3", 4", 6"

First off, I'm a noobie, so if I am using terms that are a little barney style or even wrong, please feel free to correct me.

I just purchased an 07 Taco Access Cab TRD Off Road 4x4 w/ a rear locker.

I am looking to lift this guy up for more ground clearance and performance on some rocks, muddy trails, and all around fun.

I have gone to the local shop (family owned, my family has been going to for years) and they suggested two options to me. A basic kit, that will give it 3" TRAXDA lift with a 1" rear level lift and a suggested 285 tire. Not exactly what I was looking for but they quoted me $700 installed (Without wheels and tires) which wasn't a bad price at all. Now I'm quite sure that isn't a true suspension lift. I am looking for a complete suspension coil over lift kit. Option two was a BDS Fox 6" coil over kit. This sounded more appealing to me but then he quoted me $4000 installed.... No thanks.

I have about $4000 total that I want to spend on a kit and tires and I'd like to have something that is a happy medium for everything. Mediums being: doesn't kill my gas mileage, doesn't kill my power, reliability, doesn't kill my ride and comfort, but also performance to do some of the cool stuff I see y'all doing on the youtube vids.

So, I need some rig suggestions. How reliable are spacers? What can I get that won't break the bank? Labor will be done by my dad and myself (dad's got a lot of experience) When you suggest the setups, please suggest full kits.. I want a kit out there that I won't have to buy 20 different parts or start installing the lift and end up needing another 20 parts that I didn't even know about.
Ideally, I'd like to run 4" coil over kit with upgrading UCA's if needed, and a 285 tire so I won't rub at full turn or full flex.
HELP ME PLZ

 

Just realize anything over 3" will require a drop bracket.

What tire size do you plan to run?

How often are you going to wheel it?

My best advice if you plan to go over 3" do it right. It takes more to get a drop bracket lift to perform well and more money of course. Most drop bracket companies also are geared more towards looks than actual offroad capability so keep that in mind.

 

Drop bracket lifts require cutting and re-welding the cross-member. I'd stick with a 3" lift from Old Man Emu, Icon, Fox, King, or ADS. Any of them can be installed at home with the proper tools. Go with a full leaf pack in the rear - popular options are Deaver, All-Pro, and Dakars (Old Man Emu). Many vendors offer these setups in a package that have everything you need to install. If lifting over 2", you will likely need new UCA's as well - Light Racing makes good, cheap replacements, other options are out there as well. Depending on how much offroading you do, extended brake lines may also be needed if you're going to flex-out your new lift.

 

Get the OME 3" Lift Kit with Dakar leaf pack, don't do the front dif drop and get some Light Racing UCAs. If you get bad vibrations call ECGS and get their bushing (might be a bearing not sure which is correct term) installed. If you have a few buddies that are handy and you are as well you can easily install the lift in your driveway. Take it to a shop for the bushing/bearing. That will leave plenty of money for bigger tires and alignment. Great lift that a lot of guys run. If you don't put a front bumper on get the 884/885 front coils.

Or call Toytec, AllPro, Wheelers offroad, Down South MotorSports, etc etc. But find a place that is big with Tacoma's because otherwise they are going to try and sell you spacers or some Rough Country BS. Check out the Vendor section on the forum as well and read some reviews and what not. Wheelers is in Oregon so I am a little biased to them but they have nothing but great reviews.

 

So I just found this kit. Any reviews? Can't find any reliable reviews online...

http://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-...AsmEe7vw5Uph0wdpnUG9LgJsVwiBCZrMnIaAjg08P8HAQ

If I hear anything bad about this (only costs 1k..probably too good to be true) than I will go with the ICON stage 3 extended travel kit.

https://trdparts4u.toyotaofdallas.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=-9323

Only thing is, what other parts will I need to install this kit?

 

Rough Country is garbage. Their lifts are weak and for show only. The Icon looks good but you will want extended brake lines and probably the ECGS bushing. Some guys don't need that bushing and you won't know until after lift is installed.

 

Wait, so are you trying to get a really reliable off road vehicle or do want wheel well height and to off road occasionally? Because like everyone has said, a DB lift isn't in your budget as far as having it work well off road. That icon kit would be good but if you want more lift you could go with OME 887 coils and the dakar leaf pack in the rear. You're also going to definitely want to get UCA's, included with the kit or not, you should be able to order them from the same company.

 

What is ECGS bushing?

How much lift would that ICON stage 3 give me?

I think I've decided to stick with 3" of lift and run a 285/75R16 or 17

I drive about a hundred miles a day for work. So I'd like to have a lift and tire setup that's reliable off road but also doesn't punish me every time I drive it on the road.

 

I approve these messages. Love my OME kit!

Just put a full 3" OME lift kit on my brothers 2015 2 weeks ago. Baptizing it in mud next weekend!

 

I will be putting the Pelfreybilt aluminum bumper replacement on the truck. Will I need extra support for the extra weight? Will it affect my lift at all and bring it down an inch or two?

 

I would get the 886s coils to be safe; especially if you plan on adding a winch down the road.

 

No you won't need anything extra with that Icon kit for the bumper. OME just makes really stiff coils for truck with bumpers or softer ones for those without. The Icons should handle just fine.

***For $600+ dollars less, you can go full OME 3" with Dakars (full leaf pack replacement), LR UCAs & extended brake lines. Just being mindful of the budget you listed especially since you'll need a full size spare and are you planning on getting after market wheels?

 

http://www.oldmanemu.com.au/old-man-emu-suspension-selector/

Checking out the OME now... Says I would only get 1.5" of lift in the front?

 

Any possible way you could post a link to that kit?

 

http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/OME-Tacoma-Suspension-lift-kit_p_231.html

You want 886 Coils with the top plate space (it helps level out the driver side lean and provide a full 3" lift. Then the Dakar leaf pack. No diff drop. give or take about $1350

 

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/ome-lift-kits-tacoma-05-6-lug.html

90000 struts
Light Racing UCAs

He also got the U bolt flip kit and longer brake lines from All-Pro And superbumps all around from Wheeler's Offroad.

 

I don't think he'll sag much in the front, the 886's are pretty stiff and an aluminum bumper ways what, like 60lbs? And then depending on the winch he chooses, if he chooses one, he isn't going to be over 200lbs. I'd say he should be fine with 887's if he wants 3 inches of lift and he won't have to use the top plate spacer on the 885's

 

One of those options is a top plate spacer... I hear the word spacer and immediately run... although I'm not sure what a top plate spacer is.

Love the yellow and black look. My Tacoma is black and I was either going to run a black and red setup or black and yellow.

 

I would be curious to know what coils others run with an aluminum bumper and an OME kit..

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/367047-cheap-but-good-lift.html

Read BJMoose.

Then look him up and check out his truck. It's not crazy over the top, but quite capable.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/357494-bjmoose-daily-driver-build.html