Topper and suspension

Hi everyone,

I have a 2011 tacoma regular cab 4 cylinder 4x4 5 speed with 50,000 miles on it. I have an ARE topper on it with about 100-150 pounds of other things in the bed all the time and have notice that it bottoms out really easy. I just got done reading about the tsb leaf springs, but my truck has more than 36,000 miles and over 3 years old. So I was planning to just do an add a leaf. Should I just get the wheelers 1.5 inch aal or the wheelers 3 leaf aal? I know the 3 leaf aal is better if you don't have any weight in the back, but I'm worried with the weight of the topper the 3 leaf aal may still bottom out often? So if you were in my boat what would you get? Don't have enough cash for a full new leaf spring, so please don't recommend that. Thanks in advance.

 

I've been down your road before. My '06 DCSB bottomed out from day one with 4 adults in the cab and no payload, add a LEER 100r and it was worse. I got the TSB springs installed first, it eventually started bottoming again. I later installed Firestone RideRites because I towed a boat and a utility trailer. I loved the RideRites but you did sacrifice a little ride and articulation of the rear axle.

My recommendation is AAL or RideRites. If you get a good spring guy such as we have locally here, you can get a AAL and still have the OEM ride. If you decide to go RideRite, plan to pay just shy of $300 if you install yourself, and they aren't bad to install. Remember, you must keep 5 psi minimum in them. You will most notice they are in there when you go over a speed bump.

I now have a '14 DCLB sport and it has never bottomed out with the stock springs, even when loaded and towing.

 

Went down the same road. Got the 3 leaf AAL and it helped a lot. I should have got new springs as the AALs are wearing out after less than a year. Why wouldn't they though. They are holding up crappy springs and won't last forever. I will be getting new spring packs this winter. If you can't afford the new packs, at the very least get the 3 leaf AAL.

 

Thank you all for the recommendations, much appreciated.

Kodiakisland do you also have a topper and did you ever bottom out with the 3 leaf added?

 

I'm running the firestone airbags with stock leafs on my 2011 access cab trd o/r. I have a 350# Wildernest canopy, 50# horse mat rubber pad and usually 150# of dogs in the back. The articulation is still really good with the bags and i can pump them up more if I'm towing or have a dirtbike in my hitch-carrier. Cost about $300, and easy install, I will eventualy get bettere springs (deavers) but probably keep the airbags for extra weight.

 

Yes and yes (but rarely and fully loaded).

If all you can afford right now is the AAL, you will be happy with them over the factory springs. They will eventually sag if loaded because they are doing all the work.

 

I just installed a set of dakars over the weekend after previously having factory leafs with air bags. The bags helped alot but gave false security. When things went really bad, it was bad. Granted, I installed KINGs with the dakars but the ride is sooo much better. I got mine from @HeadStrong Off-Road. Great price and shipped fast. If you're always carrying a shell and other gear, just save and get a full leaf pack. It will be cheaper in the long run.

 

Thanks again from the replays. I think I'm going to just wait and save the money for new leaf packs, should only take about one month. I just started researching the dakars and it sounds like people are happy with them. Is the Dakar the best bang for the buck when it comes to leaf packs? If I do get the Dakars do you think I will also want the ome aal because of the weight I carry?

Doording- thanks for the suggestion, I will have to look into timbre bump stops.

 

the benefit of the dakars over the others is the ability to adjust the overload. The overloads can be flipped for earlier engagement if the load demands it. The secondary overload can even be removed without affecting the ride for everyday use to fine tune it even further.

It looks like @DoorDing has only the primary overload installed in his pic

 

I had a AAL on my older Tacoma and I hated it. After that I purchased a custom set of HD springs (3/4 taller than stock) from Alcan which were great but the draw back was a rough ride when unloaded. Alcan (highly recommended and very knowledgeable) did inform me that the springs were going to keep the truck level with weight but that they would give a stiffer ride. On my current Tacoma I have a shell with airbags (they have about a 1/2 of lift over stock with about 10 PSI on a dcsb v6) in the rear and I love them but it is a Sport model. Leaving air in the system makes for a very comfortable ride with much less body roll. For towing and heavy loads the airbags can't be beat because you are able to customize the air pressure to the current situation with a simple bike pump. I would say go for the airbags and eventually look to replace the springs with a quality stock replacement just not OEM.