1997 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Upgrade for FWC Eagle

[joseph.hinker]

Hello, I have a 97 Tacoma Extended V6 and an 80s FWC Grandby shortened to the dimensions of a FWC Eagle. ( Will be posting build ) Upgrades to my suspension are essential to make the truck safer and allow me to access places that are not on pavement.
Will also be getting E rated tires. Camper will be on truck full time. I am guesstimating that i will be at least 1200 pounds with camper,gear, etc.

I have done some research and what I am came up with so far is:

Leaf Spring : Old Man Emu Dakar springs + Old Man Emu AAL
Front Coils: Old Man Emu 881

https://www.toyteclifts.com/ome-9504tac-old-man-emu-tacoma-suspension-95-04-tacoma.html

Is this a good setup or is there something better?

 

[JHanson]

Hi Joseph,

I can highly recommend ARB/OME products in general; I've been using them for decades.

In terms of your project, the standard (medium) 2 1/2-inch OME lift does not offer much if any extra carrying capacity; it is simply a lift. Therefore you'd be relying largely on the add-a-leafs to carry the weight, and I'm not sure they'll be adequate. Have you asked if the rear springs are available in a heavy-duty configuration? Most OME springs can be specced thusly. That would be the way to go. Also the rear shocks should have the heavy-duty valving. The front should be fine.

Jonathan

 

[rubberlegs]

Be aware that nearly all the weight of the camper is on the rear axle. In our (2018) Tacoma 6' bed, access cab (the shorter cab), Fleet with some of the extras, our weights were:

Front 2700 lb empty, 2760 lb with camper (virtually no change)
Rear 2000 lb empty, 3480 lb with camper

It would be worth weighing your truck while it's empty, if possible.

 

[joseph.hinker]

Hi Joseph,

I can highly recommend ARB/OME products in general; I've been using them for decades.

In terms of your project, the standard (medium) 2 1/2-inch OME lift does not offer much if any extra carrying capacity; it is simply a lift. Therefore you'd be relying largely on the add-a-leafs to carry the weight, and I'm not sure they'll be adequate. Have you asked if the rear springs are available in a heavy-duty configuration? Most OME springs can be specced thusly. That would be the way to go. Also the rear shocks should have the heavy-duty valving. The front should be fine.

Jonathan

Thanks for reply! I have been reading very good things about OME. I am going to be calling a few parts suppliers and asking questions.

 

[joseph.hinker]

Be aware that nearly all the weight of the camper is on the rear axle. In our (2018) Tacoma 6' bed, access cab (the shorter cab), Fleet with some of the extras, our weights were:

Front 2700 lb empty, 2760 lb with camper (virtually no change)
Rear 2000 lb empty, 3480 lb with camper

It would be worth weighing your truck while it's empty, if possible.

So your setup is a Tacoma and Fleet, did you upgrade your suspension at all or are you running the stock setup?

 

[Kolockum]

Once the crazy holidays are done I will be installing OME on my Tacoma. I tried airbags with the stock suspension but absolutely hated the ride.

On my previous set up I had a Dakota with add-a-leafs in the back and the truck never rode or handled quite right. OME matches the shocks to the leafs and would have prevented a lot of the problems I had on the Dakota.