Practical for me?

I don't rock climb. I don't race the truck or jump it. It will never see a sand dune.

I know people hate spacers, but I don't ever see my shocks being extended enough to matter and my needs don't justify the $1,000+ for an OME.

Truck will be used 99% on the highway. I also don't tow anything heavy.

The craziest thing I will do is take the truck back into my deep woods hunting area.

I will not be putting in spacers unless the AAL creates enough rake and I need to level the truck out.

So, with that said, is this setup practical for me?

I will be putting 265/70/17 BFGoodrich KO2's on with this.

Thanks for the input!




http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/NEW-3-Lift-With-front-coils-rear-options_p_233.html

 

What setup is that? I don't think we can know for sure without a name or part number, although a guess is possible from the picture.

 

i think you will be pretty pleased with that on 5100's check out wheelersoffroad.com u can get the front shocks for ~$170 and those eibach coils for ~$170 amd i think u can even get and AAL set for ~$75. the rear shocks ride a bit better but if your stocks arent wore out theres no real need to replace them right now.

 

Could get 5100's on stock coils and a progressive AAL vs the single AAL. The single AAL rides really rough and causes premature sagging of the stock leafs. mine lasted 3k before I replaced it with a full leaf pack.

 

First post updated with link to the setup.

I didn't know stock coils will work with 5100's. For the 5100's, I'm looking at $369 for just the shocks, then would need to find the progressive AAL. Who sells that?

 

Wheelers offroad. They should have an Icon pack as well I believe

 

For 3 years, I've run the same tire diameter and width that you're running with a top plate spacer (2" leveling kit) that I paid less than $100 for and installed myself in a few hours. It sits perfectly level with the back, and I've had zero issues with it. I drive highway 99.99% of the time and I don't off-road. Just make sure you get an alignment. Check out page 8-9 of my photos to see what it looks like.

 

I to am running a2" spacer level [Ebay] with a single leaf AALCut from a wrecked Tundra total cost around $50 and a days labor. I do some mild offroading just to get to my house and do haul and tow. It rides like a truck should and doesn't sag under load. I am an official member of the American cheapskate club but I believe my system is as good as any out there for the purpose intended.

 

You could always pay $315 w/free shipping for the 5100s, but its up to you.

 

That looks really good and exactly what I am going for. So your kit had nothing but spacers, no AAL?

Do you recall who made it or which specific kit it was?

You are saying use the stock springs with the 5100's and just buy an AAL for the rear?




Here's my stance on this. I want a little better look, that's it. I will never have an aftermarket bumper, or winch, or tow a camper up the side of a mountain. Ever.

Perfect example, I have ~$1500 worth of audio equipment in the truck, sounds amazing. I ride around with it on mute half the time. , I know right.

 

You also want something that is of good quality. I would never put a $150 spacer lift on my 35k truck. Ever.

 

I agree a 100%. I'll do some price comparison and see.

Here is what I have found so far.

5100's w/ stock spring - $320ish

1.5" or 2" AAL - $75ish

That puts me at ~$400 before a military discount (hopefully).

That's not a bad price at all.

@geekhouse23, how much experience do you have running the stock springs on the 5100's? Also, the rear of the truck will be an AAL. I wouldn't feel comfortable dropping $200+ on that progressive leaf pack.

 

I have a full Old Man Emu lift and no experience with 5100's but I know people run them with good results.

AAL I had before the Dakar leaf pack and it was awful. Lasted 3k before I had enough and swapped in a replacement leaf pack. The Progressive AAL pack will be 10x better than a single AAL. Trust me. Do NOT get a single AAL. Learn from my mistake.

 

If I go that route, I'm telling the wife it was your fault.

 

Sub'd for outcome

 

I'm with Bubba. I don't off road but may sparingly drive on the beach to the fishing spot in the fall. I've got around a ~3inch spacer lift up front and 2inch AAL in the rear. Got it from another member on here for the price of shipping (~$25). Installed myself with the help of some members on here on a "mod day" and it's exactly what I wanted and expected. The only issue is with the front being that high I can't get it aligned 100% in spec without getting new UCAs but they still got it within the guidelines and it rides pretty true. No complaints from me. Long story short - it's your truck. Do what you want that fits your style and your budget and don't let someone persuade you to spending more for equipment you won't need.

 

I don't remember. I think Readylift sells them. It is a 2" leveling kit and NO AAL. Alignment was within spec.... anything over 2" and you might have alignment issues and you'll be sitting 'nose high'. You definitely will have alignment issues with stock UCA's at 3", so you'd need new UCA's (Light Racing UCA's probably). That all applies to any lift, not just top plate spacer lifts.

I recommend 2", personally. Fewer issues to worry about, and doesn't need an AAL to look good.

A top plate spacer is so simple, there's no reason for it to cost a lot of money. I agree it should be of good quality, because they take a lot of force. But spacers aren't cheap because they are bad quality, they're cheap because they cost virtually nothing to manufacture.

The mindset that top plate spacers are the devil is stupid and over-simplified. For someone that drives highways almost all the time, like myself and OP, a good quality spacer is perfectly fine..

 

I have a .5" spacer up front on my OME kit

 

yeah a lot of people run those with their OME lifts. 0.5" doesn't cause extra droop resulting in bottoming out the strut before hitting the bump stops, so no one complains about them. However, 2" or 3" top plate spacers are too tall and can cause the strut to turn into the bump stop...which is why everyone's afraid of them. (just some info for OP). But if you're driving highways, you probably won't ever have to worry about that.

 

@ThunderCookies How do you like the 2" AAL? Does it sit level with the 3" spacer up front?

Only reason I ask is because I am leaning towards a 2" spacer lift if I go that route. I will not be buying new UCA's.

Great info. Thanks.

I have read a TON about this issue, but don't fully understand it. I need to get under the truck and see how the spacer being to tall would cause the strut to hit the bump stop.

Question for everyone

We are talking about a 2" spacer lift here. Wouldn't I be able to buy the adjustable Bilstein's and adjust them to roughly 2", use stock springs (or 884's) and not have to worry about the whole strut fucking the bump stop issue?

And I am going with an AAL. Not going to fork out for extra stuff I don't believe I need.