Replace old with new OEM or custom leafs?

My factory leaf springs are shot. Several thousand miles of travel trailer towing and they’re done. My question, should I get Alcan’s or stick with OEM replacements from General Springs/Atlas/ATS?

Details: I am going with all Icon shocks, replacing 100% stock non-TRD parts. I’ll likely go with one of the middle settings on the front coil overs, maybe 1.9”, and will be adding ~.5 to the back with the Roadmaster suspension kit I’m getting to help with towing. All of my off-roading is gravel or dirt roads with occasional driving on unimproved land(slowly). I’m not interested in leveling the truck, just increasing performance and feel/comfort.

I want high-speed on-road performance with some time on iffy roads, and still be able to comfortably tow 7,500 pounds. I also have roughly 100 pounds in the back on a daily basis so not much to worry about there.

Thoughts? The price of the OEM replacements is obviously much nicer but I don’t know what I don’t know and I can’t find any threads anywhere on this question. Everything is Deaver vs Dobinson vs Alcan, etc.

 

Nobody? I can’t be the only one replacing stock springs with similar.

I’ll also have to decide on regular vs HD springs if I go OEM replacement, although they may not be needed if the Roadmaster kit is installed.

 

I just replaced my factory with Alcans and am very happy. Good ride loaded and unloaded. Better loaded though. Much less sag.
Ryan

 

New oem springs will last as long as what you have now. For what your describing, do you need new springs? If you’re adding the RAS, that is going to take some load off of your existing springs. It doesn’t sound like you need a higher performance offroad leaf pack. Maybe a local spring shop can rework your current leaf pack, add another spring in and then combined with the RAS you’ll be fine?
It doesn’t sound like you want much lift

 

Correct, no real need for a higher performance off-road leaf pack. I think I need new springs as the current springs are flat unloaded and rear sags more than when it was newer, so I was looking at potential upgrades when replacing them. I’ll tow and haul more in the next few years than ever which had me considering springs with a higher payload rating, and my thought was the Roadmaster may keep the new OEMs alive but I don’t know what I don’t know.

Lots to consider and I’m hoping I can hit an easy button with my selection and not worry about it again for a while.

 

Whatever you decide, please don't add long shackles to stock springs and bump stops. See so many cases of lifts with shackles, many don't realize when the truck is loaded to the bump stops that long shackle is forcing the spring down beyond it's limit. Result.. flattened springs.

 

Where are you located? I have oem take-offs for sale if interested & close. 60k miles on them (no towing/hauling). I’m in N VA.

 

Texas

 

Might not work out

 

I’m guessing not.

 

This is one of those should-be-obvious things I had never heard or thought about. I had no plans to do so but appreciate the heads up!

 

I also have a set of stock springs in SC for sale.

 

Probably not worth shipping but I might be interested.

 

I will be likely be coming through Texas in Dec on my way to pick up my camper in AZ if you can wait that long. Shipping is crazy for these things. I think i spent $250 shipping my Alcans.
But i am happy to help however I can. Mine have 30k mi on them.

Ryan

 

Dobinson's makes a medium duty leaf pack that will handle quite a bit of extra weight, and only provides about 2" lift over stock, so nothing too drastic. It is a 4 leaf design plus 2 overload leafs. They also make a 5+2 heavy duty pack, but it doesn't sound like you need that.

I have been extremely happy with mine, and they handle extra weight extremely well. They are only around $540 before shipping. I would do this any day over another set of weak stock leafs.

 

https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com...ndra-multi-rate-rxt-leaf-pack-w--add-in-leaf/


Possibly free shipping

 

Dobinson's HD springs here, rides like a Cadillac.

 

Still a 2” lift with the HD springs? I’ve read nothing but good about Dobinson’s so far.

 

Quite a bit being how much? The stock springs actually did semi-ok early on so the medium duty ones may serve me well. I really didn’t want to lift the truck but it looks like I’m being forced into it.

