For those with Decked/Shell/extra weight, what's your rear setup?

What are you all running in the back? Looking for input on how you use it and how it rides. Trying to decide......

Awhile back I put in a decked system and shell and ended up with a slight rear rake.
I don' have an exact weight for the A.R.E CX HD but i'm guessing 175-200 lbs. The decked system is listed at 220lbs dry. I've probably got 50lbs of gear in there.
Total weight around 470-ish i the rear.
Front is a little heavier than stock with Cat protection skid plate, Group 57 battery. probably an extra 75lbs.

I ended up over the summers with an RTT at 140 additional lbs. This created a huge sag in the back.
For a quick fix I added RideRite bags which leveled it. The ride isn't too bad but I'm currently shopping for my new setup.

Current suspension Setup :
-RC 3", stock springs and Ride Rites.
I purchased the truck and previous owner had a Rough Country 2.5-3" with 2 shims on each side for a total of 3" front lift and helper springs with 1" rear lift. The helper springs had to be removed when I installed the airbags. They sucked anyways, lol.

Current rake:
With airbags @25-30psi 1/4" front to back. Pretty much level.

Current Wheels(came with truck): 305/55/20's on Method 20x9 +25mm offset. Front mudflap trimmed.

I have been been in analysis paralysis for MONTHS.


What have you all done?

Prior to airbags


Current setup.

 

I have decked and shell running OME Dakar leafs with OME add a leaf and Dobinson shocks.

 

Ok I’ve been reading about DOB’s. I’m measuring this morning but I think the airbags are extending farther (or at limit) than the stock shocks should be good for. Currently looking at an Elka setup, but not sure if I’m keeping the airbags or going with a leaf pack. The Dakar is what I was looking at. How’s the ride with those leafs? Soft and compliant or stiff ?

 

I recommend Dobinsons rear leaf pack and shocks. They’re within reason and they aren’t as known for creaking as OME I have the heavy pack and love it, sure the medium would ride better when unloaded though. Think @crikeymike should be able to help ya! I don’t think you’ll even need the airbags with the right springs.

 

Ok I’ll look into those as well.
Thanks!

 

This is why I needed the heavies FYI. Think the medium would be awesome for most overlanding applications.

 

I have the @DECKEDUSA system and a Leitner designs rack. I have Icon rear reservoir shocks, coachbuilder +3 shackles and firestone airbags.

 

Have you noticed your leafs flattening out with shackles and airbags only?

 

Not at all. However I have a 2019 and it only has 9500 miles on it. So that is not a lot of time for it to settle.

 

Yeah I can see that. I need to see more Tundras in real life and compare their springs to mine. I only have 15k-ish with the decked and shell.

 

Leer 100XR, Prinsu style rack, 1up Bike Rack and camping gear-loaded Decked system here.

I have Coachbuilder +3, Firestone bags w/ Daystar Cradles with Bilstein 5160. My truck has 67K on it, with the original leafs. The leafs are beginning to look flatter to me, but I don't remember what they looked like prior. Saving $$ to probably upgrade to Alcan springs or something heavier duty later this year.

 

I like the smaller wheels on your truck. Getting rid of the 20's is on my list as well. I'm thinking the airbags I have are a great addition to varying loads, like an RTT or camping equipment for a road trip. I will always have the decked system and the shell though , so another leaf pack may be the best option. Now the rabbit hole I go, leafs, shocks, coilers, and a new 1up rack

 

I went Alcan +500. Comes with poly bushings and you can pick the additional lift height you want.

 

What was the ballpark cost on those things?

 

$800 plus $200 shipping roughly

 

Agree a thousand percent. 17 inch wheels vs 20s is night and day. I also love the Firestone bags. Some days my decked system is empty and my Leitner rack has nothing in storage. So I just hit pre saved setting 1. Done. Full load for hunting and camping, preset 2, done. Totally worth it.

 

Here’s a rough breakdown of the weight on my truck

SDHQ hidden winch mount 60lb
Xeon warn 10K winch. 80lb
SDHQ sliders 100lb
48g transfer flow fuel tank 250lb
Snugtop shell 210lb
RCI Transfercase skidplate40lb
Decked Drawer system210lb
Tools/recovery/survival. 180lb

Alcan custom springs and 2”CB shackles have given me a bit of rake and about
2 1/2” of lift. The ride is about the same now as it was when new and un-loaded. I’m sure the ride would be rough without the weight but it’s always there

 

That's not to bad.

 

Yeah it all adds up quick. I'm not running the front weight as heavy as you yet, but was considering some slider/steps and Skid plate in the near future.
Way cheaper to leave it just airbags and get some shackles but I'm really leaning towards adding new leafs for the constant weight. The good thing is I can do this in stages.

