Rear leaf springs and bed weight limit

Half ton trucks depending on options are roughly double the payload of the Tacoma. My work f-150 is ultra bare bones but has 4x4 and the FX4 package and payload is 2200

 

It will haul things as good as the 2nd gen Tacoma. Not as good as a full size GMC, just like it can't outrun a Corvette.

 

Anything over 400 lbs and they squat pretty good. If using to haul landscaping supplies, I would replace bump stops with sumosprings.

 

and back to my original question. Will it be as good as a 2nd gen with the 4 leaf spring pack or the USA spec 3 leaf springs which are terrible? This was really my only question in this thread. Did Toyota learn from their mistake with the USA spec GEN 2 Tacoma's and put in the actual spec springs and NOT the once designed to make my grandmother feel comfortable? The 3 leaf pack was ridiculous on the GEN 2's.

 

OP I had this exact problem when I owned an 05 and now have a 2021. I had a 2005 SR5 DCSB. The original leafs and shocks were terrible. Driving down the highway and hit a small bump or dip and the back end hit the bump stops and bottoms out. Put a bike rack on the back or a small load in the back and the suspension bottomed out. I had the TSB done with new leaf packs and the OR Bilsteins and it was fixed. My 2021 SR5 DCSB rides almost exactly the same as the 05 after the TSB.

I think that's the answer you are looking for. Is it the same ride and payload as an F150 or Chevy 1500 NO, and you probably understand that from your question, but it's WAY better than the original leaf packs on the Gen 2.

 

Yes thanks. I love my truck and want the same truck feel when I drive it. I really appreciate it. I have offset rims too which is nice; but I can add spacers to my liking to get that look and feel. I also got the answer on the engine torque and it seems like the 3.5 isn't really producing less than my 4.0. and yes I know it is not 70k 1500 and I drive back and force to SC and do not want to pay gas for that big boy anyway. Taco is not great for fuel, but not terrible either.

 

If you haul more than ~650 lbs in the bed or have a trailer tongue weight >320 lbs on a regular basis you'll probably want to add support to the rear springs. From my understanding almost all of the fixes stiffen the ride (except perhaps a perfectly matched replacement leaf pack). Toyota provides the stock leaf pack for it's ride quality and to sell trucks.

Buy a 3rd gen and spend a few bucks optimizing it for your use.