Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

When it comes to vehicle modifications, most folks are usually looking for a few quick and easy upgrades they can install on their own. These do not always equate to improved performance, but we found one that does. What we found is a quality Toyota Tacoma upgrade from RoadActive Suspension (RAS) that is designed for overlanding and towing. What’s more, this suspension upgrade can easily be installed in less than one hour. RoadActive also has kits for other various makes and models too.

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

After packing up the rig with campers, racks, rooftop tents, and pounds of gear, overland enthusiasts might settle in for the pains of driving an overloaded vehicle. A white-knuckled driving experience full of bounce and squat can be a thing of the past. With an easy installation, the RAS® RoadActive Suspension adds critical strength and stability to leaf spring suspension systems.

RAS Toyota Tacoma Upgrade Installation

Just how easy is this RAS Toyota Tacoma upgrade to install? We got a tip about a RAS customer, David McMahan, who just recently purchased and installed the RoadActive Suspension (RAS) Kit ID: 4614-SAT on his 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

“The entire installation took less than one hour and was completed with basic hand tools in my driveway. It was definitely one of the easiest installs I’ve done. My wife even helped”!
– David McMahan

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

David continues, “The RoadActive Suspension kit has two settings. The first setting (1mm white disk) adds 25-percent additional carrying load. The second setting (2mm black disk) increases the load-carrying capacity to 40-percent over the factory. I adjusted my kit to the first setting as I do not tow on a regular basis, but this setting has been great for daily driving. If I need to tow or load up the bed, I can simply adjust the springs and increase the carrying capacity within a few minutes time.”

RoadActive Suspension On The Tacoma TRD Pro

Explaining a little more about his needs and vehicle criteria, David points out that the Tacoma TRD Pro platform is a little different from the standard Tacoma. “From the factory, the 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro came with a Bilstein 2-inch lift in the front and a remote-reservoir Bilstein 0-inch lift in the rear. This is set at the factory Tacoma height, the rear being raked 1 inch higher than the front, but the Bilstein shocks increase wheel travel. Over time I noticed the rear leaf springs were sagging. The rear was no longer level with the front and measured ½-inch lower than the front.”

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

“I did quite a bit of research before installing the RoadActive Suspension System and looked into complete leaf spring replacements, add-a-leaf helpers, and even airbag systems’, explains McMahan. “For my application, the RoadActive Suspension System just made sense as typically these trucks come from the factory with the 1-inch higher rear to accommodate for loading/towing and the RAS kit lifted the rear 1.5 inches to give my truck the perfect stance. Now the rear is 1 inch higher than the front and it looks great again with no more sag.”

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

He concludes, “My overall thoughts on product quality were that it was a very well-put-together kit, and the instructions were clear. I would recommend this to anyone with basic knowledge of automotive installs, even a beginner could tackle this. The parts feel high quality, which attests to the fact that the company has been around for nearly 25 years.”

RoadActive Suspension is made in the USA!

RAS Toyota Tacoma Upgrade Benefits

How does this RAS Toyota Tacoma upgrade perform? We had to follow up with David and hear firsthand what he thinks about the difference it has made.

Off Road Xtreme: What are the noticeable differences between before and after the RAS was installed?

David McMahan: I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the truck drove immediately after installation. The truck felt more solid around turns and the RAS even reduced axle wrap which is a known issue on Tacomas. The trucks are also known to have leaf springs sag over time. Now, my truck no longer squats when loading the bed or towing. It feels safer to have this kit installed because I know it can handle the increased load.

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

I was honestly surprised by how nice the truck drove after installation. It improved the ride quality, load carrying capacity, towing stability/handling, and reduced squat with or without a load in all driving situations I encountered.

I really like how the Roadactive Suspension System doesn’t need maintenance or adjustments either. Overall, I would definitely recommend this system to all truck owners out there!

Are There Any Limitations Or Drawbacks Of A RAS?

ORX: What are you able to do now as opposed to limitations before, or are there limitations now after the RAS?

DM: At first, I was a bit concerned that this kit would limit my off-roading ability. After testing it out myself, it doesn’t seem to limit my abilities in any situation that I encounter. Now granted, if someone is into extreme off-roading with a full long travel rearend and the full works, then this kit would not be for them. Full long travel kits could potentially experience limited down travel for those individuals. However, those trucks are not exactly ideal for towing. For me though, any standard beginner/intermediate off-roading was not an issue and it performed flawlessly.

RoadActive Suspension (RAS) Main Benefits:

  • Reduce Rear Squat & Bounce
  • Improve Stability
  • Improve Road handling & Stability
  • Make RVing Safer
  • Reduce Axle Wrap
  • No Readjustments or Maintenance
  • Free Shipping
  • 5 Year Warranty
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

RAS RoadActive Suspension Upgrade For Most Applications

David McMahan’s 2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is not exactly a novelty. Out of the 179,562 Tacomas sold in 2015, there were only 1,193 total Tacoma TRD Pro trucks. And only 417 were produced in the rare Inferno Orange color making this a somewhat rare pickup truck. Nevertheless, there is a Roadactive Suspension system designed specifically for this vehicle and also for the most popular makes and models alike.

RoadActive Suspension makes kits for vehicles with rear leaf suspension systems on Toyota, Dodge, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mercedes, and Nissan platforms. They even have a few heavy-duty applications in the catalog.

Easy Toyota Tacoma Upgrade For Overland And Towing

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About the author

Micah Anderson

Micah is a 20 year authority in the off-road industry with extensive experience founded on marketing, events, and racing. Professionally skilled in all things creative, Micah is passionate about faith, freedom, and anything powered by adventure.
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