Tacoma For Work - Pics?

[mattcron]

My 2000 tacoma just got totaled by an idiot 14 year old in a "borrowed" car. So I just bought an 06 full cab long bed trd sport. I'm a landscaper and I'm constantly hauling mulch and other materials. Any suggestions on a suspension upgrade to increase the weight capacity of the bed? I had an AAL on the last truck that worked fine but I wanted to measure options.

Let's see pictures of your work trucks: racks, custom boxes, suspension, etc. I need some ideas.

Thanks

[NorCalTaco]

Im gonna be nice and be the first to say, you have allot of reading to do.

Start searching

[gtrotter]

Get some OME dakar springs.

[BeachBoy]

the most hardcore I've seen is this one

http://ttora.com/forum/showpost.php?...postcount=9691

not that's it's even close to good looking

[Tempo]

Sorry your truck got crunched.

I've got the Thule 375 with the 397 over the cab extension. On the 5' bed the extension covers half the cab. (I think they spec it at 42" forward of the cross member.) Great rack, I love it. The stock photos look a little different than mine does.

[Blaise]

OME Dakars will handle the extra weight but be warned they will lift the truck ~2" so you will need to lift the front 2-2.5".

THere are a number of racks, organizers, and headache racks out there just do some research before you buy as to how they load the bed. These composite beds have their weak point and an improperly designed rack will cause you issues. Most notably, the tailgate seams to be a weak point so be careful if you ever try to load a pallet in the bed that you don't set it on the tailgate.

[steelheader]

If you were going to haul any weight I would have thought a 3/4 or 1 ton would have been in order. If you were ok with your old tacoma, I suppose a set of airbags on the new one would probably do it.

[RelentlessTaco]

check out my setup:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...-build-up.html

[81drabpu]

Do you want to lift the truck? If so then an AAL will help. Also, whether you lift the rear or not, a set of TIMBRENs will keep the rear from sagging too much when loaded.

[mattcron]

I don't have a firm opinion on whether or not to lift the truck. I don't mind lifting it if necessary, but only if it is necessary for work. As to why I didn't get a bigger truck, the power of the tacoma is plenty, the suspension is the limitation. Doesn't really seem to make sense to buy more engine and body than I need for that. What can I say, I love tacomas.

Do those timbrens really work? They seem kinda hokey, but worth a try if you say so. 2.5 inches seems like a lot of lift. I'll do some reading on the effects of that much lift on mpg, which AAL or airbags are best, etc.

any further advise appreciated... thx

[S.B.]

if you don't want to lift it then get airbags (sorry don't know which ones are best, never used them).

[mattcron]

checking into airbags now.. can anyone second that timbren thing?

[mattcron]

After reading threads on suspension, it sounds like the firestone airbag system is a tested, good option. My one hesitation is not wanting to have to adjust air levels all the time. i'm constantly getting mulch or stone in the bed, and really don't feel like tinkering with the suspension like 5 times a day. The AAL on my last truck did the job, but def. made a bumpy ride. I'd like to retain the nice ride quality on the 06. Still trying to find more info on those timbrens.

[goofballtech]

Originally Posted by mattcron

After reading threads on suspension, it sounds like the firestone airbag system is a tested, good option. My one hesitation is not wanting to have to adjust air levels all the time. i'm constantly getting mulch or stone in the bed, and really don't feel like tinkering with the suspension like 5 times a day. The AAL on my last truck did the job, but def. made a bumpy ride. I'd like to retain the nice ride quality on the 06. Still trying to find more info on those timbrens.

Most of the air bag systems have a few options.

You can get the manual set up (much tinkering for load changes).....

Or you could get something that auto levels. One factor to consider in an auto level stup is to make sure they have a built in circuit for a delay on the level, one of the problems that came about after the auto-leveling stuff first came out was that when taking a corner on the highway the truck would truck to try to level out and it sucks a$$ with your truck trying to level itself while you are traveling 55 in a long bend in the road.

*Edit - another consideration when comparing these two types. The manual can be done using an external air source if needed. The Auto would need an on board air compressor to work to it's full potential.

