Setup for 1000 lbs loads?

OK, so I know that this is not recommended and I should get a full size but that is simply not an option for me for a few reasons so please spare me the "get a bigget truck" answer.

I regularly carry about 1000 lbs/1200 lbs in the bed of my Taco. I have the full OME setup and airbags, usually aired-up to about 55 PSI. The ride is a bit bumpy, especially going at 50 on pothole and washboard infested forestry roads (which I do quite often). Are there a few members here that carry heavy loads on a regular basis that could suggest a good setup? I'm thinking of adding the

$60 D29XL Old Man Emu Dakar Extra Leaf Spring

D29XL to my leafpack but wondering if I should also change the shocks for something a bit more aggressive.

 

I don't personally have them, but lots of guys are using dakars for heavier loads. Don't be worried about 1000-1200lbs of payload. Your within the rated amount.

 

When I am camping I have a good amount of weight in the bed. A shell, roof top tent, camping gear, fuel, water, and a fridge all start to add up. I have the dakars with the hd add a leaf and I have been satisfied with it. Also it happens often that I leave stuff in the truck for a few days after camping till I get the motivation to unload or I just leave it packed till the next trip if it is close so I have some decent miles with all that weight it there. The truck is our only vehicle and daily driver.

 

I have hauled 1000+ lbf of gravel with Dakars without issue.

 

I've got the dakar's as well, and with a full load of camping gear I notice I could use some assistance. I carry a ton of shit, plus with a full size spare, HI-LIFT and 6 gal of fuel on the rear swing out I'm hanging a lot of weight in the rear. On our last trip to Moab I was all over the bump stops in the rear. I'm going to add the AAL and see if that helps.

 

add the

$60 d29xl old man emu dakar extra leaf spring

d29xl if you are carrying that much weight on a regular basis OP

 

If you haven't already, you might want to try lowering the pressure in your airbags. The bags are designed to support 25lbs per psi. So at 1000lbs, you should be running 40psi, and 48psi at 1200lbs. 55psi(1375lbs) would be pretty bouncy with 1000lbs, though not far off at 1200lbs.

You've probably already messed with different pressure settings, but thought I would suggest it just in case.

 

Might check out DayStar Cradles....makes the airbags kinda free floating. I have firestone air bags and think the ride is better with the cradles. I dont carry the weight you do, just another idea you might check out.

 

When I mention 1000 lbs in the bed that doesn't count the passengers and cargo I might have in the back seat or my weight or fuel. Just to give an example of what I carry about 1/3 of the time, it includes an ATV, a 350 lbs truck deck, a couple chainsaws, 5 gal. fuel tank, sometimes 100 lbs of rock samples and a few other small items totaling about 150 lbs. I probably have more than 1000 lbs as you mention, might even be pushing 1400 lbs. This would be fine on paved roads with recommended pressure in the bags but on forestry roads, it`s a lot rougher. I even add up to 65 PSI to not bottom-out too much in some instances. I'm looking for a more progressive rate if possible, something that just doesn't bottom.

I`ll probably try the

$60 D29XL Old Man Emu Dakar Extra Leaf Spring

D29XL first to see how that feels. I always have my truck deck on anyways so the ride probably wont be too stiff with the rest unloaded.

 

I thought about those but I'm really worried about ice buildup and rocks getting in there. With the amount of dirt roads I'm travelling on lately, the odds of something landing in the cradle is pretty high (did 800 miles last week). I don't think it would do anything to the load capacity either.

 

Nope, the 1050 lbs payload rating on the side of my door doesn't include passenger or fuel, I'm way above the rated amount. Plus as mention, I travel a lot on rough terrain at high speed. I'm really pushing this truck to it's limits.

 

Have you considered an aggressively suspended trailer? Something small and maneuverable but able to carry the atv and gear? There are some pretty beefed trailers available, certainly capable of 50 mph on rutted dirt roads...

 

This is what I would do...even with a ton of mods, there's still going to be considerable wear and tear on the truck...a trailer would help alleviate that, and give you a decent ride in the meantime.

 

I thought you meant total capacity. If your worried about the trucks marked capacity, you're not going to increase that with a different suspension.

 

I sometimes follow ATV trails with my Taco for work (which is one of the reasons why I don't have a full size), having a trailer would make it that much more difficult to turn around or backing up for a mile.

Also some of the equipment I use for mineral exploration is pretty expensive, I have about 100 grand worth of electronic equipment in the truck sometimes so I prefer not putting it in a trailer.

As for the wear and tear on my Taco, I get $1.20/mile from my clients (cleared about 1000$ in the last 2 weeks), they like using me cause I'm able to cover a lot of ground quickly and efficiently with the way I'm setup. As mentioned, I'll try the extra Dakar leaf to see how it performs. If not perfect, it should at least smooth out my ride a bit.

 

Out of curiosity guys, what are your trucks rated to carry over there in the bed? Here in Australia all trucks/utes are rated for a full 1tonne/2200lb.

This is my hilux with 1 tonne of gravel in the bed, the rear suspension barely drops and is all stock standard from factory.To the op adding helper leaves to the rear leafs will help stiffen your rear end.

 

I have a rack and shell, and pretty much always have work tools in the truck. On the stock springs it was hitting the bump stops quite a bit. I added the Wheelers HD AAL to the stock springs and the truck rides much better, and almost never bottoms out. It lifted the rear about 2 inches.