opinions on rear suspensions...

[someday]

Hopefully by the end of summer I will be able to upgrade my suspension. I have a '09 dcsb tacoma and I am looking for more function over fashion, which means >2". From what I have read tacoma's have a tendency to suffer drive line vibrations with anything over 3", and there is a 50/50 chance starting with 3". My driving consists of light off roading, no rock crawling. Usually if i'm off road (whether its just a fire road or something that requires you pay attention to wheel placement) I will be towing a 1500 lb. teardrop (with about 150-200 lb. tongue weight), cap, soon to have drawer system and couple hundred pounds of gear. This means that when loaded, the back end sags, and when 4wl is needed, I can usually feel the frame tap the bump stops. This is after I got the TSB AAL. With all that being said, I would love to hear what you guys suggest. I am a low maintenance, 'one and done' type of guy. The truck will be paid off shortly and I plan on keeping it for another 4-15 years! Somebody on a different forum ONLY recommended firestone airbags. I have a slight understanding on how they work. They go between the frame and leafs and acts a additional support, but do you have to inflate/deflate when in use? I have heard of them getting ripped, is that common?


I was thinking on Billie 5100's all around, fronts would get placed at the .85 setting. I know the back is not adjustable.
http://toyteclifts.com/index.php?pa...tegory_id=117&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72


For the back, like I said, Air bags were recommended. But I was thinking of new leaf pack all together or can I do another AAL? Is that overkill? I dont mind if the truck is not level for everyday driving. With the allproofroad.com, I was thinking expedition leaf springs. However, the fact that you get 3" lift raises a caution flag because of possible drive line issues.

http://toyteclifts.com/index.php?pa...tegory_id=116&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72

https://www.allprooffroad.com/05tacomarearsuspension/05tacomaleafsprings

I would like to keep this around $1000-1200 installed (NOT any higher than $1500), so $$$ is a factor. Let me know if you guys think i'm nuts for thinking it can be done for under $1200.

Cant wait to hear what you guy suggest, thanks!
:bowdown:

 

[deadbeat son]

Alcan Spring will build a spring pack to your specifications. Tell them the vehicle, weight, and lift height and they'll nail it.

Are you looking for + 2" with the weight, or are you looking for + 2" unloaded and stock loaded? Either way, I'm sure they (or a similar company) can get you dialed in well within your budget.

 

[someday]

Alcan Spring will build a spring pack to your specifications. Tell them the vehicle, weight, and lift height and they'll nail it.

Are you looking for + 2" with the weight, or are you looking for + 2" unloaded and stock loaded? Either way, I'm sure they (or a similar company) can get you dialed in well within your budget.

Do you know roughly how much they run?

As far as lift goes? I would say 1.5-2" before loaded.

 

[Clutch]

Oh depends, are you always loaded or does it live life mostly as a daily driver...somewhere in-between?

Couple ways on going about it. Bags are decent option, but add complexity to the system, going to need to buy a compressor and a storage tank too. Or you can build the springs heavier than you need, and carry a little ballast around when not loaded.

There will always be a compromise between ride quality and load capacity.

 

[deadbeat son]

Do you know roughly how much they run?

PM Sent.

 

[someday]

Oh depends, are you always loaded or does it live life mostly as a daily driver...somewhere in-between?

Couple ways on going about it. Bags are decent option, but add complexity to the system, going to need to buy a compressor and a storage tank too. Or you can build the springs heavier than you need, and carry a little ballast around when not loaded.

There will always be a compromise between ride quality and load capacity.

Always have couple hundred pounds in the back, between the cap, and just miscellaneous crap (and by winter hopefully a drawer system). The truck is my daily driver. Truck is an 09 w/around 37,000 miles and 10,000+ are traveling/camping/towing the teardrop. Point being, between a 1/4-1/3 of the time its weighted down. The ride while weighted is more important than the ride unweighted.

Not really interested in air bags. On another forum, thats the only thing people recommended.

As far as the compromise between ride quality and load capacity, my priorities are leaning more towards load capacity than ride quality.

Thanks for the input.

:coffeedrink:

 

[someday]

PM Sent.

thanks for the info. Very informative, and actually exactly what I was looking for.

 

[WASURF63]

Can't go wrong with an OME suspension upgrade for it's durability, simplicity, and cost effective quality.
LOTS of guys here can chime in positively on this one. Some prefer a mix of components with OME springs, and others like myself have run the entire OME/Dakar HD setup on thier Tacomas.
If you're leaning more toward custom Alcan (or Deaver) rear springs, add some Timbrens
for your frequent heavy duty needs, since you're not too keen on airbags. http://www.timbren.com/

Walt

 

[sandjunkie]

Just ordered and installed a custom pack from Alcan. 4inch lift. Ride is amazing!!! They can be custom made for whatever load capacity you are looking for. $600 to my door.

 

[upcountry]

I really like the AllPro expo springs I picked up last fall. They have a really nice ride and have not settled too much.

Only complaints are poor powder coat (they salt roads here now because of whining city people so it may just be the road salts eating the paint and its only mild surface rust I am just anal about rust) and no ebrake cable retentiin clip hole in spring alignment brakckett. This is just an oversight and can be fixed but I would have preferred it to be as close to OEM bolt on as possible.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/69515-Just-installed-AllPro-Expo-Leaf-Springs/page3

 

[someday]

I think I will be going with the OME Dakars w/Billie 5100's.

I found a shop nearby that will install them for around $500. The shop was recommended to me by a buddy of mine that has had them do work on two of his vehicles. When I walked in, the first sales person was a lady that told me that OME parts were "junk and you are only buying the name" plus they only carried lifts for tacoma's from 4-6 inches! Then she lectured me how "if those billy's have three settings you have to tell us which setting you want it on before we install them. Changing the setting isn't that simples people just assume that real easy to switch bla bla bla" This was AFTER I told her I wanted the .85 setting. She then informed me that I really have to question the people 'writing on those forums'. After several minutes she asked if I wanted to talk to the owner which I quickly replied "gladly!" The owner and I talked for a couple minutes, he looked up the parts on line, made a couple phone calls right there and said, "yup, no problem, the price you can get them for is the price we will charge you (if you wanted us to order them for you)".

I will hopefully have enough saved up by the end of summer. My Taco is a SLOOOOOW build. After suspension, some type of front recovery points, then a drawer system, then a dual battery+Luna refridge then a...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Can't go wrong with an OME suspension upgrade for it's durability, simplicity, and cost effective quality.
LOTS of guys here can chime in positively on this one. Some prefer a mix of components with OME springs, and others like myself have run the entire OME/Dakar HD setup on thier Tacomas.
If you're leaning more toward custom Alcan (or Deaver) rear springs, add some Timbrens
for your frequent heavy duty needs, since you're not too keen on airbags. http://www.timbren.com/

Walt

x2