[hrtbrk1]

Originally Posted by gtrotter

Get some OME dakar springs.

i would beg to differ and say dont. They hold more weight than most lifting springs but still squat under the load of things such as four wheelers and jet skis. so if your gonna be hauling weight equivalent to that, they will be shot in no time

[goofballtech]

Originally Posted by hrtbrk1

i would beg to differ and say dont. They hold more weight than most lifting springs but still squat under the load of things such as four wheelers and jet skis. so if your gonna be hauling weight equivalent to that, they will be shot in no time

Alcan would be my first and only option for springs. If you need to haul then they can make them however you would like. But they would be stiff as hell when unloaded.

IMHO, for a dynamic load range on a truck that DD/work but not wheeled. Air bags would be the best all-around option.

[BeachBoy]

Originally Posted by goofballtech

Alcan would be my first and only option for springs. If you need to haul then they can make them however you would like. But they would be stiff as hell when unloaded.

IMHO, for a dynamic load range on a truck that DD/work but not wheeled. Air bags would be the best all-around option.

x2, couldn't have said it better myself.

Alcan can make it exactly to your specs, but expect to be bouncy when empty! You def. need airbags

[bluzharp]

Originally Posted by hrtbrk1

i would beg to differ and say dont. They hold more weight than most lifting springs but still squat under the load of things such as four wheelers and jet skis. so if your gonna be hauling weight equivalent to that, they will be shot in no time

The Dakars work great and they hold up better than a lot of springs. With a load, they squat down to the overloads, then they hold just fine. These trucks are not 3/4 ton trucks, they are not even 1/2 ton trucks so loading 1000# on a regular basis is going to be hard on them in the long run. I haul 700# of dirt bikes often and over 3 years, the OME's are just fine.

[johnecon2001]

If you do decide to get a new leaf pack.. I would have to say go with Alcan. They custom build all the packs to your needs.
So if you need a pack that provides no lift but holds more weight, they can give you that.

I have a custom 6 pack on my truck along with the Timbren bump stops.

[Zwoehr]

I haul materials with my truck. The stock rear suspension sucked bad. Just the weight of my canopy and ladder rack had it on the overloads. I installed a Icon 3 leaf AAL, Timbrens, and Bilstein 5100's. Now it handles loads on the rack and weight in the back with no issues and it drives much better than it did when it was stock and empty. Only problem, the rear is 3" higher than the front now. I'm about to solve that with a set of 5100's up front though.

[mattcron]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this truck's stock suspension is worse than my 00 4-banger's was. Do you have any pics Zwoehr?

[mattcron]

spent all day saturday hauling between 2k and 10k pounds. Brakes and suspension definitely the limitation, well before the engine. Will be addressing the suspension very soon. Donno about the brakes, but they don't feel great without weight....

[toymota]

Every pest control truck or gaming/soda machine truck I have seen (that were tacos) had add-on overloads or airbags. A few of them even have tommylifts (gate lift). I didn't know they made them for small trucks till I saw that.

Things I have seen that were worthless are those autozone helper systems. One kind is a bolt on leaf that goes on top of yours. The other is coil springs that attach to your shocks.

My vote for you is this:

If you will constantly be hauling the weight (such as mounting a welder to it) - then go to a spring shop and have some custom packs built to your needs. This way there is no guess work and if it sags there is a warranty.

If you will just add weight now and again (or even regularly) - but the load is often removed, then airbags are the way to go.

If those trucks have the same frame issues as the older ones, then you might consider addressing that now also. Work trucks often get abused for "that one job" - and if you anticipate this ever being an issue it is worth looking into anyway.

One last thing that came to mind. My '05 had the rear TSB leafs installed and it made a ton of difference. That puss of a truck couldn't haul a bedmat without smacking the bumpstops over a small dip in the road. After the TSB springs, it was quite respectable. If I remember right some of the '06's needed this also. Maybe a better factory-like pack is all you need. (just something else to research).

[Zwoehr]

Originally Posted by mattcron

spent all day saturday hauling between 2k and 10k pounds. Brakes and suspension definitely the limitation, well before the engine. Will be addressing the suspension very soon. Donno about the brakes, but they don't feel great without weight....

You need a super duty to haul that kind of weight! Payload for a stock Tacoma is only 650lbs. If you are really hauling 10,000lbs at a time your suspension is going to need some major overhauling. New leaf pack, airbags, super heavy duty shocks and it will ride like crap when it's empty.

