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Stock Toyota Tundra leaf packs are only 2.25" wide. In order to build a proper off road suspension, you need to install a set of multi-leaf progressive leaf packs. Something like the Deaver K37 packs; or if you are long travel like I am, the Deaver I96 packs. This will give you a nice linear progressive spring rate. They will be very soft and cushy, however, they wont hold a lot of gear weight. Deaver will build you custom packs that will hold more weight. The problem is that typical gear weights associated with overlanding are usually 500 to 1000 lbs. My truck is currently 8000 lbs fully loaded for a long trip; about 4000 lbs on the rear axle. So in order to build the packs to hold the weight, they get very thick. My current packs are over 3.5" thick and they sag way too much.
I've been talking with Jeff at Deaver and Tim at DMZ. It's never been done before, but I am going to install some wider 3" leaf packs. They will be reverse eye and just over 3" thick, a little thinner than my current packs. They will articulate the same, achieve 3" more lift than my current setup, and be stiffer laterally. DMZ already checked clearance and Tim is designing a new front hanger. We can reuse the shackles, just need to add washer faces. The spring perches will need to be wider and some new springs plates will be fabbed.
Thick leaf packs are more of a problem for spring over setups as they reduce up travel. for a spring under, they reduce ground clearance. Both type of rear suspension can benefit from going to wider packs. You just have to be comfortable with the supporting mods. Hopefully I can wrap this up before the end of the year and finally fix my saggy rear for good.
I've been talking with Jeff at Deaver and Tim at DMZ. It's never been done before, but I am going to install some wider 3" leaf packs. They will be reverse eye and just over 3" thick, a little thinner than my current packs. They will articulate the same, achieve 3" more lift than my current setup, and be stiffer laterally. DMZ already checked clearance and Tim is designing a new front hanger. We can reuse the shackles, just need to add washer faces. The spring perches will need to be wider and some new springs plates will be fabbed.
Thick leaf packs are more of a problem for spring over setups as they reduce up travel. for a spring under, they reduce ground clearance. Both type of rear suspension can benefit from going to wider packs. You just have to be comfortable with the supporting mods. Hopefully I can wrap this up before the end of the year and finally fix my saggy rear for good.
