Leaf Spring Choice for My Overland Build

Hello tundra owners, I am recently researching leaf springs upgrades for my Tundra. I went across many posts already but everyone seems to have a different weight on the back. My truck has a 6" lift drop bracket lift and a 4" block in the rear, I have the front upgraded to coil overs. Recently the leaf springs are laying flat and causing the truck to squat, the ride is also terrible. I'm looking for an option to get rid of the block that also holds the weight I have in the back.

I have
Dual swing-out bumper with 1 spare tire and 1x 5-gallon jerry can. Around 350lb
Bed rack with accessories Around 250lb
A tent of around 200lb
A drawer system with all the gears 300lb

A total of 1,100lb is always on the truck, I also estimate another 500lb for extra cargo when I am going on the trip. I don't tow very often maybe once or twice a month.

I understand this is a topic that came up million times but I can't find anything that is specific tailored to my needs. Thanks in advance!

 

I think you are probably looking at some custom leafs, Alcan and Deaver are popular here on Tundras

 

I have Alcans and have been very happy. 3” lift and probably 1000#s in mine as well.

 

We just switched from Alcans to deaver on the old man’s rig. You’ll need a custom pack. we recommend deaver they hold up more and are much better quality. The ride is much better and more progressive.He’s got a good amount of weight. GFC camper, steel bumper with swing out and 37 along with a deck system.

 

How long did it take to get the deavers?

 

think it was around 6-8 weeks

 

I have Archive Garage on my truck, HDs

 

Alcan...call them. They are in Grand Junction, CO. A stones throw from Moab. They obviously get a lot work.......been custom fabbing leaf springs for Moab wheelers pretty much longer than anyone else. They will want to know your requirements and fab it up. Call them.

 

Going to give them a call on Monday, thanks!

 

I have the same bumper and I'm upgrading to 37s next year hopefully. I was leaning toward deaver and going to give them a call on Monday as well.

 

I had both and the Deavers are night and day better. The Alcans went flat in 6mo compared to the Deavers that were going steering a year later.

 

Glad to know! Thanks

 

Exactly

 

Not sure about Alcans going flat. I've had mine since the start of the year. Zero sag. Zero flattening out. I've got about 800 lbs over stock on my back end.

 

This^^^^. Alcan has been around awhile for good reason and not because they suck. Not surprised that yours aren't sagging. It's all about letting Alcan know your actual specs to get the springs right the first time. Can't go wrong with either one.

 

I ordered my alcans before i had camper built. After build out, springs were flattening. Called Lew and spoke to him. He asked that i weigh truck on scales. I did so and found out i was significantly heavier than anticipated. Alcan was able to send me the appropriate additional leafs i could slide in and solved problem. That was 1 year ago.
I am watching the springs closely due to the few but reputable guys here statements, but this far have been happy with the Alcans. They ride great! I have no experience with Deavers.

 

i have the ICON spring pack 3 years so far no issues decked system full of tools

 

Your story is my story

 

Before any leaf pack upgrade, go get your truck weighed at a commercial weight scale where you can get front and rear axles weighed separately. This is important because you carry gear differently than others do— that swing gate throws weight rear of your axle; I carry 2 spares in the truck bed, between the axles. Before you weigh your truck, pack all your gear as you would to go out to play in the truck. Including the people that typically go with you, if you can talk em into it (getting weighed on the way out to play is perfect, if the timing works). Fill your gas tank right before you go too.

Even with all this planning, it won’t weigh quite what it will for “real” trips… food; ice; firewood… you may still be off by a couple hundred pounds… but if you cannot provide your truck’s actual weight, neither Deaver nor Alcan nor any other can get it right.

Final “obvious” point: when you get custom HD leaf packs to support that weight, understand that your truck will have major rake (back higher than front) when not fully loaded. So there’s no “leveling” a truck used to haul massive weight infrequently, if you want it not to squat. Gotta choose: function > form.

 

I scaled my truck today and got a rear axle weight of 3460. That includes a full tank of gas and all the camping gear and water I would take on a trip. I weighed all that stuff at home as I was loading it to go to the scale and it was 350lbs! Much more weight than I thought I had.

 

Wow! What a difference! I'm determined to go get mine scaled before ordering it now.

 

Been looking at both of these for my lowered truck with spring under axle setup. I need to call both of them and get their thoughts.

Flipping the stock axle pack under the axle lowers the rear about 4", but then you also swap the rear shackles to a set that's 10.25" from top to bottom bolt holes. Stock shackles are only 4" hole to hole. I'd love to use the CB 3" shackles, those are 7" hole to hole. But I'd need the appropriately packed set of leaves to accomplish this and still have the lowered/leveled rear end

 

Yea. Worth the $13, that's for sure. I emailed Alcan with the new weight and he said that was 960lbs over stock.

 

All fine and good to know that you’re 960# over stock, but how much of that is unsprung weight that shouldn’t be included? Did they get your current tire/wheel weight to compare against OEM?

 

My tires are 25lbs heavier than the stock ones, each

 

I don’t doubt that at all! OEM crap tires are super light.

 

I need to measure the truck an see how much lift I'm at now, then i can call them and figure out the actual weight and lift to build the springs for. He recommended to use the weight the truck will be at 75% of the time, which would be without the camping gear, water, and the 50lbs of rear tires.

 

sounds close to my daily load then. Canopy, Bedslide, Dometic beer fridge. And a 50# tote of shit that lives back there.

Deaver U748s have been awesome. I’ve had them for a year now and they’re still a hair more than 2” over stock with TC shackles. To be honest, I’d like them to settle another inch or better and dial the fronts down to match. Looks great, but more lift than I need.

 

That's the only reason I didn't go with the u748's from the start; I wouldn't be able to get into my garage with that much lift.