Dipodomys
Observer
Greetings Good People!
I come to you seeking your wisdom and experience regarding suspension upgrades for 2005 and up Tacoma suspensions. I am in possession of a bone stock 2008 Doublecab Shortbed 4x4 with the Offroad package. The stock suspension provides a comfy ride whilst cruising the boulevards but has definite limitations once the going gets rough. Those of you who own one of these fine machines know what I am talking about, but the basic summary of deficiencies are as follows:
1. Low-Ride-Er: Not enough clearance, especially for a vehicle with a 128-inch wheelbase.
2. Cargo Capacity: On a recent camping trip with just a moderate load (just myself and maybe 400 pounds of water and gear), the rear end of the truck sagged to the point where there was only one-inch of of travel between the axle and the bumpstops. Needless to say, the truck bottomed out quite a bit, and the sagging problem only added to the aforementioned clearance limitations. Even light loads, say a couple of people sitting in the back seat, adds to this problem.
All of this being said, the solution is obviously a quality suspension upgrade composed of rear leaf springs, front coil springs, and appropriately matched shocks and struts. My ultimate goal is to gain approximately 3 inches of lift, minimal sagging under moderate to heavy loads, and a halfway decent ride when empty. Eventually I plan to install an ARB bullbar and winch on the front of the vehicle. Add a camper shell and I don't envision much more in the way of heavy accessories. The end product will be a vehicle capable of handling a moderate amount of camping gear/water/fuel, etc. on a 7 to 14-day trip to Baja or similar destination.
So, what do you folks suggest? I am prepared to spend up to $1,800 on the upgrade, but of course less would be preferable, and I would install it myself. I've seen reference to a variety of setups and manufacturers on this discussion board, but would like to know the relative merits and deficiencies of each. I have always been impressed with ARB products, and they offer a complete setup for between $1,000 and $1,300, depending on where you buy. I have also checked out Deavers, Danello, Donohue, etc. Who has experience with these products? What do you love and what do you hate? What would you do differently if you could do it over again? Any constructive advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
I come to you seeking your wisdom and experience regarding suspension upgrades for 2005 and up Tacoma suspensions. I am in possession of a bone stock 2008 Doublecab Shortbed 4x4 with the Offroad package. The stock suspension provides a comfy ride whilst cruising the boulevards but has definite limitations once the going gets rough. Those of you who own one of these fine machines know what I am talking about, but the basic summary of deficiencies are as follows:
1. Low-Ride-Er: Not enough clearance, especially for a vehicle with a 128-inch wheelbase.
2. Cargo Capacity: On a recent camping trip with just a moderate load (just myself and maybe 400 pounds of water and gear), the rear end of the truck sagged to the point where there was only one-inch of of travel between the axle and the bumpstops. Needless to say, the truck bottomed out quite a bit, and the sagging problem only added to the aforementioned clearance limitations. Even light loads, say a couple of people sitting in the back seat, adds to this problem.
All of this being said, the solution is obviously a quality suspension upgrade composed of rear leaf springs, front coil springs, and appropriately matched shocks and struts. My ultimate goal is to gain approximately 3 inches of lift, minimal sagging under moderate to heavy loads, and a halfway decent ride when empty. Eventually I plan to install an ARB bullbar and winch on the front of the vehicle. Add a camper shell and I don't envision much more in the way of heavy accessories. The end product will be a vehicle capable of handling a moderate amount of camping gear/water/fuel, etc. on a 7 to 14-day trip to Baja or similar destination.
So, what do you folks suggest? I am prepared to spend up to $1,800 on the upgrade, but of course less would be preferable, and I would install it myself. I've seen reference to a variety of setups and manufacturers on this discussion board, but would like to know the relative merits and deficiencies of each. I have always been impressed with ARB products, and they offer a complete setup for between $1,000 and $1,300, depending on where you buy. I have also checked out Deavers, Danello, Donohue, etc. Who has experience with these products? What do you love and what do you hate? What would you do differently if you could do it over again? Any constructive advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
