I'm looking at getting a 2nd generation Tacoma with a Fleet slide-in (front dinette ~1,350 lbs. dry) and ARB steel bumper with a winch. I know that similar rigs are notoriously overweight, but seem to manage okay nonetheless. This one already has an added leaf spring (or maybe a whole replacement pack) from Boise Spring Works, so there's no sag in the rear, but I wasn't crazy about how it handled on a washboard gravel road when I took it for a test drive. So I'm thinking about how I can improve the suspension for both on and off-road travel with all that weight. Note that I have no plans to do any hard-core rock crawling, but a lot of the "roads" where I travel and camp are really more like rough ATV trails.
Option 1: Timbren active off-road bump stops
That would protect things from the current suspension bottoming out hard and probably improve handing in the bumps. It's also relatively inexpensive and trivial to install.
Option 2: New coil-over suspension
I like what I've read about the Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension, but that would be an expensive upgrade and I'd only want to do it if it'll make a big difference. How well would you expect that to work with my overloaded taco on trails, washboard roads, and pavement?
Option 3: Something else?
You guys are the kings and queens of Four Wheel Campers, so I'm counting on your wisdom!
Edit: I just realized that since my question is about modifying my truck, and not specifically about the Four Wheel Camper, I probably posted this to the wrong sub-forum. Feel free to move it to the right place if you're a mod, and thanks!
Option 1: Timbren active off-road bump stops
That would protect things from the current suspension bottoming out hard and probably improve handing in the bumps. It's also relatively inexpensive and trivial to install.
Option 2: New coil-over suspension
I like what I've read about the Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension, but that would be an expensive upgrade and I'd only want to do it if it'll make a big difference. How well would you expect that to work with my overloaded taco on trails, washboard roads, and pavement?
Option 3: Something else?
You guys are the kings and queens of Four Wheel Campers, so I'm counting on your wisdom!
Edit: I just realized that since my question is about modifying my truck, and not specifically about the Four Wheel Camper, I probably posted this to the wrong sub-forum. Feel free to move it to the right place if you're a mod, and thanks!
