Riddle me this. Plushest rear leafs?

Which of all the real leafs is the plushest? Im on Fox 2.5's on OR with Tow package and the rear is harsh, much harsher than front. So which leaf pack has the deepest feeling travel.

At most all I need to haul is a couple dirtbikes. Don't tow so im ok loosing the added capacity. Also don't really need a lift either but .5" to 1" is acceptable. I know theres threads on rear leaf lifts but I cant seem to find which has the deepest feeling travel.

 

You can try a progressive 3 leaf and get good rear reservoir shocks.

 

Have fox 2.5's on it.

 

In my experience the stockers if not sagged out with good rear shocks. I like the ICON remote resi rear shocks myself, you can add their add-a-leaf if the rear springs still have the arch. I had this on my truck for a couple years and the rear was smooth as silk and still good off-road. I have about 350 pounds added weight up front and the front extended travel ICON coilovers were too soft for my liking, so I had them re-valved a bit stiffer, now they are nice, still running 650 lb. springs.

I needed additional weight carry capacity at the back and put on ARB Dakar rear leafs, to utilize their travel I swapped to custom length Fox rear shocks (2.0 with RR). I got both Dakar springs and the Fox rear shocks from Headstrong Off Road, great people to deal with!

 

More or less sounds like what you're saying is to pull the tow package add-a-leaf and rubn the stock leaf packs.

 

Anyone know of a progressive rear leaf with little to no lift?

 

Also is the tow package just a stiffer add a leaf? Could I just remove it without affecting ride height, while softening up the rear?

Reason I ask is I went up to the top of Santiago Peak and it has alot of rough chattering secions that you are doing 15 or so and the back end was so harsh, felt like my kidneys were going to be bruised.

 

Great post, but you left us hanging!

How does the feel of the ARB Dakar rear leaf pack + Fox 2.0 remote resi rear shocks compare to the feel of the ICON add-a-leaf + ICON remote resi rear shocks??

 

MY stock rears were harsh from the day driving it off the lot. If I went over train tracks with people in the back, they nearly threw their backs out. Unless the tow package somehow has an extra or stiffer leaf pack I can't imagine that being the case.

 

Sub'd for good info...

Looking to do something similar soon. Care more about ride quality than lift.

 

Sure the shock isn't bottoming out?
I found a collapsed length of 14.650" for Fox 2.5 w/resi.
I couldn't find the spec on stock OR Bilstein's, but Bilstein 5100

$104 24-186728 5100 Series Rear Shock fits 2005 2023 Tacoma 4WD with 0-1" Lift - Monotube Design, Fade Free Performance, Optimal Performance

24-186728 have a collapsed length of 14.02"
Measured compression and droop?
Maybe time to upgrade bumpstops?
Free movement in the shackles?
What tires and pressure?

 

I have Dakar leafs, Icon 2.0 w/ resi, custom build for Dakar from Headstrong Off road.

I did not want much lift- so I removed the top overload on that Dakars. Smooth ride; rides like a Caddy on the interstate; smooth off road.

With some weight in the back, the ride is very plush; no sag so far.

 

Just installed the Deaver 10 Leaf packs yesterday. The 1.5" single AAL I had on there was way too stiff, and gave me 2" in the back, I was looking for less.

Anyways the Deavers ride MUCH better, far more plush over rough roads, potholes, washboards etc... They feel just a bit softer than the stock TRD OR springs. I found that increasing the stiffness on the rear shocks really improved the ride quality with these on. I was skeptical that they would feel softer considering they are 10 leafs thick and appeared to be the same spring thickness, but they are. They gave me 1.5" in the back, with a .5" shim on the driver side for the lean. I expect them to settle in a little bit at about 1.25". If you are looking for primarily a better ride I would suggest them, however if you haul or tow often expect them to sag quite a bit. Although I bet you could use them in conjunction with some sumo springs/airbags/ etc.

 

I havent checked to see if the truck is bottoming out, however this problem existed stock to fox. The backend always rode like a rollerskate. I was going to try the timbren bumpstops and just read about the shackle flip. Maybe it's time for that, timbren and deaver. I peeked under the truck on my way into the office this am and I have about 5" of travel on the shock sitting level. I know that doesnt mean much at all as that could be fairly close to the internal bumpstop.

The only thing I haul/tow are two dirtbikes. have no plans on a trailer or boat or anything of the such.

 

How much lift did you get by removing the top overload? I want to get the Dakar's but I don't really want to lift the rear 3 inches or over.

 

turned LSC down 4 clicks to 0 LSC and it rides much better off-road.

 

2.5" lift.

The removed top overload is 1/2" thick. My OEM hub to fender measurement was just under 21.5". After settling in for a few months, my rear is now 24"- hub to fender, with top overload removed from the Dakars. (was slightly higher after install.)

 

@Age315