Opinions on budget setup

Hello all! I have been debating on what parts I want to use to get my taco a little bit more off road ready. I believe that I have finally settled on the bare essentials, but due to the face that I am new to the game on modifications I would like some opinions on the parts that I'm thinking of.

First comes the front suspension. as you would expect, Bilstein 5100's with stock coils (for now)
http://tinyurl.com/gkpjkkd
I don't think there will be much debating on that decision.

Onto the rear. A 2 inch Tuff Country Add-a-Leaf. I am aware that a progressive AAL would have a better ride, I just don't have that kind of money.
http://tinyurl.com/z8lmunb

Finally onto the tires, I have decided on 285/75R16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires on the stock steel wheels (Once again for now)
http://tinyurl.com/julyhsh

I made a spreadsheet to show the prices of everything, just for shits and giggles






----------------------------------------FUTURE MODS-------------------------------------------

Beefier coils of some type
Hubcentric wheel spacers 1.5-2.25 inch
Pro-Comp Series 51 Steel wheels (16 Inch)http://tinyurl.com/hnmrvsh
Light bars, Lots and lots of light bars.
Plate bumpers, bought on front, custom on rear
Winch
Halo headlights http://tinyurl.com/zav7rog
Black tail lights http://tinyurl.com/hgq3p59

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I think that is it for now, any constructive criticism is welcomed. Thanks!

 

I don't think 285s on stocks will work

 

I never, ever recommend AALs. I used one one time on a 97 Jeep Cherokee that I built, and that thing was sagging worse than pre-lift within about three months. Essentially, that AAL is just 'renting' you the lifted height, and it won't stay at it for long. I'd recommend saving up for a bit more until you can get a good, solid leaf back. A lot of guys around here use Deaver.

Someone else chime in if they know a better full leaf pack.

 

As an aside, as a fellow Excel enthusiast, well done, sir!

I use Excel for everything from grocery lists, to pro/con lists, to my finances, etc. My wife makes fun of me all the time for it haha. Most useful tool ever!

 

What do you mean by that? Like not being able to seat the bead or back spacing issues?

 

Yes it is, very useful! I use it almost on a daily basis

 

This..my AAL lasted 3k of towing/hauling nothing. Save up and get the progressive AAL. Do it one and do it right and don't rush just to get it done; that's how you end up spending more money in the long run..

 

backspacing issue, I believe the 285s would rub the UCAs if ran them on the stock wheels

 

It looks like you could save money on the 5100s by shopping somewhere else. Wheelers has them for $167 for the pair instead of $208.

 

Do you think that could be remedied with a set of spacers? since I'm planning on getting them anyway I have no problem getting a set now. New wheels is just completely out of the question at this point.

 

That's good information to hear. the cheaper I can get em, the better I like em! Just looked at Wheelers website, that cuts the price in half considering Wheelers sells them as a pair and SSD sells them individually.

 

Try @HeadStrong Off-Road

They almost always beat the pricing of Wheeler's.. I saved almost $400 on my kit with Marie, compared to Wheeler's.

YMMV.

That said, for a budget lift I went with 5100s at all 4 corners plus the Wheeler's Offroad 3 leaf progressive AAL (more on this at the end). It was all under $500 and rode great, kept my overload in the rear and got 2" lift out back, and ran the 5100s at 1.75" and it looked good IMO, rode nice - road manners were a little wonky though.

The Wheeler's Offroad 3 leaf progressive AAL is the exact same as the Icon/ToyTec/etc,. 3 leaf progressive AAL - they're all made by the same manufacturer to the same specs and sold with different stickers by each company. Wheeler's was (and likely still is) the cheapest. So, you save $50-60 off the bat by using their branded 3 leaf than the Icon branded 3 leaf, and getting the same end result.

 

Sub'd for after taxes are paid.

 

dcsbftw what do you mean when you say that it road nice but the road manners were a little wonky?

 

Others have had similar complaints of 5100s at 1.75.

Alignment was in spec.

Darting under braking, tendency to wander while driving, follows ruts in roadway.

I couldn't get a good enough alignment to make it go away.

 

I agree.... I did the AAL and regret it. Go full leaf pack or do nothing until you have enough for the full pack.

 

yep, thats what you need

 

I don't see any labor in your spread sheet or a cost for mount and balance of tires.

But I do see a split cost line. Santa goes help out??

 

I plan on doing the work myself. as to the mount and balance. I have a connection at the local tire shop that can do them for next to nothing.

And yes I am hoping to have a little help from my parents, a thousand dollars is a thousand dollars, I'll take all the help I can get.

 

I have updated my spreadsheet, with prices from the local tire shop. $210 out the door, mounted, ballenced, and installed. Went down to 265/75r16 the price is slightly cheaper now. And the tires come with a nationwide roadside assistance, and free rotation at any "tire pros" location