Doc's 05 Tacoma Build Thread

[heeltoe989]

I think I should be good up to a grand with the extra leaf :REExeSquatsHL1:

Now, I saw Mario's AT Commanche with FlipPac and it got me thinking... :Wow1:

Its the reason I'm moving up one extra spring.

The most I've had in mt truck was when I was building my wife's garden. I used 140 step stones to build a garden wall weighing 14.2lbs each.

One load, no bottom out. Its sure was heavy! but the OME worked awesome!!

If your wondering about the front, you can go to a 14"x700lbs King spring and make your Icons extended coil-overs. I have them (King Springs) at home right now and going to be doing the install in a couple weeks at HRT Off-road when I do a rebuild on the Icons.

I'll snap some pictures and show the end result when its done.

More load than the Icon 600lbs spring, less turn up on the collar = less stress on the spring.

 

[Rob O]

Chiming in late here, but I'm running Dakars *without* the 3rd leaf (unpacked, removed, repacked) and am extremely satisfied with the setup, both in terms of ride quality, payload, and ride height (lift). I have around 10k miles on this setup now and drove nearly 3,000 miles over two weeks last Fall with 500lbs + of payload, including on rough trails like Mosquito Pass in Colorado, and the truck never sagged, complained or bottomed. Rides better than stock, unladen or laden, and sits perfect (no unsightly aft-to-fore rake). :victory:

When I finally get a shell installed, which will have a rack and goodies attached, I may go back and add back in the stock 3rd leaf to accommodate the extra burden + any payload. Can't imagine needing an AAL on top of that though.

A few examples in different states of Dakars minus 3rd leaf ...

No load with 3/4 tank of fuel


Under load, with empty bed and 1/2 tank of fuel


Loaded with 350+ lbs of gear and 3/4 of fuel

 

[Dave Bennett]

I called Jacque at Toyota of Dallas from Bahrain and placed the order for the OME HD suspension. When I get home from deployment I will have all the parts needed for a full rebuild waiting in my garage!

PARTS ORDERED:
REAR SHOCKS N182 qty 2
TOYOTA BUSHES 90389-A0003 qty 4
UBOLTS OMEU53A qty 4
REAR LEAFS CS047R qty 2
EXTRA LEAF D29XL qty 2

I also ordered the 3 degree axle shims and the carrier bearing spacer, not sure I need these but if I don't, Jacque said I can return them no problemo :costumed-smiley-007

 

[heeltoe989]

I called Jacque at Toyota of Dallas from Bahrain and placed the order for the OME HD suspension. When I get home from deployment I will have all the parts needed for a full rebuild waiting in my garage!

PARTS ORDERED:
REAR SHOCKS N182 qty 2
TOYOTA BUSHES 90389-A0003 qty 4
UBOLTS OMEU53A qty 4
REAR LEAFS CS047R qty 2
EXTRA LEAF D29XL qty 2

I also ordered the 3 degree axle shims and the carrier bearing spacer, not sure I need these but if I don't, Jacque said I can return them no problemo :costumed-smiley-007

You'll be happy with all of them. I also have the carrier bearing spacer and haven't had any drive line vibration as some people have, not using it. The only difference to mine is that I still run the Icon Res shocks.

 

[Redline]

I'm very interested in what you can share about the front 14" x 700lbs King coils. I'm currently running OME 886 in front, and even though I like a softer ride I think I could use a little more spring rate for the above average weight I have on the front axle (skids).


Where did you source the springs? If I was to do these coils I would likely do the complete coil-over, unless simply adding the 700-lb spring to my OME strut is an option.

...Snip..........

If your wondering about the front, you can go to a 14"x700lbs King spring and make your Icons extended coil-overs. I have them (King Springs) at home right now and going to be doing the install in a couple weeks at HRT Off-road when I do a rebuild on the Icons.

I'll snap some pictures and show the end result when its done.

More load than the Icon 600lbs spring, less turn up on the collar = less stress on the spring.

 

[heeltoe989]

I'm very interested in what you can share about the front 14" x 700lbs King coils. I'm currently running OME 886 in front, and even though I like a softer ride I think I could use a little more spring rate for the above average weight I have on the front axle (skids).


Where did you source the springs? If I was to do these coils I would likely do the complete coil-over, unless simply adding the 700-lb spring to my OME strut is an option.

Sure!

Well after breaking that first Icon Coil, I started to look around at finding a little bit heavier spring to help deal with the ARB and winch extra weight. I knew that King http://www.kingshocks.com/ made all sorts of coils and started looking through there online catalog and found a 3"x14"x700lbs rate spring on there site which fits a 2.5" coil-over which the Icons are. I just find that Icon should be making a higher rate spring for us guys that run bumpers and winches. the stock springs can't deal with the weight, and I have to keep turning them up a little bit at a time.

I knew they would fit just by the length after doing a rough measure on the Icons on the truck now. When I do the spring change I'm also going to make my Icons into extended coil-overs ( an extra inch of down travel is nice!) slow the rebound a bit and also go to a different weight oil to help with controlling the new springs. I talked with Kevin at HRT Off-road http://www.highrollerztrux.com/ and he sourced them out for me from the King dealer he deals with and voila! New springs arrived 3 weeks later at his shop.

I will be doing the install on the April 25 26 weekend. I hope all goes well and I will have a full update and build on my thread for all you guys to look at!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Sure!

Well after breaking that first Icon Coil, I started to look around at finding a little bit heavier spring to help deal with the ARB and winch extra weight. I knew that King http://www.kingshocks.com/ made all sorts of coils and started looking through there online catalog and found a 3"x14"x700lbs rate spring on there site which fits a 2.5" coil-over which the Icons are. I just find that Icon should be making a higher rate spring for us guys that run bumpers and winches. the stock springs can't deal with the weight, and I have to keep turning them up a little bit at a time.

