Adding leaf springs for a shell?

Add a leaf.
Airbags.
New leaf pack.

Cheapest to most expensive (also, IMO - in effectiveness). Personally I ran OME Dakar rear leafs and loved them. My shell weighed 220 lbs (SnugTop XV).

 

Ome dakars

 

+1

 

How necessary is it to upgrade the suspension with a shell? I never did that on my old truck, but now I have a '17 and would like to take better care of it than my last one.

 

I threw a set of sumo springs on my truck. $200 and a simple DIY install. Search "sumo" on this forum for more info.
With a cap and bedslide, truck sits level, and no longer sags when it's loaded. Personally, I thought they were the simplest solution.

 

I just got my Snugtop Rebel installed on Friday. The truck does not seem to be sagging. I don't know the exact weight of the top. But I also carry gear including 4 tire chains and other emergency gear. So I'm guessing I'm about 200-300 lbs over stock at this point.

 

Which model # sumos did you use? How's the ride with just the shell and bedslide?

 

All signs point that most people go with OME Dakar’s which are probably are going to be my choice and in the long run upgrade suspension but I’m not rich so in time lol

 

I put a snug top rebel on my truck and after 4000 miles I had killed the factory springs, they were bottomed out on the bumpstops. Total extra weight every day is around 450 to 500. I have air bags now and can’t wait to throw them away and put real leaf springs on with good super bump bumpstops.

 

Here is my set up. HD OME kit and I added the Timbren U-Bolt flip kit with their bumpstops.

 

Did you use just the dakar pack or also an AAL? What suspension do you have in front, your truck looks pretty level.

 

Related question:
What if you were to have medium Dakars and later add a bed rack and gear totaling a few hundred pounds. Would you have to swap for the HD version or is there an add a leaf that is suitable?

 

Running the EL096R pack. And 886 Springs with on OME shocks. I’m planning on a bumper soon so I expect the front to drop some.

 

I have a SnugTop on my DCLB and then built a wooden platform with doors and loaded it down with tools and camping gear. I ran it that way for a while and then got tired of slapping my bumpstops on bumps. I added just the ToyTec progressive AAL and the ride is so much better. Shocks are next but even with factory shocks the ride is greatly improved. I would guesstimate that I am maybe 1” higher than stock if that.

P.S. my camper shell is the high top as well so it’s maybe a few pounds heavier than a short top.

 

only 1" with single aal, must be the cap cuz dont they say 2"?

 

Its the cap and the 40 feet of 2x8 and 1 sheet of plywood that I used to build my sleeping platform.

 

Have you "used" the bump stops. Like where you would have slammed your old one? I have looked at those and wondered how well they would work. And if you get the flip kit with them its kind of a win win.

 

Also, the progressive is 3 leafs, not 1. I suppose you get 1" at least juts from the thickness and the spring rate increase just accounted for my added weight.

 

3 leaf progressive AAL will usually get you +1.5 but in the long run you will want the dakars or if you constantly carry weight in the bed the HD dakars. There are some others leafs available if you want more flex.

 

The medium duty pack with the AAL is he heavy duty pack. That’s all he heavy is, it’s just the medium with another leaf.