.5” over stock or so, and looking at the contact point on the frame, I’ve rarely hit the bumps. They ride great, just that W shape has been there since i installed them.

 

Hmm.... I guess we will have to wait for OME feedback. They sure look weird but maybe that is how they are intended to work. Good luck with them.

 

Here's what I got from Wheelers Offroad who talked to ARB and here's what I got from ARB direct. They both said it's good.

 

Sweet! That's how mine look too!

 

What bump stops are you using with your OME Dakar lift? Also, did you go with the heavy duty pack or what? I have the heavy duty pack and carry a 1200lb Phoenix popup camper on my 2021 long bed. When I have the camper on my springs look like that. Without the camper on, the back is about 2-3" higher than the front. It is definitely noticeable there is no load.