Upgrade shackle hangers or not? Alcan Springs/FWC

I appreciate the advice. I’ll give them a shot. Honestly full flex is pretty unlikely. Most just driving on road or forest roads. That simplifies things!

 

I didn't see the shackle flip mentioned.
https://www.4xinnovations.com/2005--2023-Tacoma-Shackle-Flip-Kit_p_38.html

I can't vouch for performance, in comparison to hammers, but they're certainly stronger and more stable than factory hangers.

 

A lot of people don't like the way flipped shackles ride when there's a lot of weight in the bed. They tend to ride rougher and "unload" more dramatically in curves. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with the angle at which the flipped shackles are set, but it might take an engineer to determine the optimal angle for a given load and leaf spring set. (And not all leaf spring packs are the same length, even when they're made specifically for our trucks.)

There's also a theoretical tradeoff in strength: The flipped "hangers" themselves are much more stout (and it's preferable to drag a leaf spring on a big rock than a shackle hanger), but shackles held in tension (OE) are far stronger than shackles held in compression (flipped).

 

Interesting, hadn’t seen that option!

 

I am running 5160's (for a Tundra, modified for a Tacoma) that came with piggyback reservoir mounts. I found that the shocks would tend to rotate, so that the leaf springs would bang into the reservoirs (mostly on the driver side). I ended up replacing the piggyback mounts for frame mounts.

I picked the Tundra shocks for a slightly longer stroke, but also because Tundras weigh 5,500 to 6,000 lbs curb weight, so the shocks are valved more appropriately for the fact that I have a camper and interior buildout in the bed. I switched from 5150's made for a Tacoma, and the improvement in ride quality was impressive.

 

Are they eye to eye shocks that need an adapter or are they the same stem mount as the tacoma ones?

 

they swung around cause the 5160’s are remote, but have the option to be piggyback mounted.
The falcons pictured are solidly piggyback

I too run longer and tundra 5160s with stud conversion

 

Mine has the adapter

 

Mine are native stem mount, from the previous gen Tundra I believe.

@alwaysHI There doesn’t appear to be anything special about the Falcons that would immobilize the bodies from rotating in the stem mount. The rotation doesn’t occur at the piggyback bracket. It occurs at the stem mount. The bodies rotate freely around the shock shaft.

That said, it looks like the Falcon reservoirs are shorter than the Bilstein reservoirs, so maybe the leaf springs don’t flex high enough to bang into them. It also looks like the Falcon reservoirs might be high enough to rotate to rest against the frame, which might keep them out of harm’s way.

 

Been a minute since I’ve read it. But wasn’t the hammer hangers supposed to keep the leaf packs in actual alignment vs factory?
Maybe that’s why I never run into that issue either..
My 5160’s came with Bilsteins “piggyback” mounts (pretty sure I have them still in storage), I’ve never used them tho. And like you said, the Bilstein resi’s are rather large

 

I had the resi interference problem with Hammer Hangers.

I just looked back through my old pics and my resi’s were significantly lower than the Falcon resi’s.

 

that’s a good pic, and info for anyone in the future.
Look how massive those things are lol

 

I think I moved them up a bit after taking that pic, but obviously it would be impossible to mount them with the bottoms of the Bilsteins being as high as the Falcons.

You can see in the pic how easily the leaf spring retainer bracket (Deavers) could contact the resi body upon compression, if the shocks rotate even a little bit.

 

I see what you’re talking about now

 

As an FYI, FWC used the Falcons on their Tacoma Fleet show truck. It's in their video about the build (done at Mule).
Four Wheel Campers - New 22' Tacoma and Fleet Camper Build

As an alternative, look at the OME BP51s. OME rates them for 1000s added weight and they are adjustable in compression and rebound. You do need to drill a hole in the lower shock mount but no cutting and works with the stock 17" Sport Rims.

 

$7,000 on a supercharger and install but wants to install the cheapest shocks out there

 

What shocks do you recommend friend? Not sure what other options there are for no lift.

got the supercharger brand new for under $4k…

 

@socalexpeditions or anyone else- leaning towards the Dobinson MRA adjustables. Thoughts with the Four Wheel Camper?

 

My brother has the Dobinsons, I rode in his truck. Not really impressed by the slightest. Can you swing King 2.5s with reservoirs in the back? They are suited from 0-1.5 inches of lift. If not, Fox or ADS. And if none of those work, I’d choose Bilstein 5160s over the Dobinsons. Or see if a Tundra specific Bilstein will work in the back (valved for a heavier truck, will work with the FWC).

 

I put Bilstein 5160’s for the previous gen Tundra under my truck (Vagabond Drifter with interior buildout, probably 800 lbs over stock when loaded) and I really like the way they ride. The problem here is they are a lot longer than stock, so without >2 inches of lift and probably different bump stops, they won’t work here. Also need to frame mount the reservoirs, because the piggyback mounts can interfere with the leaf springs on a Tacoma.

That said, there are other shocks meant for the heavier Tundra that are shorter and might work. Just have to grind 1/8 inch off each side of the lower eye for them to fit the Tacoma shock mount.