2011 Tundra suspension ideas

[Redline]

Thanks for the comments, I agree.

Initially I had considered a spacer lift front and rear (though not my style), but I've moved on to doing a full suspension kit. In addition to the other possible negatives, I don't think a 1.5" 'block' lift in the rear will be enough height for me. I will use the Tundra as a truck, and can probably use a little more spring and height in the rear. I'm not a fan of the leveled look, in my opinion this often results in a nose high attitude, particularly when a load is being hauled. A little high in the rear for hauling is my preference.

James,
You better start getting some pics of the starting platform up here so we can all drool.

I dont think i would bother with blocks in the rear, waste of $$ and a performance disadvantage by increasing axle-wrap and potential(though not likely) slippage of spacer out of position.
Maybe an extended rear shackle, an add-a-leaf, or just try to run your setup with stock rear and see what you really need. Plenty of room for a slightly larger tire in stock wheelwell.

 

[Timgco]

can you guys post up some pics of your setup?

When in Moab, I got to see a setup with King Coilovers/ Camburg UCA's, and rear deavers w/ helper bags. He was running 35's, but had to cut the front body mount.

i like the height and lower COG/ towing aspects of this setup, but did not get any pics. I tried signing up on both Tundra forms, but apprantley the mosds over there are MIA as i have requested an account serveral times. duh.

Thanks in advance for the pics.

 

[Redline]

My trucks has no mods, nothing to share.... yet

The some of the other members that have posted have great build threads. Search for posts by made by them and you will find lots of pics of their rigs.

 

[Redline]

Towing Test

I've continued to study almost every option and combination. From OME, to adjustable coil-overs, rear air-springs, heavy front bumpers w/ a 12k winch, no front bumper and adding a rear bumper, a grille guard/winch mount instead of a front bumper, a front hitch receiver and, and, and............ I've been up late more than one night and lost plenty of sleep, it's been fun

Yesterday and again today I did my initial towing break-in of the gears on the truck. Towing a 30-foot, 8,000-lb travel trailer is a different kind of overland duty, but one this truck needs to do well or it will be fired. While I like a soft ride when unladen, soft ride springs and heavy work are usually at odds. Hauling and towing heavy loads is part of the mission. Even completely stock with no added weight, it was immediately clear that the Tundra could use more spring rate both front & rear to help control and stabilize loads, the front might be more difficult than the rear.

My baseline towing tests suggest that the OME suspension is probably a very good choice for my intended use. If I continue in this direction the big decision in the coming weeks will be 1) whether to get the regular 612 springs for the front (and not add a bumper and winch immediately) or the 613 coils, which mean adding a bumper 2) adding the rear Dakar springs for the lift and firmness they will add for loading, or just go with a rear 1.5" block and air-springs for the loads in the rear.

The air springs are an option with or without the Dakar springs. The air kits are actually less money that the leaf springs. And while I know I will eventually make more modifications to this truck, I've been seriously considering taking things slower than initially planned. Not drilling the frame to add the air spring brackets and not ripping off the stock bumper to add a big bumper and winch (and lots of weight) to this one month old truck is seriously being considered. Must be something in the water, this is not normal thinking. But once 250-350# of bumper and winch are added to the nose it will be difficult to go back.

 

[Redline]

Old Man Emu

I came very close to buying adjustable coil-overs for the Tundra, but decided to use OME suspension instead. The Tundra needed new springs in both front and rear and OME seemed to have the best overall package regardless for price.

Freshly lifted and on the ground for the first time.

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Subscribed...

I am considering the Toytec Ultimate Kit for my rig. I was going to go with the heavy duty Eibach springs / Bilstein shocks to accomodate a heavier winch and bumper combo. I'm not too eager to go with the Icon coilovers or their equivalent which will need to be rebuilt in 1-2 years...

Previously, I had a Sonoran Steel System 1.2 lift. It consisted of Bilsteins, and I thought the ride and off-road performance were great. Corrosion resistance was good holding up against the Kansas salt...

I'm not going to crawl on rocks, but rather overland with the Sherpa II...

Not to hijack, but what size tires are on your Warrior? Do you have a pic from the side?

Looking great!

Regards,

BWJ

 

[Redline]

OME update

Subscribed...

I am considering the Toytec Ultimate Kit for my rig. I was going to go with the heavy duty Eibach springs / Bilstein shocks to accomodate a heavier winch and bumper combo. I'm not too eager to go with the Icon coilovers or their equivalent which will need to be rebuilt in 1-2 years...
snip...

I was VERY close to buying the full Icon suspension system few weeks ago. I agree that the possible regular rebuilding of the Icon coil-overs is not appealing for my application, but what really stopped me from spending my money was Icon's spring rate. According to Icon the spring rate on their Tundra coil-overs is 605-lb. Though the springs are nice and long, 16", and I'm sure the Icon stuff works well, I was not interested in reducing the spring rate on my Tundra for how I intend to use and outfit the truck. At the time I was also still planning to add serious weight to the nose of the truck with a plate bumper and winch, which made a lower spring rate even less appealing. Having tested the stock suspension during both normal driving, off-highway, and towing, I was confident I wanted more spring rate, not less.

