Which Lift Should I install?

I recently bought a nice 2004 Tacoma with 21,000 original miles on it. I have been reading a lot about lifts and just want to get an overall feel of what lifts people out there like.

I talked to the dealer and I can get a Toytec 3 inch lift installed. I think it is the AAL. But I have been reading a lot on this forum and just want an idea of what else is out there.

Also, how benificial are the Bilstein 5100's and can I use them with a Toytec lift or should I not even bother?

And will a 3'' lift affect my gas mileage, even if I keep the tires stock?

Thanks for the help...

 

i have the toytec 3in and i really like it. my only down fall is i should have done a 6in lift. but yes your mpg is going to go down but not much... only a mile or two PG if that. mine only went down 3ish mpg and i added 33/12.5. so i wouldnt let mpg bother you too much. also i have read and heard good things about the toytec so IMO get it

 

sweet taco. 21k mi. saawwweeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!! wanna sell it? J/K. welcome to TW

 

Thanks...No I can't sell it. I looked forever for a nice Tacoma with lowish miles. I hope to put 200k on this rig and don't plan on selling or upgrading to a 2nd gen for at least 10 years. Now that I got the rig I want it's time to accessorize...

 

your mileage wont go down If you keep your tire size. Although it will look funy, and you wll quickly want bigger tires.
Nice find by the way!

 

All right...So is there a 2" lift I could do instead that wouldn't look as funny? As many 1st gens my taco sits higher in the back. I'd like to at least level it out but would also consider an AAL or 5100's.

Will 5100's all around lift it 2" and level it out?

Thanks...

 

You can still do the 5100's all around, And do an 1" AAL or block like mine in the rear and set the front to 1.75" lift in the front. And that will level you out pretty good, and still look good with the 265's. But If you want the front to be exactly 2" then you could throw in a 1/4" top plate spacer that ToytecLifts.com sells.

 

What's a block?

If I set my shocks to 1.75 how will that affect my ride?

And where is the best place to pick up some 5100's?

 

Well a block is baically a spacer block that you put under your leaf springs to lift the truck. I would NOT recommend anything over 1" lift for blocks. Just bc they can cause more axle wrap and wear out your springs quicker. But a 1" should be just fine.

the 5100's should ride pretty good at the 1.75" lift, it might a little stiffer but not bad.
And alot of places are all on backorder. but the best place to get them would be DownSouthMotors, they're a vendor here on TW.

 

5100's are good. If you want a full 3 inch lift and dont mind a rougher ride then the spacer lift would be fine. Gas mileage has nothing to do with lift, how much tire is needing to be pushed around is what determines mpg. the larger and wider the tires the more gas it takes to get those tires rolling and up to speed.