Suspension/AAL upgrades for Snugtop Topper?

I have just recently purchased a Snugtop Sport Hi-liner for my 2011 DCSB. My truck rides great now and I love the ride height , it has BFG AT 265/70R17's , and all factory suspension in front and rear. I am a little worried about the weight of the topper (I think its 300-400 lbs) on the rear end of the truck and it taking away some of the suspension. I have heard that when you add the topper the back end can feel a little bottomed out... I am willing to spend some $ to upgrade the suspension but realllly don't want to get to far away from stock as I don't want to have any alignment or additional wear issues... So looking for suggestions, I am considering getting the @Toytec Lifts 5100 kit (About $788) which comes with the AAL. But wondering if I should maybe just do the AAL first to compensate for the topper weight and see how that rides, and then maybe add the 5100's later? Some thoughts/questions:

• With the 5100 kits and AAL, set at 1.5" has anyone had issues with CV wear and needed to do front diff lower kit? Any other known issues? What about rear shims needed?
• Is the rear AAL OK to do by itself and the best thing to do for the topper weight? And should I also get new U-bolts?
• Assuming its best to get the full kit with new springs instead of trying to use the 5100's with stock springs?
• Is the 5100 kit worth just going ahead and doing? Assuming the ride is more comfortable and would be a good upgrade with not much downside? Besides needing to get an alignment?
• Also looking at these photos... wow my LCA's are very rusty, is this normal?

Thanks for any insight!

 

I can’t answer on the 5100 kit, but here is what I did- 3rd gen front struts brand new for $100 off FB marketplace, then Headstrong Off-road 3 leaf add-a-leaf pack. (I have ride rite airbags too for heavy loads, but those don’t add height and are only inflated past 5 when loaded down with family camping gear, etc.). The set up I have works great, and was not expensive. The CV angles up front from the 1” gain are fine, with no boot fins touching each other and zero issues. The truck has that slight unloaded factory rake with the shell on it, and rides great. I have the stock shocks still in back, which work fine but would limit droop just a little if max flex was a concern.

 

Hi John, I have a 2015 DCSB 4x4 TRD OR. I have Bilstein 5100's OME 885X's and OME Dakar CS047R Leaf Packs(3”) OME CB drop kit. With a Snugtop Rebel. I did have AAL's and it was not enough in the back with the weight of the shell and the camping gear. Then I decided to change to OME medium leaf pacs and I am so glad. The entire ride is great when driving off and on road with or without gear.
I purchased everything from https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/ Marie @ Headstrong knows her stuff.
Right after my lift:

 

I would do the 5100s in the rear with a 3 leaf AAL. Doing the AAl without 5100s will take away travel and 5100s are cheap. They will not mess with alignment etc. then for the front you can either get 5100s (which are better than the 4600s on 3rd gens) or just go cheap and get the 4600s. I would do the 5100s front and rear with the AAL. It’s relatively cheap, will increase suspension performance, and will keep your booty from sagging. It will not mess with your alignment etc unless you lift beyond 1.5-2” in the front as that is when UCAs start to get messed with etc

 

If what I said above isn’t enough for the weight I would either leave the overload leaf in with the AAL or buy firestone airbags. You could actually just buy Firestone airbags and be fine but the ride might get a lil stiffer

 

This is very helpful. Nice looking truck too, love seeing those Super Whites... Couple of questions...

• With those 5100's, did you have those set at 1.5" in the front or 3"? Also is there any reason you didn't just stick with the stock Springs or use the ones that come with the 5100/Toytec kit? I'm just curious why you used the OME 885X's? When I looked up the OME info/specs, there was a footnote that looks like it says "OME front coils can only be installed with OME Nitrocharger struts and coil seats." (pic below) - So curious about how those OME front coils are fitting with the 5100's? Also just wondering if maybe I should get the 883's or 884's as I don't really want that much front lift (parking garages etc)
• So the AAL just didn't cut it huh? My Sport hi-liner is probably a little heavier than yours due to the added height, but I only have maybe 50lbs of camping gear back there. Just wondering what the ride height/feel was like with just the AAL, and is it really with the $550 to get that 3" OME Medium leaf pack?
• Was there a need for the OME CB drop kit? Did you get vibrations before? Just curious if that is only necessary due to the increased lift from that OME leaf pack?