ARB OME

This lead me back to OME, which was constantly being considered and compared to all the other options. Two attractive features of the OME kit were the Dakar rear springs, and the choice of different front coils. Though expensive and heavy, after pulling a few different trailers I'd decided I wanted more rear spring, not just a spacer, and I still might want/need more rear height later.

For the front of the new Tundras there are three spring choices from ARB, but they are not different spring rates as with some other applications. According to ARB, the stock 2007+ Tundra coil rate is 680-lb, and the OME Tundra coils are 740-lb, all of them. The difference is in their free height, moving up in 10mm increments.

OME 612 415mm tall (up to +150-lb added weight with the smaller motor)

OME 614 425mm tall (considered the heavy-duty spring for the smaller V8)

OME 613 435mm tall (for the bigger motor w/ 200+ additional pounds of weight on the front)

Once learning the spring rate was the same for all the coils it was a matter of deciding on which was best for my use. With some input from an ARB customer service representative who saved me from buying the shorter 612 coils, I decided the middle height 614 coil was the way to go.

 

[jim65wagon]

The Tundra needed new springs in both front and rear....

Funny how a brand new truck needs new springs already......


Looks good!

 

[Redline]

Funny how a brand new truck needs new springs already......

Well, need might be the wrong word but I sure wanted springs for how I want to use and enjoy the truck, in addition to the improved looks/height. :smiley_drive:

Looks good!

Thanks

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

... SNIP ...what really stopped me from spending my money was Icon's spring rate... SNIP ... Having tested the stock suspension during both normal driving, off-highway, and towing, I was confident I wanted more spring rate, not less... SNIP ...

It will be interesting to get your impressions of this setup. My suspension die is not cast as of yet...I might consider the OME setup as well. I guess you can say that I was swayed to the Sonoran Steel System 1.2 instead because the OME setup for the 3rd generation 4runner was specifically intended for the Prado line in AUS...Even though there were similarities between the two vehicles, the prado was a bit heavier. Thus, translating to other problems...I don't know, perhaps I was gullible to a sales pitch more than anything else...

... SNIP ...This lead me back to OME, which was constantly being considered and compared to all the other options... SNIP ....

**Please excuse my ignorance in this matter.** I am curious to know what vehicle the OME springs were specifically made for. If the 2nd generation Tundra is for the U.S. market only. Is there an apples to apples comparison?...It seems as though the 200 series Landcruiser has similar 'parts'...Curious to know...

Building a Tundra for ExPo travel is going to be new territory for all of us. I'm glad that there is a small group that share the same vision for our rigs...

Keep up the great information! I'll try my best to contribute to the Tundra knowledge base here on ExPo as well. :victory:

Regards,

BWJ

 

[Redline]

It will be interesting to get your impressions of this setup. My suspension die is not cast as of yet...I might consider the OME setup as well. I guess you can say that I was swayed to the Sonoran Steel System 1.2 instead because the OME setup for the 3rd generation 4runner was specifically intended for the Prado line in AUS... snip

Sonoran Steel's suspension for a 2007+ Tundra is not familiar to me. I looked on their website can can't seem to locate the product(s), got a link?

**Please excuse my ignorance in this matter.** I am curious to know what vehicle the OME springs were specifically made for. If the 2nd generation Tundra is for the U.S. market only. Is there an apples to apples comparison?...It seems as though the 200 series Landcruiser has similar 'parts'...Curious to know...

I'm not knowledgable about 200-Series Land Cruisers, but it appears they use different front coils, and of course the rear LC springs are coils and the Tundra has leaf springs. I'm pretty sure the Tundra is a N. American product (built in USA too), and not built for other markets.

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Sonoran Steel's suspension for a 2007+ Tundra is not familiar to me. I looked on their website can can't seem to locate the product(s), got a link?... SNIP ...

I was referring to the suspension system for the 3rd generation 4runner...

... SNIP ...I'm not knowledgable about 200-Series Land Cruisers, but it appears they use different front coils, and of course the rear LC springs are coils and the Tundra has leaf springs. I'm pretty sure the Tundra is a N. American product (built in USA too), and not built for other markets.

So are the OME shocks made specifically for the U.S. market Tundra?

Curious to know...

Regards,

BWJ

 

[bjowett]

The front suspensions are pretty much same between the Tundra and LC. The Land Cruiser uses shorter A-arms, and in stock form uses longer softer springs. The shocks are the same length. The OME Springs are specific to the Tundra, though I suspect the lower rate LC spring might fit the Tundra OME shocks. I'll check the part numbers between the shocks to see if they are different.

 

[zidaro]

Lookin good for a garage truck. How 'bout some pics in the dirt:sombrero:

btw- i still havent done anything about my bumper.

 

[Redline]

Lookin good for a garage truck. How 'bout some pics in the dirt:sombrero:

btw- i still havent done anything about my bumper.

Yes, I need to get out and do some post lift dirt testing and photography, soon I hope.

I'm not completely finished playing with the suspension, I plan to add a 1/2" spacer to the left-front to help with the driver's side sag, maybe next week.