Suspension build questions

Bought a 2019 Crew Max Platinum, my third Tundra…a new one. I need help deciding exactly what I need for a suspension upgrade. Let me explain. I’m a 65 year old with a really bad lower back that travels all over Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas & Kansas, fly fishing and quail hunting, Kansas in the winter, every where else summer & fall. To date, all Ive done are some basic mods…full set of rci skid plates, SDHQ ABS guards, Genesis dual battery system w/ Odyssey PC1400 AGM batteries, Bedslide 1500 with home built shotgun/rod storage box, 285 55 20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers, ARB twin air compressor, ARE CX series topper.

What I worry about are my fly fishing trips up north. Our goal on these fly fishing trips is to go where we don’t see other people…Grizzly’s, Moose, yes, but no people. We drive the forest roads and jeep trails looking for good trout water, typically a couple of hours from any town. We’ve gotten into some pretty tough situations but, so far, we’ve been able to handle them…the odds are bound to catch up with us.

I’m looking for advice as to what suspension changes the Tundra community would suggest. With my bad back and 24 hour drives from Oklahoma up north, I need/want to keep the ride as close as possible to factory comfort….at my age, comfort is important. I also need to keep in mind my wife’s ability to get in the truck since I do all the driving in town…did I mention this is a daily driver? I plan on adding an Expedition One front bumper w/ winch, BD driving lights, Rhino Rack roof tray, sliders and possibly a rear bumper. I mention this because of the weight. I’ve already added a bunch of weight in the back with the topper, bedslide and ¾” home made plywood storage drawers/boxes.


Sorry to be so wordy, but I wanted to give anyone willing to respond an idea of how I use the truck and some of my concerns. Any other suggestions or comments would be much appreciated.

 

I can't help you with the suspension issues, but I used to hunt Kansas too around Lyons and Great Bend for pheasant. We would run across a whole lot more quail coveys than pheasants in the last 6 or 8 years. The last two years I went, we bought kicking pheasants to hunt. Have you seen the same? I only ask because the guy we hunt with owns about 8 or 9 sections of wheat fields and the wild pheasants just seemed to disappear.... see plenty of huge deer though.

I hope someone else can help you with your suspension issues.

 

Been hunting 45 min NW of Hays for 20+ years, Damar. You/we are east of the aquifer so it's all about rain. 7 year drought. No Pheasant, Dove, Turkey or Quail. Wasn't a farm pond with any water for about 5 years. A couple of years ago it started raining and the Quail came back...and I mean back. It's been raining plenty now. More quail than I've seen in the 20+ years I've been hunting there. We have access to about 5,000 acres and we just started seeing pheasants again last year. They are all in deep cover on our land that is untouched other than a couple of feed plots. Pheasants just take longer to come back. Still haven't seen a turkey.

 

Honestly not sure if they make it for our truck but a full air ride suspension sounds like it would be a sweet set up for you. Lower it then raise it when you get in. Other then that idk what ride would even come close to the comfort you have now. But some others may be of more help. Welcome to the forum !

 

I feel your pain. Just had me second back fusion surgery but still have other issues. I would not go over 3” with a back issue. I use my truck for work so I’m in and out all day. It takes a toll climbing in and out constantly. I guess it really depends how bad your back is. On a plus side, because of my lift, it was easier to get in and out of my truck after surgery than it was my wife’s Suv. I didn’t need to duck my head.

 

^^^^ditto