 

Good advice , this is kind of the path I was thinking about... So would you suggest just doing the whole Toytec kit (set at 1.5"): I wasn't sure if I needed need that front spacer or front diff droper kit it came with. Also you mentioned a "3 leaf AAL" , is that what comes in this kit? Just wasn't sure if you meant to say I should add an additional "3 leafs".

 

Just chatted with Toytec, they had good advice... They said that the AAL's really are not good for dealing with the added 300-400 lbs from the Topper... They highly recommended going with the EMU full kit with Heavy Duty leaf pack to deal with the weight, below is the spec I am thinking about getting, other option is the $390 Firestone Air bag, just not sure exactly how those work or if that is the best way to deal with the added Topper wight, it certainly is cheaper.

 

Hi John,
Through all my research before I even purchased my 2 Gen Taco I found that the Bilstein shocks fit perectly within the OME springs from other Taco owners. The 5100's should be set to 0 and choose your spring (885 ECT) according to the OME chart for the height you want. The spring gives you the height. I chose the 885's so I would not need UCA's.
The spring is what will give you the lift. The aal was using was rated for 2". With the weight of my shell 200.lbs plus gear and dogs it did not cut it, it sagged and it was a wishy washy ride.
Full spring packs were perfect for me. I reccomend full spring packs in the rear for better stability and a better ride. Mine were $450 and worth every penny.

 

Full leaf pack and 5100s is definitely the better option but of course it’s also more expensive

 

I didn’t say 3” AAL I said 3 leaf AAL meaning it’s 3 leaf springs, the lift is about 1.5” from that. It’s been great for me and my weight in then bed. A full leaf pack would be better but then I’d have to keep weight in the bed to have the ride be less stiff

 

Ok so after doing a bunch more research here is what I am thinking... My main goal is to address the sag/washed out rear suspension from added topper weight so:

• I think this fall I will JUST do the rear end by adding the OME Rear leaf spring pack EL111R-P - and the OME-60091-P - Rear Old Man Emu Nitrocharger Sport Shocks , which comes to about $750 total, and it seems like with that beefier spring pack I should be in better shape for that topper and new OME shocks should provide better dampening... And then next spring I can spend the rest of the money and do the 885 springs in the front with the matching OME shocks etc...
• My only concern with this approach of doing the rear first to address the topper weight would be the rear end being higher than the front and being raked... Sure it would be great to do the full OME kit with rear leaf pack and front at the same time, but trying to do it on a budget for now.. Has anyone just done the rear first? Did it look weird?
• Or... Could I get away with spending way less money and just install the HS 3 Leaf AAL and keep the stock shocks in the rear? https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s..._AAL_with_u-bolts_(PAIR)_-_HS-TOY516-3AL.html

 

John,
IMO which ever way you go OME, Bilstein ect. I would save the cash and do it all at once. This way your lift parts will all have the same life span.
Great leaf packs!

 

Save the cash for something more substantial and get the HS 3 leaf pack and some 4600s from a third gen. Going further down the rabbit hole means more things like doing alignment more often and the random wobbles etc.

 

For reference, here are front TRD off road 3rd gen front shocks, and headstrong AAL rear, with Rite Rites at 5 lbs (they aren’t adding lift) sitting on 265/75’s.

 

That’s what I’m TALKIN BOUT

 

I currently have a Leer camper on my double cab with 5100s and OME 884 springs in the front with a Toytec single AAL. The ride isn't bad. It sits pretty level right now with a steel bumper and about 100 lbs. of tools in the bed. When I load it up with camping gear it sits a little low. With that being said I plan on upgrading to Dakars soon. If you are on a budget I would go the route that I have and install the AAL for now. I would think a full leaf pack would be too much lift in the rear without lifting the front at the same time. I will try to post a photo when I get time.