Roadmaster active suspension vs. Sumos vs. AAL vs. Timbrens vs. Hellwig 990?

I currently have a 2018 trd off road with Helwig 550s. I've never been real happy with the 550s as they don't seem to be enough. They also don't seem like they even fit that well.
I haul a 16 ft camper along with a bed full of camping gear. I'm legal and "safe" but I want much more comfort than the 550s have given me.
I'm hoping to install whatever I go with on a 22 sr5 and would like advice on which way to go. Btw, I know each of these options has been discussed here, but I'd like opinions, comparisons and hopefully pictures.
Thanks!

 

Wow, thanks everyone for all the advice!

 

I don't tow a camper so can't speak from direct experience with a Tacoma. But,

If you are adding weight in the bed all the time, you look at leaf spring pack replacement as the preferred method,
AAL or helper spring work but as you have discovered they are not ideal.

Bad thing about setting your leafs to the heavy load limit is when unloaded your back end will be like a brick.


For occasional heavy loads or towing some people look at air bag systems, nice thing about them is they are adjustable. Let the air out and your back to stock ride.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/air-lift-or-firestone-air-bags.595371/

For me, I quickly determined the stock suspension was crap, and replaced the leafs, springs and shocks all round.

 

I'm not hauling/towing all the time, but when I do, I want more stability than the Hellwig 550s have given me.
No opinion on the roadmaster? Btw, I'm not looking to save money by going cheaper. I just want something to get the job done without the hassle of airbags.
Thanks

 

I upgraded the coilovers and leaf springs. Primarily because I added ~450 lbs in winch & armor. Went with Timbren because when i was buying they were on sale vs other bump stops. Happy with the setup.

 

I have the Sumos in the rear and they really help with the squat when I'm towing my boats, and they do help the ride when loaded. I don't really notice them most of the time when I'm not loaded, but they can cause the rear to be way too stiff sometimes when there's a dip in the road or something like that and suspension compresses enough to close the gap and hit them. I definitely don't think I'd like them at all for running quickly off-road.

 

Now your talking about stability, that is a different issue.

Perhaps you can describe what you don't like about your current system.

Springs/Leafs when designed properly are to keep the vehicle lifted to a certain height.
It's the shocks that control how the vehicle reacts and responds to the road.

a)Too stiff a spring for the load and the shocks can't do any work because the spring is not flexing,
b) Too soft a spring for the load and you will be riding on your bumpstops before you even hit a serious bump.

The problem with something like an assist spring system (i.e. Helwig 550), is unloaded you get a) and fully loaded you get b).

Air bag systems allow you to compensate for occasional added weight.

If stability is an issue first look at sway control and weight distribution hitches, and also QUALITY rear shocks.

 

RAS are great on my Tundra. I run them with Timbrens as a backup. Ride great with 1200lbs in the bed. Stopped all axle wrap loaded or unloaded. No hard bottoming loaded or unloaded. Easy to adjust when unloaded to dial in ride height. I have 15k on them deiving across the US with a cabover camper on the truck.

 

I'm running an add-a-leaf right now and I used to hate how firm they are, but now understand you need a heavier shock to match it. I'm running bilstien 4600's and they ride much better than the stock kyb replacements I had prior.

Add-a-leafs work best with new leaf packs, so they are in and match the healthy pack for a long time.

https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/...-expansion-pack-add-leaf-96-18-toyota-tacoma/ 3 leafs are softer than 1 leaf due to the nature of the engineering. Progressive spring rates.

Road masters are old funk and no one uses them anymore. Too many moving parts.

I'd suggest timbrens if the load is occasional.

 

I get the feeling that it's kind of "floating" when I'm towing. I still have quite a lot of sag with the Hellwigs. I'm going to get a new Taco soon and know I don't want this again.

 

I call it "wallowing" and I hate that sensation lol.

 

Wallowing is exactly right. Good thing you were here, lol.

My camper weighs about 2800 dry with hitch weight of about 275. I also carry 3-400 lbs in the bed.

 

Do they ride tough unloaded and does the arse end ride high like a 1970 Chevelle?

 

The OR stock shocks are "soft" by design and not very well suited for towing, they are meant for making bumpy off road trails a little softer at the sacrifice of some stability.

They are "cheap" shocks.

Look into aftermarket shocks that your budget will allow,

More $$ and you can get adjustable shocks,

Less $$ and you will get a much better ride all round but not the best possible.

There is a reason why everyone say regarding suspension, "buy once cry once"

If you are getting a new Taco, you can very easily move the new shocks over even in a parking lot in under an hour.

The order of "stiffness" of the stock rear shocks goes from Sport, SR5/Limited, SR, Pro, OR

The OR shocks are the equivalent to the cheapest Bilistein 4600 shocks for your truck.

But I want you to repeat after me....

Stock Shocks are Sh$t

say that 3 more times and then start looking for better rear shocks.

Then if you are loading up occasionally and you are hitting the bump stops too much, look at assist/bag systems.

 

Mine dont ride firm unloaded, but I run kings with clickers so not sure how they would do with normal shocks. Mine added 2” to the rear when set at max carrying capacity. But it takes a whole 10min to adjust them back to no lift.