Need help deciding Alcan or Deaver

Here’s the situation:
I’m carrying a constant “static” payload of 1100 to 1200 lbs.

Knew I would need to get serious spring upgrade but put it off for a while by adding the icon helper packs and 2” CB shackles.

Both Deaver and Alcan have custom spring sets available.

Questions:
1) if I get springs built for 2 1/2” lift, will I still be able to use the stock Pro shocks?
2) do the CB shackles help or hurt. Should they be replaced?
3) if 2 1/2” lift built into the springs is too much for the stock Pro shocks, how much could I go?

There’s probably other questions that I should be asking but don’t know what they are, lol

 

Here’s a picture of the current “recurve” aspect of the springs.

 

That’s a good point. I do still have the OEM and could reuse them if needed. I would not like to lose the solid feel from having them, but it could be an option.

 

After market shackles will be needed with Deaver and I'm guessing you are looking at the U748's since you didn't say. U748's are meant for for extra load (not sure about 1000+ though) and give you 2in of lift. I'm running U748's with 2 spares, steel rear bumper, RCI Rack, and Tepui tent. Works great.

I would call Deaver and/or Alcan and tell them what you need. They will let you know what springs you need for 1000+ constant load. I don't know what spec's are for the TRD Pro rear shocks so you may need shock that provide extra travel. If not the only harm that I see is your current shocks will be your limiting factor on getting full travel out of the rear leafs (basically your rear shock will be holding the weight of the rear axle on full extension).

 

When I bought my alcan springs, I was told the lift had nothing to do with the amount of weight they would hold. This is what I was told, so if I'm wrong...

Anyway, I had them built me a set that would support 500 pounds over stock and asked for them to give me one inch of lift over stock so I could use them with my cb+1 shackles and rear shocks that would work with up to a 2 inch lift.

So I'm pretty sure you could have them built for the weight you need with whatever amount of lift you need too. Just call Alcan. I spoke with Bob up there and they were really helpful. He took the time to explain things and set me up.

My suspension just showed up this week, so I don't have everything installed.

Do you have the +1 +2 or +3 shackles? You could have them make springs with no lift that held the weight... At least I think. Good idea to call them.

 

@gosolo I'm curious what your trucks wet weight is? With that kind of load in the bed it’s got to be up there.
I’m 7440lbs. Me a full tank of gas, shell and decked box full of tools. Running the icon RXT spring pack with no complaints.

 

Yep I’m looking at the 748’s. Deaver says the stock 748+ a custom leaf will work for me.

 

Am running with +2” CB shackles. When I asked bob about the potential impact on my shocks, he dummied up, and said he didn’t know anything about other aspects of the suspension, just sold springs. A bit disappointing.

 

I recently requested a quote from Alcan for springs to provide 2" lift. My rear shocks will handle the 2" lift. Trying to avoid shackles. Might still go that route depending on budget.The biggest problem is that there are so many shocks out there with various specs. Would be pretty hard to specify how any particular shock will perform with a custom made leaf pack. Add shackles into the mix and it gets a bit tougher.

 

I went with Alcan leaf packs for carrying a static load that was almost identical to yours, they worked great.

 

I went with Alcan custom leaf springs to provide 2” lift as well to hold a static load of 600lbs. I use stock shackles till I get the ARB shackles that are stock height that have zerks to grease them. Alcan provides poly bushings. But I run extended OEM Kings. I have no complaints about my suspension and Alcan makes some nice leafs. These are how I received mine. Like others have said call Alcan, great product.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't have figured he could answer questions about the travel of your pro shocks.
Don't be too disappointed.

The coach builder +2 shackles only provide 1.25 inches of lift, not 2".

That's a good question about your pro shocks though. I don't think I've ever seen info on what they can handle. One thing I have noticed, almost all the aftermarket rear shocks with reservoirs only allow for a 1.5 inch lift. There are a couple that allow for a 2 inch lift. And from there it jumps to extended, 4-6 inch lift.

I could be wrong, but if it were me, I would think 1.5 inches would be the most you would want to go to avoid bottoming out.

 

I have the Alcan with 2 inch lift and 500 over stock on my pro. I love it, it got rid of the sag when loaded/towing. I talked with alcan and they lead me to believe that it would be fine for stock pro shocks. I had it about 20 months on dd. As for the shackles. I read quite a few threads that shackles SEEMED to be causing the deavers to “recurve” prematurely. Nothing definitive was said. But that seemed to be the contributing factor. So I kept stock shackles

 

Here’s a breakdown of what the crap weighs:
SDHQ hidden winch mount 60lb
Xeon warn 10K winch. 80lb
SDHQ sliders 100lb
48g transfer flow fuel tank 250lb
Snugtop shell 210lb
RCI Transfercase skidplate 40lb
Decked Drawer system 210lb
Tools/recovery/survival. 180lb

 

To these other guys’ points, 1100# extra weight is a lot. I’m pretty sure any of the “ready” options won’t handle that weight. I had Jeff at Deaver spec mine after I worked out almost exact weight I’d carry all the time vs. to Sedona (Max equipment) and he sold me a custom HD set. That resulted in a bit of lift to the back between trips, but it’s not meant to lift per se. There’s a limit on how many leafs can be stacked... which is why guys like Oside have moved— or will— to custom wide leafs instead. If you mean to keep that 1100# extra, I’m guessing you should look into wide leafs... or go with as many as Deaver or Alcan can provide custom, but know they’ll eventually go flat. Maybe, since you wheel but if you’re not flying top speed everywhere, you could look out a custom leaf spring (HD but not wide) and add airbags....

Edit: I see your mods list and so I’m guessing that when you load up to go out, you add another 300-500#. So I double down on that’s a heavy truck! Start researching wide springs and or HD + airbags. And upgrade your brake pads.

 

Wanted to try Alcan, but after some back and forth with Bob we agreed too many variables. Went with Deaver, they were easy to work with.

 

Nice!
I have almost the exact same set up. except the decked drawers are 150/ea side, RCI front skid, and I'm a 38 gal fuel tank.
You'd benefit from a weight in with 4 wheel scale if you can find one. or even a split scale that'll do front and rear axle weights.

 

So what is the long-term report on the Deavers? Did you get the U748 or a custom spring pack?