I like my setup for occasional heavy (less than 2000lbs) loads but if I were even thinking about carrying that kind of weight I'd get a bigger truck or just pay for delivery.

I attached some pics of how the truck sits with the 3leaf AAL. I think a single AAL is better for raising your load capacity though. With the 3leaf you remove your overload leaf or get 5"-6" of lift instead of 1 or 2.

[bluzharp]

Originally Posted by mattcron

spent all day saturday hauling between 2k and 10k pounds. Brakes and suspension definitely the limitation, well before the engine. Will be addressing the suspension very soon. Donno about the brakes, but they don't feel great without weight....

I seriously doubt you put 10000# in the bed of a Tacoma. The maximum weight you should even tow with a trailer is 6500# with the tow package. If you need to put 2000# in the bed of a pickup, you need a different truck. You will never turn one of these into a 1 ton or 5 ton truck no matter how much you do. The bearings, brakes, suspension, frame, engine, and transmission is not strong enough. I'm not saying you couldn't get away with going a short distance with a ton of crap in your truck, it's just not a good thing.

[mattcron]

no, obviously i didn't have 10k pounds in the bed - not sure how to do that?? fill it with concrete?

I pulled a 2k dump trailer with 7800 lbs of compost in it. Weighed in and out. Got 13+ mpgs too, not bad for that weight.

Zwoehr, payload for a stock tacoma is twice that - around 1300 give or take depending on package.

I am aware that I need to modify at least the suspension for this type of work, hence the post. In my 00 4-banger taco with an extra leaf I routinely hauled 1-ton pallets in the bed without an issue. Sounds like some are underestimating these trucks.

I'm looking at leaf packs and 5100s now.

[bluzharp]

Originally Posted by mattcron

Sounds like some are underestimating these trucks.

I'm looking at leaf packs and 5100s now.

You should be looking at a Tundra. If you rear end some poor slob with a 5 ton trailer behind your mid sized truck, 1 3/4 tons over the manufacturer's weight rating, while engaged in commercial business, you will be living a nightmare. The same exact thing happened to my daughter. Some jackass in a way overloaded truck couldn't slow down in a traffic jam and smashed into her. You are trying to do something that the truck is not designed to do.

As far as underestimating these trucks, personally, I think the GVWR is optimistic. Will it pull or haul gobs of shit? Of course it will. Should you do it on a routine basis? I don't think so. You will probably get away with running that way for a long time, but if you don't, the consequences can be dire.

By the way, my daughter's back is fucked up for life. Be responsible.

[mattcron]

jesus dude. you're assuming a lot regarding the context and setting of my work - distances traveled, type of roads, etc.

details before conclusions...

[steelheadhunter]

Originally Posted by mattcron

jesus dude. you're assuming a lot regarding the context and setting of my work - distances traveled, type of roads, etc.

details before conclusions...

You said you spend all day hauling between 2k and 10k on a trailer? Bluzharp is right. If you do this all the time you are flat out going to trash your tacoma. If you drive on the public road (you didnt say if you did or didnt, but most would assume you do) you are dangerous.

When I got our of the trades I sold my F250 and bought a tacoma because I didnt need to work it any more. I cant imagine buying a tacoma (or even a half ton pickup) for a serious work truck if you really haul 10k and expect your truck to last.

[mattcron]

OK, I was asking for suggestions for my tacoma. The specs on the pre 07 tundras are pretty darn similar to those of my taco with regard to towing and payload. I can't afford a new on. I'm a farmer and about twice a year I spend all day hauling compost, chicken shit, and other garden materials from a farm up the road. I get the materials for free in exchange for hauling it. I'm aware of the limitations of my truck - namely brakes, and the consequent fact that I should refrain from driving on trafficked public roads.

So, back to the original topic (thanks for the obvious moral lessons)... Seems like I'm leaning toward Alcan leaf. Zwoehr, you're suggesting that a single, additional leaf may better suit my needs. That's what I had on my last truck and I loved it. I wish I had the number for the shop that did it for me.

Looks like the 5100's will even the front of my truck out after the additional leafs in the back. Any major objections to that setup?

On the brakes, it doesn't look like their are many affordable options. Talking to my mechanic about it tomorrow.