@gosolo and @Bronzeback Did Alcan take the shackles into consideration when making your leaf pack? I travelled in a wormhole looking at all things leaf spring, shackle length, angle, and how it all effects each other.

 

I started this whole process by deciding to get rid of the spacer lift. Then it brought me to wheels, rear setup, etc. I contemplated keeping the method 20's that came on the truck because I just didn't
find anything that I really wanted. But I'm kinda close with the Method 316's. We'll see.

My RideRites and cradles are awesome just for those varying loads. Literally when we rode trip we have 4 bikes @30 lbs each, 100lb black lab, all out tools and camping gear, and water. I'm conservative when I say and additional 400lbs on top of the addiotnal constant weight of accessories at 500. No way I could cross that varying load gap without them. It would ride good half the time. Funny story, I found them online and installed them myself. The plates are side dependent and I never saw that in the instructions , nor saw anything labeled. After installation they were way off like two footballs stacked and leaning. This forum helped me out. Then I had the wireless setup mounters to a plate by the rear tire. Turns out this location is about 3' to far. I have to get out to use the controller. I'll redo it soon. Just a PITA. Good thing is my initial preset still works when the truck is turned on.

 

I considered alcan springs, but I got some sage advice and now couldn’t agree more. Why buy a custom solution when there’s an off the shelf product that will do the job like OME or Dobinsons. My Alcan price was also significantly more than that, but I think it depends on the lift and weight you’re asking for. Sure the alcan springs are nice, but when you call them with a newish Tundra you can tell that is not their normal client. They are used to replacing old Springs and/or people who truly need a custom solution that off the shelf products won’t work for.

 

yeah the OME and Dobs are definitely wallet friendly. I’m currently vascillating between Elka, Billy’s, TRD , OME, and Dobs for all four corners and how each plays with each other if I mix and match. Trying to keep it reasonably priced and something with longevity. I’m just not seeing a use for remote reservoirs aka Kings/UCa’s and all that, for what I do.

 

High percentile of us on the forum will not need those features. Some get them because they can or they want them. I agree with you. I have the Tundras.com Bilstein 6112 on top setting up front and icons in the rear instead of the 5160 because the icons have a little more travel which matters to me with the airbags. You are smart to save money on those items though and in the end only you know you and how you will use those items vs if you need those items.

 

This solution is definitely not for everyone. For me, it was worth it because I expect my tundra will be the last truck I own. It will easily last another 20 years. As of now I only have about 19,000miles on it. This being the case, the Alcan springs are worth the price

 

They didn't, but it doesn't look like it matters. The +500 brought me back to stock height..so the +2 shackles will raise me up 1.25" over stock. I worked it out with them on the phone, and didn't ask for additional lift height since I haven't decided (and still haven't) on what lift I'm going with. Debating between 0-2" Elka, 2-3" Elka, and TRD Pro Fox. Won't go over 2" in front, but need the lift in the rear for some rake since I also tow my boat.

 

Got it. Yeah I’m debating the Elka’s
Also. But the TRD pro stuff looks good. Just expensive. I just sent Elka an email but haven’t heard back yet. I was wondering , to get 2” in front,
If it would make more sense for their 2-3” and loosen the tension vs. getting the 0-2” and adding a bunch of preload to crank them up... I’ll let you know what they say.

 

Thank you. I called and left two messages trying to ask the same question. Don't want to have to go with new UCA and won't go above 2".

 

I have a large Aluminum ARE cap on my 2002 Long bed, the cap and the bed have been sprayed with Line-X and I have a thick rubber bed mat inside... all of that totals a few hundred lbs. My load of gear and supplies is typically 500 to 800 lbs. With the exception of the Hellwig anti roll bar, the suspension and tires are stock.

I have a full Air-Lift kit for the truck, but I never installed it because I stopped towing a trailer.

 

I dig the interior room of your shell. That’s a pretty impressive stance on stock suspension with all the weight.

The one benefit for my RideRites is I was able to set the air pressure lower or higher on each side to level out my sleeping platform on uneven surfaces this summer. Worked out well.

 

I think we are heading down the same road.
It’s a process for me for sure. I think the steps I’m going to take are , figure out my front suspension (bringing it down from 3” to 2”). But to do this I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to swap out tires and or rims. But that’s a process in itself with an educated guess with an oversized , no rub setup .

Then, see what my stance is and configure the back for the weight and if I need a lift at all for the load; then go from there. I would love to do it all in one shot but there are too many variables for me.