I was thinking about going with the 1.9” lift already via the coil overs, so it’s not like it’s any big deal though. If the Dobinson leafs are that good I may not bother with the Roadmaster setup.

 

I'd say 2.5, got about 3" total but also have Roadmaster HD active suspension kit. Yellow sumo springs for bump stops. Ironman greasable shackles, Bilstein 5160s. Really happy with the set up. Heavy bastards to get up there. 285/75 yoko go15s coming soon.

 

If you're changing springs anyway get the HD you will not regret. Many thin springs produce a smooth ride and lots of capacity.

 

I wouldn’t need the extra capacity 95% of the time but due to the increased amount of towing I’ll be doing in the next few years it’s not the worst idea. The stock springs are depressingly weak.

 

I had a full set of my stock wheels and tires, my toolbox and tools in the back, and honestly it didn't look like the springs came up at all after I unloaded it all lol. They are certainly beefy, and honestly I haven't had them long enough to fully test them out with lots of heavy loads or towing.

I also have a set of Timbren bump stops that helped me a ton since the stock springs were so weak. I still have them, but need spacers now (I added an adjustable shackle to achieve 3" of total lift).

But like you, I don't need tons of extra capacity most of time. But when it is needed, I expect it to be up to the task. So far these have impressed me. So have the Dobinsons front springs and twin tube shocks. It feels like a truck finally, but not like an unloaded F-350 lol.

 

As you can see @CoffeeAddict I still need to space up my Timbren bump stops. However even without those, the springs can hold some serious weight without tons of sag like the OEM ones. And the price point is damn good too.

 

May be the easy button...

On their site they don’t offer the HD springs on their own but I’ve emailed them. Looks like standard or HD they’re both a good option, the standard specs are +330lbs capacity.

 

Boss off road, talk to Anthony, very helpful guy! Always kept me informed and kept on Dobinson's until they shipped.

 

I Haven't seen anyone recommend Deaver yet. I had stock springs with toytech shackles, I have king 2.5's front and back and when i added my bed rack and tent my springs flattened. Then I added towing my tritoon to the list and it was a no go. My stock springs lasted a total of 3k miles on the truck. I did alot of research and found if I wanted to keep a good ride but add hauling weight that a deaver leaf pack was the way to go. I talked to Matt over at mcm fab and he sent me a set of the deaver u748's. Just changing the springs i was shocked at how much better my truck rode over stock. It was plush but firm under load. I have sense got rid of the bed rack and added an A.R.E cx hd topper with the tent on top/awning/co2 tank in the bed/Jack/Spare 35/waterport/tools. I still dont sag and can tow my tritoon just fine at about level or a little above. The deaver u748's are perfect being they add 500lbs capacity. Give matt at mcm fab a call and see what he has to say.

 

Just looked at my rear shock specs, I have the ICON 56506 2.0 VS shocks. They say 0-1.5” lift, so I may be back to the drawing board here vs getting the Dobinsons.

 

I have on order King shocks from Accutune. I also have a camper shell on order (RLD Design, 250lb), and long term I'm planning on doing something like a decked system, but probably trying to do it myself. My rear springs look a little rough from the previous owner's boat towing - little flattened and a good bit of surface oxidation. I'm planning to order new rear leafs as well.

Currently leaning towards the Icon RTX, Option 2. Although I also really like the Deaver U748. I've heard the Deaver's are a little underrated, so you may really need to load them down before they really feel right.

I was going to install the rear leaf springs at the same time I do the kings (hopefully the next month, ordered ~April with an ~June estimate). But I think I'll wait until I get the camper shell. Otherwise I'm afraid I'll have given myself potentially 6+ months of a worse ride while I wait on the camper shell to balance out the weight.

 

Look at the specs on my Bilstein 5160s, Im at a solid 2.5" and no problem here. Yes, they might ride a bit better if the pressure was greater, but I also have more compression room before they reach their yield. Kinda give and take I guess.