FWC Swift Ordered - Now to prep the truck :-)

[Hodakaguy]

Just ordered a Swift Shell model with some extras. I’m planning on installing a ARB fridge and making some custom storage areas. The camper will be going on a Tacoma DCSB truck. Thinking about going with OME Dakar rear springs and (?) shocks at this point, I’ll also be adding air bags with Daystar cradles.

I’ll post up pics as the setup starts coming together....going to be a long wait until the camper is finished

Hodakaguy

 

[drewdown]

Sounds like we are in the same boat. I ordered mine last week for my DCSB Tacoma. I currently have a OME 3" lift with add-a-leaf. Planning on the Dakar leaf pack, Firestone Ride-Rite bags and the Daystar cradles. At my friends suggestion I may just do the leaf pack for now and see how bad it is, then address any further mods. Before the lift I drove a few hundred miles with a 1000lb gun safe in the bed and it rode just fine. That was completely stock.

Just curious, how long did they tell you the wait would be? I was told 8-10 weeks but am bracing for worse due to the rush of orders. Waiting sucks

 

[nikonron]

In my opinion, you will not need the air bags. I have an Eagle shell and run Dakars with the extra leaf and it is fine. Air bags will limit your suspension off road. My truck has ARB front bumper with winch and CBI rear bumper w/ swing away and 10 gal. of fuel. Ron

 

[Hodakaguy]

I’m planning on running the Dakar springs, the air bags with cradles shouldn’t limit travel like standard bags. I’ll eventually do bumpers and carriers as well.

Not sure on time frame...up to 12 weeks :-(

 

[nikonron]

Like I said, you won't need the air bags. Just run it without them and you'll see what I mean, can always add later. Ron

 

[drewdown]

Like I said, you won't need the air bags. Just run it without them and you'll see what I mean, can always add later. Ron

do you run the camper full time? I'm worried about the ride and truck looking like a stink bug when the camper if off.

 

[nikonron]

Yes,I keep my camper on full time but I had the same suspension before and there was really no change. Ron

 

[ETAV8R]

As far as suspension goes I will reference the following thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/

More specifically:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/page-47#post-11409628
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/page-164#post-13950437

Crom is a good friend and very knowledgeable. I too switched from the OME springs/struts to Bilsteins after reading his write ups.

Even having switched to the Billys and adding an AAL to my OME leaf pack plus Wheelers bumps I think the leaf pack w/o AAL and airbags would be the way to go if you plan to remove your camper from time to time. Fully loaded mine sits about 2" above the bumps but the leaf pack is somewhat flattened out. Not as bad as when the TRD Billy's were shot and the TSB leaf pack was overloaded. Those were the days of the Flippac. With the camper you definitely need to do something other than stock.

 

[drewdown]

As far as suspension goes I will reference the following thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/

More specifically:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/page-47#post-11409628
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-getaway-croms-build-and-adventures.362772/page-164#post-13950437

Crom is a good friend and very knowledgeable. I too switched from the OME springs/struts to Bilsteins after reading his write ups.

Even having switched to the Billys and adding an AAL to my OME leaf pack plus Wheelers bumps I think the leaf pack w/o AAL and airbags would be the way to go if you plan to remove your camper from time to time. Fully loaded mine sits about 2" above the bumps but the leaf pack is somewhat flattened out. Not as bad as when the TRD Billy's were shot and the TSB leaf pack was overloaded. Those were the days of the Flippac. With the camper you definitely need to do something other than stock.

Good info but seems like he's over thinking it IMO. I've never once had a wheel come off the ground. That's just not the type of driving I do. His truck also sits like a stink bug even with a plate rear bumper. I don't need more clearance or travel. Just a level truck.

Sorry OP if I'm hijacking this thread. Can post elsewhere if needed

 

[ETAV8R]

My truck sits in a similar fashion w/o a load. His truck is actually more level than mine when the camper is off.
It all depends on where you might find yourself off road. I have had my truck in situations where one wheel was off the ground on multiple occasions with the camper. Peace of mind is knowing that you have contact as much as possible.

More information is better. You know the "had I known then what I know now" saying.

 

[trikebubble]

Different truck (Tundra) but similar setup. We have a Hawk on order, and in preparation for its arrival (hopefully late winter) I've added the Dakar leaf packs, and the Firestone airbags with Daystar cradles. I figured since I was replacing the leaf packs I might as well add the airbags at the same time. Can't hurt to have them there, and with the cradles she will be ready to handle some articulation if need be.

 

[Hodakaguy]

Trikebubble, that’s the exact setup we are going to go with on our Tacoma. I had the bags on our previous Tundra/Raven combo and they worked great. I like to run separate air lines to each bag so I can use them to load level side to side as well.

The bags are nice so you don’t have overly stiff springs when the camper is off the truck.

Hodakaguy

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

I have a Tundra with the OME and add a leaf and the Firestone airbags with the 2" spacer to compensate for the lift.

What are these Daystar cradles yall speaking of? Better than spacers I assume?

Thanks
Kevin

 

[Hodakaguy]

I have a Tundra with the OME and add a leaf and the Firestone airbags with the 2" spacer to compensate for the lift.

What are these Daystar cradles yall speaking of? Better than spacers I assume?

Thanks
Kevin

I have a Tundra with the OME and add a leaf and the Firestone airbags with the 2" spacer to compensate for the lift.

What are these Daystar cradles yall speaking of? Better than spacers I assume?

Thanks
Kevin

The Cradles allow the bags to flex without tearing the bags, it also allows the truck to flex withing limiting it's travel. Here a picture of one mounted up.

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/163110-Long-term-Feedback-request-Daystar-Airbag-Cradles

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

Thanks Hodakaguy, I will look into these for sure!

I just installed the 2" firestone spacers to compensate for my OME lift and I am not too stoked on how it all fits. These cradles look like a much better solution!

Thanks
Kevin

 

[MattC]

The Cradles allow the bags to flex without tearing the bags, it also allows the truck to flex withing limiting it's travel. Here a picture of one mounted up.

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/163110-Long-term-Feedback-request-Daystar-Airbag-Cradles

I am going to have to look into these.
I have a 2011 Tacoma (4 door long bed) with a front dinete fleet.
we used to have a 93 Pastime, and at that time, I made my own long-leaf add-a-leaves out of some other spring packs I had laying around (I have no idea what they were out of)
Plus I added some air bags that I raised the bottom mount some, by welding on spacers.

I have never been completely satisfied with this setup, and keep saying that I am going to redo it all (mostly just the air bags mounts).

So these cradles might be a good place to start.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

Cradles arrived today, and will be installed this weekend!

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Bob949]

Thanks Hodakaguy, I will look into these for sure!

I just installed the 2" firestone spacers to compensate for my OME lift and I am not too stoked on how it all fits. These cradles look like a much better solution!

Thanks
Kevin

You will be real happy with this combo. I run Daystar's with Firestone bags on a Tundra/Hawk and they work great.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

You will be real happy with this combo. I run Daystar's with Firestone bags on a Tundra/Hawk and they work great.

Awesome! Thanks Bob!

What pressure do you run the bags at? What rear springs.

Thanks

 

[MattC]

Cradles arrived today, and will be installed this weekend!

Thanks for the tip!

Out of curiosity, where did you get them, and how much were they?