Roadmaster Active suspension review

Does anyone have any experience with the RAS at full stuff on the suspension in a off-road situation? Does it limit up travel? I know in theory it would but I haven't seen anyone confirm this in a real life scenario.
Thanks in advance.

 

I see you are running air bags as well, Can I ask why you are running both and if you like both?

 

Those aren't airbags, they are SumoSprings. Basically an extended bump stop

 

reporting back here. After my cross country and Baja trip I can confidently say that these were not enough suspension for the payload of the GFC camper and gear in the truck. The leafs are flat and the suspension bottoms out off-road pretty regularly. The handling isn’t bad, but there’s definitely sag.

not sure what the next move is.

 

Bummer. I’ve had about the same weight as you mention in mine. Were you running the HD version of the RAS dialed in to the max setting (larger spacer)?

 

This, and also the stock springs flatten easily, my Dobinsons are holding up well towing a ~7k lbs travel trailer with family up front and gear in the bed. I have my RAS HD set at the minimum setting.

 

Yeah, I installed the HD version to the max spacer right off the bat. I’m probably close to 700lbs back there in the bed, I even tried shifting all the heavy shit towards the center of the vehicle.

I have nothing against the RAS I just think at this weight, it’s too much for the stock leafs. I think a leaf upgrade perhaps in conjunction with the RAS could be the move. One of the guys suggested Alcan from an off-road shop in San Diego, I know this forum really likes deavers. The tricky part is balancing the lighter unweighted truck…

 

Airbags?

 

I only have the regular Dobinsons not the “HD” version of them, but if memory serves their capacity is +150lbs each over stock. I’m hoping the RAS HD helps prolong their life and with our narrow Tundra leaf spring size I’m under no illusion they’ll last forever, but so far so good! For reference, I have ~2500 miles with some gear in the bed and towing the 7000lb trailer and ~26,000 total miles on the springs.
I’ve already posted this but I’ll repeat, the ride is much better unloaded and loaded with the Dobinsons + RAS HD setup. The ICON 2.0 VS shocks I got from Demello round out my rear suspension in the rear(2.5 VS CDCV’s in the front), and I love the setup!

 

Can you add a link for the Dobinsons please?

 

Here are the standard leafs. For pistolpete, he’d want to add the additional leaf to make them the HD leafs. L59-120-R vs the L59-121-R(HD) model numbers.
https://exitoffroad.com/product/dobinsons-l59-120-r-rear-leaf-springs-pair-for-toyota-tundra/

 

I installed Fox 2.0 in the front and rear. Nothing more. The length of the 2.0 rears is a longer shock that probably adds negligible amounts of lift.

I’ve taken all the weight out of the bed since being home and the truck drives pretty great empty with my current setup. Those dobinsons might do the trick to just slightly boost payload back there.

 

Has anyone experienced driveline vibrations just after takeoff with RAS?

 

I have not, but I am only at the 25% spring rate. Are you at the 40%? If so, that amount of lift could be causing your vibrations. If you can try dropping to the 25% and seeing if it goes away, that might help figure out what's going on.

 

Thanks. I will keep that in mind. Although the CB 0-2” carrier bearing drop kit is cheap enough to just try that first. Should be a lot faster than adjusting the RAS.

 

I would do the CB kit definitely. It will take you 5 minutes to install.

 

Agreed if he's at the 40% mark.

Yea don't disagree with that...are you at the 40% (black puck) or the 25%?

 

Honestly, you could probably just thrown some washers on there and try it out before commiting to the kit. You should have enough thread on the stock bolts to get a decent amount of washers in there. But, if you are getting the vibrations then you plainly just need the drop anyway so the kit wont be wasted.

 

I went with the thicker disc, think it is the black one.

 

When I set it with black shim with factory shackle or white shim with toytec 1” shackle and bed empty, there’s a little vibration at takeoff..

 

HD kit ordered, $76 off

 

Black shim with new Eibach 2.0s all the way around, really happy overall so far. Getting alignment dialed in next weekend, then hooking up the trailer next weekend for the real test.

