Replacing TRD Pro suspension with Dobinson IMS?

I have a 23 TRD Pro with Westcott preload lift and AirLift 500 airbags.

I have about 450lbs of load on the bed (see photo). I can't get the vehicle aligned with the Westcott lift and it doesn't ride very well, especially with the weight. I think all the added weight is pushing the limits of the Wescott lift. I've spoken to Westcott and they believe they're able to fix it and I have an appointment next month. It's a 8 hour drive for me, but not sure it's worth investing more time and money into that setup.

So the question is, should I give them a shot to fix it or upgrade to a Dobinson IMS setup? Here's what I'm thinking.

• Dobinson IMS Front Stuts with 0-110 lbs 3" spring
• Tundra TRD Upper Control Arms (From TRD 3" lift kit)
• Front bump stops
• Leave rear Fox shocks and AirLift 500 airbags
• Add 220-440 lbs 1" rear spring

Thoughts on this setup?
I'd like it to feel as close to stock, like it did before installing the Westcott lift. I also need this to handle all the weight on the back.

 

maybe this is stupid, but why dont you just go back to stock and be done with it?

 

What exactly can't you have aligned?

 

I like the lifted look. But, it would also be nice to have stiffer springs in the back.

 

Camber and caster. The weight on the back causes the front to sit about .3" higher than it should with the Westcott lift. I've thought about removing the top Westcott shim so it sits closer to the intended height.

 

.3"? It's nothing. Should not cause anything.

Also how front camber is affected with the rear squatted?

Also why you can't get it aligned? I have the front +1.5" with camber still in factory setting and still in permitted range.

 

If you can’t set up your ride with a dial clicker nob it’s not good.

 

Alignment is just one issue, ride quality and handling the rear load are the other issues.

Do you think alignment would help ride quality of the Westcott lift?

 

Dobinsons all the way.

And duro bumps in the front and timbrens in the rear.

 

No.

Rear coil springs suck for overlander build. It sucked so much in my battle Volvo wagon, that I shelled out a fortune for a self-leveling suspension (Nivomats). Wife's V8 Sequoia has IRS with coils, it sucks, too. So happy my outdated Tundra has a solid rear axle + leafs. It is so easy to tune it for the needs.

 

For a noob like me, I thought coils in the rear were preferred? Why are leaf springs preferable? Thank you

 

Coils sag, snap, can't "add a coil" for progressive compression, can't lift cheaply. They are for on-road comfort, not for offroad or durability.

What did I do to level my Tundra when I'm out in the woods with a ton of stuff in the bed? Simply replaced dirt cheap shackles. Rides awesome, like it was doing before.

What did I do to level wife's Sequoia (I know it is IRS) when we got it to a long overlanding trip? Nothing really I can do without affecting empty ride quality. I installed Timbren SES to take a part of the load, but the SUV still had negative camber in rear for weeks. And it cost some articulation. I wouldn't use them on my truck, which needs articulation.

Replacing coils is PIA, I hate it.

Coil suspension mods are a bit easier with the solid rear axle, but it is still far from what you get with the leafs.

 

I just grab the remote to my Airlift bags I put on and add a little air in the air bags to level out the truck when I have a load. Was very simple to install bags and only took a couple hours to install the bags and compressor and when the bags are aired down to 10lbs of air I get stock ride quality on coil springs, but then again I've always added them to my previous leaf spring trucks too so same same (actually took the compressor off my old truck before I traded it in for this one so just transferred it over). As you said though it is more expensive than dirt cheap shackles, but the convenience of adapting to whatever load is in the bed or trailer I'm pulling is priceless.

 

My comment was "for overlander build". For other use cases it apparently does not apply.