I knew they would fit just by the length after doing a rough measure on the Icons on the truck now. When I do the spring change I'm also going to make my Icons into extended coil-overs ( an extra inch of down travel is nice!) slow the rebound a bit and also go to a different weight oil to help with controlling the new springs. I talked with Kevin at HRT Off-road http://www.highrollerztrux.com/ and he sourced them out for me from the King dealer he deals with and voila! New springs arrived 3 weeks later at his shop.

I will be doing the install on the April 25 26 weekend. I hope all goes well and I will have a full update and build on my thread for all you guys to look at!

I'm looking forward to these results! :lurk:

 

[Redline]

Not that I haven't read your thread before, but I just subscribed in anticipation of the new front spring report. ☺

Your experiences and opinion regarding front springs are validation of my concerns about ditching the heaviest OME spring available for the front of this application in favor of a fancy "coil-over". I have winch bumper, full skids, heavy Odyssey battery, etc... and don't want to lose lift or be more softly sprung in from by going to something like an Icon, Sway Away, (fill in your choice).

Sure!

Well after breaking that first Icon Coil, I started to look around at finding a little bit heavier spring to help deal with the ARB and winch extra weight. I knew that King http://www.kingshocks.com/ made all sorts of coils and started looking through there online catalog and found a 3"x14"x700lbs rate spring on there site which fits a 2.5" coil-over which the Icons are. I just find that Icon should be making a higher rate spring for us guys that run bumpers and winches. the stock springs can't deal with the weight, and I have to keep turning them up a little bit at a time.

I knew they would fit just by the length after doing a rough measure on the Icons on the truck now. When I do the spring change I'm also going to make my Icons into extended coil-overs ( an extra inch of down travel is nice!) slow the rebound a bit and also go to a different weight oil to help with controlling the new springs. I talked with Kevin at HRT Off-road http://www.highrollerztrux.com/ and he sourced them out for me from the King dealer he deals with and voila! New springs arrived 3 weeks later at his shop.

I will be doing the install on the April 25 26 weekend. I hope all goes well and I will have a full update and build on my thread for all you guys to look at!

 

[heeltoe989]

Not that I haven't read your thread before, but I just subscribed in anticipation of the new front spring report. ☺

Your experiences and opinion regarding front springs are validation of my concerns about ditching the heaviest OME spring available for the front of this application in favor of a fancy "coil-over". I have winch bumper, full skids, heavy Odyssey battery, etc... and don't want to lose lift or be more softly sprung in from by going to something like an Icon, Sway Away, (fill in your choice).

That might be a good option for you. I think your in the same boat as me.

When I broke a coil last year Icon sent me their "new" spring and after I installed them seem to always be turning up these springs. Its only going to be a matter of time before another one breaks. The 600lbs spring they have is just not designed for a bumper and winch. There just not.

The extra 100lbs a side from the Kings will greatly help with the added weight. When I'm done I'm hoping for a full 3" of lift with good down travel.

 

[Dave Bennett]

New Tires

I'm looking at new tires now. I really like the BFG MT KM2 and they come in 255/85R16 although they seem to be back ordered most places I've looked.

I also fancy the Cooper Discoverer STT's.

I'm considering 35's, but most likely will keep them tall and skinny since these BFG's have been such good tires.

Anyone have any suggestions for any other good 255/85R16's or even 35's?

I'm also considering powder coating my wheels black when I've got them off.

 

[FourByLand]

1. Maxxis Bighorn.

2. Factory steelies.

3. Remove Pinstripe.

 

[Jacket]

Like this? :ylsmoke: :sombrero: Not Bighorns - those are on my FJ40.

On the topic of 35's, MTR's tend to run short if you were looking for a "small 35", but I'm sure you've seen what sysiphus had to hack up on his to make them fit. It's tempting for sure....

 

[dodecagon2000]

i have had some weird wearing issues with my 255 cooper st's. not quite sure i would go with them again

 

[Hilux_Max]

Not sure if your considering brands less popular than the big name brands, but I have a couple below you may want to consider.

we all know that BFG,Maxxis,Toyoand Interco Trxus sell the 255/85x16, but since your considering something larger possibly, let me forward you onto the Silverstone MT117's.

They are a Malaysian brand tyre, but are tuff as can be. I run the MT117 Sports on my hilux in 285/75x16, but these aren't the sports, these are plain MT117-

They come in 280/85x16 size , roughly 35x11.5x16

Another brand is Simex, but they are probably too aggressive to your needs-
http://www.dynamictyres.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=106&nav_cat_id=127&nav_top_id=55&dsb=79
The jungle Trekker pictured below is pretty popular amongst serious offroaders here in australia-

You'd have to look at the tyre size spec sheet on the link above but they come in sizes 33.7x11.5x16, 34/11.5x16, 34.3x11.1x16, 34.6x11.5x16

And then we have the Simex Centipede aswell-

And these come in a selection of sizes like, 33.4x10.5x16, 33.3x11.1x16, 34.9x12x16

Im considering getting a spare set of one of the simex's in the future for offroad trips only.

Alternatively, Interco has the SSR which in a 285/75x16 is 33.9x11.3x16, not a bad size, or 35/10.5x16 which is abit bigger.

with a 3" lift, I think you'd be hard pressed to get anything over a 34/10.5x16 working properly with full travel within the guard.

Im pretty sure the blokes that run 35's are not getting full suspension travel and if they do, it would be fouling on the body alot.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Thanks for posting those Max, not sure if we get Simex tyres here in USA but I really like the Jungle Trekker :drool: