Rear Shock Question

I've heard that about the Archive leafs. I would say they are the top choice for trucks with extra weight on them. Just not a lot of stock weight trucks running them yet so that's good to hear they do well even with a stock DCLB. I honestly would have gotten the same ones but it was going to cost a fortune to ship them to Canada.

And yeah I've heard that about the Eibachs too lol. And unfortunately how they feel on other trucks doesn't always guarantee that's how they feel on Tacoma's. It's all in the valving, which honestly most companies don't get right on Tacomas. Bilstein I think just has a leg up on tuning since they make OEM shocks for Toyota. Try taking the sway bar off. The stiffer front end will kinda make up for it in the corners and it shouldn't roll as much as you'd think. It made a big difference for me back with my old front setup. I still have it off 11 years later lol.

 

I was originally planning on going with a set of Deaver Expedition springs for the rear but couldn't decide on the stage 1 or 2. Since I tow / haul intermittently for work and home, I didn't think the stage 1 was going to be heavy enough but worried the stage 2 was going to be too heavy for driving around unloaded. I eventually want to get a camper shell for it which would put a little more weight on the back and probably lead to carrying even more weight back there. The Archive had a nice weight range I thought I could live with for a while, finger's crossed.

 

Had my first hauling job for work today, 1200# of fencing to the scrap yard. Springs and shocks held up very well. No sway, bounce or body roll.

 

I got the U402 and billstein 6112 5160 and am pretty happy. Those leafs definitely made a difference in the truck feeling planted.

 

What stage Deaver's did you wind up going with? Do you remember what your unloaded gain in lift was in the back?

 

I went with the first stage and have been happy. I do wonder if I should have gone with the second. I did the 650# springs up front and even without weight they're fine, so I wonder if stage 2 packs in the rear would have been okay.

Hate to say I don't remember the exact numbers. It did start off with about 3" in back and has settled to just a slight rake now.

 

When I started looking into rear springs I was in the same boat trying to decide between stage 1 & 2. Ultimately I would like to put a clamshell tent/ camper top (Super Pacific X1) on the truck and either add a Decked drawer system or a traditional chest tool box to store my everyday crap. The Decked system would help me out when I have to haul plywood. I was concerned that the stage 1s would be too light after adding all that but at the same time worried that the stage 2s would give too harsh a ride until I had a chance to add all of that. In the end, I rolled the dice on the Archive Garage MD springs which seemed to be a good middle ground between the two Deavers stages and so far, I've been happy so far but it's only been a week so time will tell.