2019 Tacoma prep for year-off

[ChuckWagonPNW]

The wife and I are lucky enough to have a year off planned starting in June 2021. We recently bought a FWC Fleet (decked out) and are going to live out of that while traveling the West, expected delivery in April 2021. We have a 2019 Tacoma TRD OR, that is mostly stock, just Firestone airbags installed right now.

To those of you who spend a significant time in similar rigs, what have you learned that you can pass on?

I am a little worried about the stock suspension with all that weight in the back, and people seem pretty divided on whether or not upgrades are necessary. We're not planning to do a ton of off-roading but have White Rim in UT, Alpine Loop in CO, and maybe some stuff in Death Valley like Steel Pass planned, but that will be the limit of the difficulty we'll be doing.

For sure mods:
E rated BFG Ko2's or Wildpeaks AT3 -likely moving up to 265/75r16's
Extra gas/propane storage
ARB awning
Shovel
Tow rope

Not sure yet/maybes:
Suspension upgrade, beyond currently installed firestone airbags
Traxx/traction device


Thanks in advance, beyond stoked!

-We'll also have a nice Flippac, modded to fit 3rd gen Tacoma for sale in April 2021

 

[AtomicGeo]

IMO, the stock suspension will be too soft for the weight of the FWC. At the very least I would add overload leaf springs in addition to having the air bags. If it were me, I would go with full upgraded suspension (front coilovers, rear shocks, and the overload leaf springs), This would probably add about 2-3 inches of clearance, retain the rake, and make up for the sag with the FWC in place. One place that deals with all this and offers great advice for what you want to do (without a sales pitch) is Headstong Offroad or Toytec. Call them, they are great at answering questions specific to Tacomas for exactly what you want to do.

 

[crazysccrmd]

You need suspension, you're already over the maximum payload rating with just the camper in the truck and you plan to load up enough stuff to live out of it still.

 

[PirateMcGee]

I would suggest selling the Taco and purchasing F150 with the payload package or another truck with a more appropriate payload.

 

[tacollie]

I would get some good leaf springs. Keep everything as close to stock height as you can. The 265/75r16 are a good choice. It's true you will be heavily loaded for a Tacoma but there are plenty of people that do it and never have issues. Drive a little slower and enjoy your year off.

 

[ChuckWagonPNW]

Thanks for everyone's input!

Any recommendations on suspension components? I have read that the OME leafs are pretty noisy.

Also in the Seattle area so any shop recommendations are appreciated.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Some people notice OME leaf packs squeak but my older version CS047R don't make any obvious noise other that I use polyurethane bushings that do get squeaky when dry.

That's eventually true of my front control arms (Camburg) and every poly suspension bushing I've ever had so I've long since stopped worrying about it. Around here with the lack of rain and dust & sand everywhere they'll starting squeaking as soon as I leave the garage after greasing them.

I have one extra leaf in my packs and probably am slightly over sprung but for a FWC with your payload I'd say they'd be alright. Probably wouldn't need more than this with OME. It's just my opinion but airbags are for infrequent loads. You want to spring for your normal payload with actual leafs or coils.

 

[Deleted member 13060]

4:88 gears will make life so much more enjoyable. The stock gearing is for economy only......

 

[ChuckWagonPNW]

I have thought about 4.88 gearing, but not sure that's in the budget right now, but I am already sick of the transmission so might have to pull the trigger anyway.

Would people go for a max lift? 2.5-3'' as things might settle over time? Would 265/75/r16s look stupid with such a big lift? I am hesitant to go larger if I am on the fence about gearing.

Thanks again for everyone's thoughts.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I run LT265/75R16 Falken Wildpeak A/T3W, the load range E versions. I have them mounted on 3rd gen 4Runner 16x7 wheels. I run about 2" of lift in front (Fox 2.5 IFP extended travel shocks with 650 lb/in 14" tall King coils) and 3" of lift in back when mostly unladen (the camper is always mounted).

Whether they look too small or not is I think a personal preference but I will say that if you set up your suspension properly you actually shouldn't get a ton of lift. I'm slightly taller than ideal and I've giving up a little bit of down travel in front. But the overall stance sort of dictated it since to sit lower would require the rear to sit inverted and I didn't want that to be the case when fully loaded. So about 1.5" to 2" of lift put everything about where I wanted it.

One of the most important points, though, is that lift doesn't let you run a tire any bigger than stock unless you specifically limit up travel or steering arc. Good suspension will let the tire travel through the same range of motion. So if it rubs stock it will eventually rub lifted. That's, BTW, why I run older 4Runner wheels, which have about 3/4" less backspacing. This gives more clearance at the rear of the wheel well between the tire and frame when the steering it turned to the lock.

Also lifting these trucks puts a strain on the front CV joints and driver's side differential axle support bearing (I run an ECGS bushing in place of the stock needle bearing) and is notoriously difficult to prevent vibrations in the rear driveshaft (I use spring wedges to angle the pinion up 3° and a center carrier drop). So you want to balance everything.

About gearing. I still have the 3.73 factory gearing in my truck (V6 manual) and it's too tall but it's manageable. It's worst IMO in low range, 1st gear where it really needs to be much lower. On the highway it's not terrible. But Toyota also did not bless this generation of trucks with a useful overdrive either. If I was to do anything right now it'd be 4.56 gears at most. But that's because I'd be pushing it on the highway. My long term plan is a dual transfer case solution to solve the low range and that will let me leave the 3.73 for highway. I think you 3rd gen owners got more useful overdrive gearing, though.

 

[ChuckWagonPNW]

Your truck looks good! Nice Wildernest!