Helper Springs enough?

[Anchored nomad]

Are helper springs enough to make my 2016 Tacoma ride nice with a FWC Swift or Fleet Shell (planning on a load of around 800 lbs) I'm looking for the cheapest fix to adding this weight. I've heard air bags are a band aid, and quite frankly I'm not sure I can afford parts and labor for brand new leaf springs or full on suspension work.

Any suggestions for a dude on a budget trying to make the FWC thing work?

 

[lactic]

I just added a Fleet shell on my Tacoma. Stock leaf springs with Firestone airbags. Rides ok for now but will redo the leaf packs once I get the weight dialed in.

Have you thought about doing the airbags and just have an extra leaf added by a local suspension shop?

Do you plan on leaving the camper on full time?

 

[fredrahm]

Try to add a leaf first and see if you like it. You can always add air bags later if you need them.

 

[Karlton]

You'll find that some folks find the airbags to meet their needs. I had a leaf added by the installer in Boise - Boise Spring Works. Total cost for the leaf upgrade was $500 for my Tundra. Looks like the Hellwig Pro helper springs are about $225 each, which would be about having a suspension shop add a leaf. I had considered airbags, bump stops (Timbrens) but settled on the suspension work and have been pleased with how the camper rides.

 

[Anchored nomad]

I just added a Fleet shell on my Tacoma. Stock leaf springs with Firestone airbags. Rides ok for now but will redo the leaf packs once I get the weight dialed in.
Have you thought about doing the airbags and just have an extra leaf added by a local suspension shop?
Do you plan on leaving the camper on full time?

So it’ll be on the truck full time for 2-3 months of the year. If mpgs are good it’ll be on full time, my plan is to only have it on during summer months though.

 

[bimmeryota]

Best thing is to build a spring for the weight being carried. It is the most expensive but leads to the best handling on all terrains. Airbags do meet many people’s needs, especially if they are primarily on the road only. I may have an airbag setup I can sell you to save you some money. I went with a custom leaf pack from Deaver so I’m not going back to bags. PM if interested.

 

[kmcintyre]

​I keep my Eagle on full time but the truck is basically stored during the winter unless we head south. I would do as someone else suggested and put an extra leaf spring on. Try Boise Spring Works (I think that's the name) as they also sell FWC's and quite a few people here have used them. They'll get you dialed in. My RAM only has coil springs on the back and I could but upgraded springs on but I went w/ airbags. I had airbags on my Dakota prior to this truck too and they worked great.

 

[ETAV8R]

If your suspension is stock you will in the least need air bags and probably an AAL. The AAL is the band-aid. Stock leafs are crappy. It really depends on what your real weight is loaded and unloaded and if you plan to keep the camper on the truck. Optimum choice as noted above is to have a custom leaf pack built for your needs.

 

[Squatch]

Most any local spring shop can add a leaf to your stock rear packs for well under $500. That's the best way to go.

I had new complete packs made with 2 additional leaves for my Tundra by Deaver Spring. The cost wasn't much more than I mentioned above. They even made then specific for drivers and passenger side to eliminate the drivers side sag.

 

[bryanmichaelmeyer]

i have some firestones and then FINALLY did some OME heavy duty springs recently. that did the trick. The airbags were more maintenance than I liked. uninstalling my airbags soon.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

I prefer the fine tune ability of the air bags and this is now my 3rd truck I have them on and zero issues. No idea what Bryan means about "maintenance" there is zero when installed properly.

I run old man emu with an add a leaf and the firestone bags.

I prefer a stiff ride on the asphalt and then I usually deflate the bags when offroad for a much nicer ride.

My .02

 

[moveinon]

X2 with So Cal. Second truck with Firestone airbags, about 150,000 miles on two Tacomas with no problems and zero maintenance. I also adjust them for ride and for leveling in camp. I had spring upgrade and air bags before but hated the ride with camper off for 3 months in winter so went to upgraded shocks (to reduce bounce) and air bags only.

 

[fwctaco]

X2 with So Cal. Second truck with Firestone airbags, about 150,000 miles on two Tacomas with no problems and zero maintenance. I also adjust them for ride and for leveling in camp. I had spring upgrade and air bags before but hated the ride with camper off for 3 months in winter so went to upgraded shocks (to reduce bounce) and air bags only.

Which shocks did you go with? Are you happy with the bounce reduction? My only complaint with AAL and airbags so far is a little bit of bounce on certain roads at 40-50mph.

 

[moveinon]

I had King OEM replacement shocks on my last truck and they stopped the bounce entirely and worked great. I could not switch them to the new truck so am still looking for shocks that will function somewhat well without the huge price-I guess you get what you pay for. My current shocks function well for about 4 miles of bumpy gravel then I think because of the heat start fading quickly with some corresponding bounce returning from 30 MPH on. I may, in the end, put out the money for Kings again as they worked so well to dampen both directions and never needed to be replaced as they lasted a lot of miles off pavement. I do know that any basic shock does not cut it for any distance at all on rough roads.