Toytec/OME and Dakar leaf pack question

I recently bought a 2012 Tacoma. I currently have what looks to be a 2" coil spacer in front and a 3" lift block in the rear which was on the truck when I bought it. I was looking to replace the spacers and stock bilsteins with the Toytec Ultimate Kit with the Dakar leaf pack. I have a friend of a friend who I have been talking with who has worked at an offroad shop for years and has installed hundreds of these lifts. He also owned a Tacoma with the OME lift with Dakars. He is telling me that I should not get the leaf pack or the OME kit. His reasoning is that it rides extremely rough and that his truck road like a dump truck with this installed. He has suggested the Bilstein 5100's with eibach coilovers (for 3" in front) and going with a 1.5 inch lift block in the rear. I have now heard from a few different experienced folks that stock rear springs with a lift block will provide the closest to stock feel. I was under the impression that spacers were crap. I don't typically ride with much weight in the back and although I may from time to time, I do not do much offroading. I'd like to keep the ride as stock as possible but at the same time I don't want to have a cheap lift under my truck. For those running this setup or something similar, would you agree or disagree with the stiff ride? Keep in mind I don't run with weight in the back of my truck.

 

I have the OME kit , 885's and Dakars , the ride is stiffer than stock

I would never use a lift block

 

Dakars ride better when they're loaded.

 

Truth

 

Do you think an add a leaf is better? I was told that the aal would be stiff also. Why never a block?

 

I use my truck to haul stuff so I wouldn't use a lift block versus a better leaf pack or an AAL

I think a 3 leaf AAL would be better for you than a block

Blocks will exacerbate axle wrap

 

Wheelers off road has a good selection of add a leafs to choose from.

 

I have the 885/Dakars w/AAL. I have the AAL because I have a pop-up camper in the bed most of the time. However, even with the camper off the truck I don't find the ride too stiff at all. I agree with everyone on the spacers, no bueno. Wheelers will be a lot of help, give them a call.

 

I doubt that eibachs and 5100s will ride softer. Eibachs are about a 620lb spring rate and OME are 590lb. I could be wrong though, my icons with 650lb springs ride softer than my 885s and nitrochargers. I pulled a leaf out of the dakar pack and it rides pretty soft.

 

Why did you pull a leaf out? To lower it slightly?

Before I got that info in my first post I was sold on the Dakar springs as I really haven't seen any negative posts about them. I would just hate to get them now only to get the "I told you so" later. Is there anybody out there who is not satisfied with their Dakars?

 

I don't think the Dakars are too stiff. Obviously they are stiffer than the stock springs but I don't find them overly stiff. I definitely like mine. Just need to know going in that they are going to squeak but there's an easy fix for that.