4banger Lift?

Hey everyone, I've been doing a fair bit of research lately and have decided to make my truck sit up a little higher. I'm looking at about a 3" lift kit from either toytech lifts? or Tuff Country lifts. My current tires are 235/75r/15 Wranglers. They're pretty knobby tires, and were put on in sept. With that being said, I don't think I'll be putting some new rubber on just yet. My concern is, will a 3" lift have any major effect of my gas mpg? Obviously it will decrease it, but anything ridiculously noticeable? How about power? I do haul my sled in the back and do notice a decrease in mpg but that's a given. I'm looking to lift all around so something that has a full kit would be preferred. When I do end up buying a lift because the truck does sit lower in the front, will I also need a leveller to add to the front? Any help you guys are able to give is greatly appreciated. By the way, to give you specs, it is an 07 2.7 access cab.

 

The lift won't hurt power.
It will hurt MPG by increasing drag.

What's going to kill both power and MPG is going to tires larger than those 235's, which are already pretty tall for stock 2.7 2WD gearing.

I wouldn't go a full 3"... that'll look goofier than a stock 5-lug.

 

Yes it is a 5 lug. I was checking out Rough Country and they have a kit for 249.99 which seems to be fairly easy to install, just time consuming.

 

5 lug, it's going to get expensive real quick to lift the rear since the springs are under the axle.
A 3" lift up front is going to give you a stupid "Bro Lean"

To level the angle out, I'd run a small spacer lift on the front, but not 3". I wouldn't go more than 1.5" (about a 3/4" thick spacer)

 

A buddy of mine just did his 4cy 4x4 and this is what it looks like. How come so expensive though?

 

If 3" is too high, what would be best? 1.5+ leveling in the front and 2" in the back with maybe some wheel spacers to just push my tires out?

 

That's a 4x4, 6 lug.
It comes with larger tires than your 5-lug.
The 5-lug stock tires are 215/70-15, 6-lug takes 265/70-16... That's a nearly 30.5" tire compared to a 26.8" tire.
Even your 235/75-15 are only 28.8"... still much smaller than his stock tires.
The gearing between the two designs is also very different to accommodate the larger tires on the 4x4 and Prerunner.

The 2WD 5-lug suspension is completely different from the 4x4 and 2WD Prerunner suspension.
The parts are not compatible, be careful when shopping for lift components and make sure that you are not buying parts for the 4x4 or PreRunner.

The font end geometry is different, with the 4x4/Prerunner control arms mounted lower on the frame and different shocks/coils.
The rear suspension, 5-lug springs are under the axle, 4x4/Prerunner are over the axle.

Seriously... if you just want "looks", just do enough of a spacer lift to level the front and rear fenders. If you want to build it for off road use, spend the (thousands) for a long travel suspension.


And sorry, but your buddy's truck looks goofy with those small tires and that lift.

 

You can't do 2" in the back without MAJOR work.

Go look under your truck, and look under your buddy's truck.

I'm not even sure that they make the proper wheel spacers for the 5-lug.
You don't want to use the plate spacers... you'll snap your studs.

 

Wow eh, thats some serious work. I've honestly have yet to come across a company that makes a lift for my truck. They're all prerunners and going by the info you've provided, they're two completely different trucks. I took a peak under the rear of my truck, you're right. they're under the axle which looks to be a PITA to work on for any sort of lift. Maybe I should just stick to it being stock and save my money or do some other small things to give it more of a sharper look.

 

I found a 3" lift kit for the 5 lug from fatbobs garage for 229 that includes longer shocks and rear add-a-leafs