TRD. Do I need to upgrade suspension?

New guy here looking to buy a Tacoma at the end of the year. Will be using the truck for camping, traveling, and mountain biking. With a Flip Pac, refrigerator, camping gear and a couple of bikes on a Thule rack will I need to upgrade the suspension? Concerned that with the weight I am adding, the factory suspension may need some "help"?

 

this is tacoma world, of coarse youll need to! but seriously, if you plan to swap out suspension then you might as well not spend the money on the higher models. the only thing the trd offroad package will have is an e-locker. now, when people get really serious into off-roading, the e-locker is often swapped out anyways. if you plan to keep your truck stock, then you cant go wrong with the trd offroad package.

 

Yes you'll need to change the suspension. The stock leafs won't be able to handle the weight of a flippac all to well

 

Just another agreement.......the rear suspension is crap.

 

All pro expos or OME dakars are probably your best bet.

 

I have a new 2013 DCSB with the TRD package (got it about a month ago) and have definitely noticed that the rear springs could use a bit of help, we had 4 people in the cab and a moderate amount of camping gear in the back and definitely were hitting the bumpers a couple weeks back.

Is there a simple upgrade to add a bit more stiffness without a full lift kit all around? I've heard something about adding another leaf to the springs in the rear. Is it worth it without doing a lift?

I like the look of the moderate lifts (2-3 inches) but am not sure I'm ready for that yet.

 

dakar leaf with the extra overload leaf and youre golden. it lifts you up considerably tough, im like 5" in the rear now and this is after i sat my quad i the back for a few days to hasten the settling. i dunno if youre willing to go tha high, if not, maybe just the regular dakar leaf pack.

 

remember the trucks total payload INCLUDES all passengers and cargo, in the cab and in the bed. 1100lbs or so goes very fast with 4 people and gear

U didnt mention WHICH TRD u have..........sport or offroad?

sport should have 4 leaves, offroad has 3.

Id suggest getting a PROGRESSIVE AAL like Icon or wheelers before ur current leaf pack takes a permanent dive.

a single aal will not be as smooth as a progressive.

Ive had the truck stock (3 leaves).........then got the TSB (4 leaves)..............then got 5100's and a toytec/deaver single AAL............

all rode stiffer in the back than needed (yes even for a truck)....it hopped around on convex bumps in the road and of course offroad. I wasnt aware until I installed the Icon 3 leaf Progressive aal......then it rode plush and the suspension actually did what its supposed to (cycle).

The truck handles a load just fine tho, so I sacrificed nothing......

Sometimes I wish I did the Icon 1st, but atleast now I can say "I have tried all of these and can vouch for the progressive aal". Learn from others mistakes and save some money

 

I have the 2013 TRD sport and the extra leaf seems to be the difference between what everyone is complaining about and a working solution. I haven't hauled massive loads, but the few times I've had it loaded up with people and crap in the back it's not sagged a bit.

 

I got some Timbrens... Always awesome when I need to haul..

 

Has anyone on here bought the Wheelers 5 leaf pack? I thought about getting these and wondered how they were and how much lift they give. I really do not want to lift more than an inch and a half.

 

I have the off road, so it's definitely the 3 leaf pack. I might have to look into the icon setup, that sounds like a really good way to go.

The truck is primarily a daily driver and most of the off-pavement I do is a lot of forest roads (not necessarily rock crawling or anything like that), so I don't like the sound of the rear end hopping around, and I also don't really want to get a big lift on it, but I would love to ability to actually load the thing up and not have to worry about bottoming out.

Is this the one you're talking about:
http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-4...oma-6-lug-05-current-rear-add-a-leaf-kit.html

Also, if I go that route, should I look at doing anything in the front to compensate for the fact that I'm going to end up about 1.5" higher in the back, or will that not make much difference?

Sorry about the noob questions, the world of lifts and suspension upgrades is pretty new to me.

 

That is exactly what I have, and who I always order through.