 

I'm looking at these as a possible solution to a situation I have. Maybe someone who knows more about these then I do can help me out here. I have a 2019 crewmax with a 4" Pro Comp bracket lift installed. I bought the truck with the lift already installed. It's not the rout I would have chosen to go but it's on the truck so I will work with it. I'm doing some upgrades with new coil overs up front and shocks in the rear. At the moment the rear of the truck is squatting. I don't know if the rear has always been this way or if the spring pack has lost some of it's springyness, if that's even a word. But regardless the rear sits at least one inch lower then the front and is something I want to fix. It uses a block under the axel to achieve lift. Here is what it looks like under the truck.



So here is my thinking. First get rid of the spacer block. Then get some Coach Builder or equivalent shackles. Lastly get a set of these Roadmaster active hooky loows.

So my questions would be first, is there any advantage to getting rid of the spacer block and going with the CB shackles? I'm assuming there is.

If I do get rid of the spacer block and go CB what size CB shackles will I need to bring the rear up to level with the 4" front lift if combined with the Roadmasters? I gather they will add an additional 1 1/2" of lift all by themselves?

Will the Roadmasters help correct for a flat or sagging leaf pack?

Being a contractor my truck can see some pretty heavy loads put in the bed and I'm not always, but often enough, pulling fairly heavy trailers. One such heavy load I recently hauled may have caused the rear to sag or it might have been that way from the start and I just didn't recognize it but it is definitely squatting. I've had the truck for almost a year now and I'm thinking I would have noticed before if it was squatting but it isn't something that is really obvious unless you are looking at it from a little ways away you might not even realize it. So I don't know. I might need a new leaf pack but I'm already going to be spending a small fortune on the new shocks and coil overs and I don't want to have to spend money I don't have to at this point so.

Does it look like the leaf pack is going flat from the pics? I really can't tell.

Although the lift kit should have supplied larger bump stops it looks like the ones I have on the truck are the stock factory bump stops. So I should probably put new stops on my grocery list.

If someone could help answer my questions I would appreciate it. I'm a total newb when it comes to all of this off road suspension stuff. All I know is this stuff is expensive I don't want to waste my money buying things that aren't going to meet my expectations or won't work so I'm trying to do my research before shelling out the cash.

 

I think it is better to get new leaf spring at this point

 

This. If your stock leaf springs are toast, start there. I’m not a spring expert but if the truck is sagging, it’s sagging and you probably have your answer? The RAS will supplement your new leaf pack but they’re not primary suspension parts. New leafs with 1/2-1” lift less than you want with the RAS HD added will get you where you want to be.

 

I strongly cautioned using Roadmaster with a lift block. RAS puts a lot of pressure on that area. That pressure can also cause the axle to rotate upwards so the driveline will move towards the bed of the truck and causing vibrations and it can cause misalignment, shifting or worst failure of the u bolts.

Looking at that picture, don't use longer shackles. The springs are flat already and with longer shackle it will allow the top spring, which is hooked up to the shackle, to bend further and can break.

If you're going to replace the springs, go with a custom one to account for the height and weight of the load, so you don"t have to use lift block.

Air bags- yes it can be done with some customization like using longer bracket to accomodate for the lift. We don't want the bags to be too extended to get the lift that is desired. The air pressure can be too much and will provide harsh ride.

 

I should probably just bite the bullet and get a new leaf pack then. Better to be on the safe side I guess. So is everyone off the opinion that the leaf pack has gone flat? Is there anyway to know for sure?

 

It is not super flat. Probably looked like mine but with the weight you’re carrying it will flatten really quick. It still have some space between the overload spring (bottom) and the next leaf spring on the last picture. I’m thinking too that if the truck didn’t have 5 inch lift, the rear wouldn’t sag. If you were close to me, I’ll have you try my firestone airbags with extended bracket. Not installed on my Crewmax right now. How much are you carrying?

 

RAS arrived, after being delivered into my neighbor's garage... who then shut their garage and didn't noticed until today

Preload question: has anyone set a little more tension on the driver's side to counteract the lean?