With ur overload out, u will get 1.5"
Overload in, and u will get about 2"

I left my overload out and don't miss it, but if u want added lift and I assume the added heft of the overload, leave it in....it shouldn't make a difference on a daily driver that's not consistently loaded.

I chose my lift carefully due to cost and knee surgeries....I don't wanna hop in or out, and I also don't want to buy new upper control arms (typically needed with 2.5" and above).

So, I went with bilstien 5100 shocks all the way around....fronts set for zero lift, and they have toytec/eibach coils (good for 1.6- 2" approx).
Also bought a 1/4 lean spacer for the drivers side only...stock coils are side specific due to the drivers side of the truck having the battery, driver, gas tank etc...this means, when u swap coils out, u need the 1/4" spacer from toytec to keep the truck level in the front.

Rears I just have the 4 leaf pack from toyota, and the icon aal, overload out.

Toytec offers a discount....there's a code in their subforum...beware tho, the shipping on the spacer may cost as much, if not a lil more than the part depending on location.

Toytec is also the only ones who carry the eibachs (they are specifically made for toytec).

Everything else is from downsout motorsports

 

*downsouth motorsports* sorry.....mobile version offers no edit button

 

Great info, thanks a lot! I was doing a bit of digging around the forums as well, and it looks like several people have installed the bilsteins in the front with the stock TRD coils as well.

Do I need to upgrade the shocks in the back as well with the icon AALs, or will the stock ones work with that setup?

As a first step I wonder if there are any major shortcomings with a setup like this:
Front Bilstein 5100s with stock coils, rear icon progressives AALs.

If I'm figuring through this right, that should keep the lift to around 1.5-2" all around, but give me a better ride and more load capacity due to the new icon AALs in the back, without breaking the bank too much.

 

Yes this is Tacoma World, and everyone here is going to suggest upgrades. On my 06 offroad, I use my truck for exactly what you describe plus more. I have a leer shell though, which weighs around 180lbs compared to Flippac at 290lbs.

I only have the 3 leaf setup, and 98K on the stock leafs and shocks. Yes, time for some new leafs and shocks IMO the ride is very acceptable with around 600-800lbs in the bed on the stock suspension. I take some pretty rough roads around WY/ID/UT/CO and have not had any complaints, rarely hitting the bumpstops in the rear. Slow down for huge holes/rocks and you will be fine.

I expect this truck to ride.....like a truck. Not like a caddy. But an upgrade would likely be a bit more comfortable, if your into that kind of thing.

 

Thank you so much for the information. Don't plan on doing any rock crawling, lots of highway miles and forest roads. I don't think I "need" a locker so an access cab, V6 auto (hoping to hear about the direct injection stuff later this year) might be the way to go. With the saving I could look @:
#1) OME Suspension: Don't want it lifted more than an inch or two. Suggestions?
#2) Aftermarket seats / consule
#3) BFG All Terrains using the stock steel wheels. I am sure it is covered if I did a search, but what size tire would you recommend assuming I had a 1 or 2 inch lift.

Thanks Again guys!

 

If you want to stay at stock height, look into Ride Rite aig bags for the rear. If you want to be lifted 1-2" is that before or after you're loaded?

 

Im at the vet.....will reply more detail in an hr or so.


Srry, this and the prior post were via phone.

 

1 to 2 inches after being loaded up works for me. Stock height when the truck is loaded wouldn't bother me. Airbags and the TRD off road an option?

Not looking to "wheel" it and not looking to explore South America @ this point in my life either. I am looking to drive to Moab for a long weekend, camp for a few days (not in a campground), and mountain bike. Would be awesome to drive up to Canada and explore for a couple weeks using the Flip Pac and a couple hotels along the way. Hoping that sleeping in the Flip Pac for some snowboarding is an option during the spring when temps are not so cold.

Trying to find the right balance. What some off road capability but need nice road manners as well. When I get off on Friday late afternoon and need to drive for 8 hours I want something that handles/drives well on the highway and fire roads.