I need help. Getting lift as I speak!

Make a list of what parts you need.

Email it to whatever vendors you're interested in.

See who replies and how, and that'll show you both their customer service and price. Decide from there which deserves your business.

I personally saved over $200 on my kit from @HeadStrong Off-Road compared to Wheeler's, and I absolutely hate that Wheeler's can't give you a shipping quote - so you never actually know what they're charging you until you've already been charged and the items get delivered. That and poor customer service has led me to better vendors, but some items are only sold by Wheeler's so that is what it is.

 

Hey - sorry about not replying.... Didn't see the notification that I'd been tagged.....

My alignment numbers were pretty good - not great.... 2.5 and 2.4 caster (L/R), .4 and .7 camber (L/R) and slight negative toe (-.1). I would have like to have seen a bit more caster (2.8 - 3) and 0 camber but it drives good. No wander and it tracks straight. I'll run it for a few hundred miles and check it again since I have the lifetime alignment from Firestone. I'm on stock UCA's and am saving for LR's. Have to start from scratch unfortunately because I jumped on the Avid light bar group buy and my mod fund has taken a hit.........

To your other questions - I did the 1/4" spacer to correct for taco lean (driver side only). I also ponied up the dollars for strut assembly from Headstrong.. Just worth it to me. I was lucky to find a local custom shop that did my install for $225 all-in. Front and rear shocks, driver side spacer and AAL. Pretty good deal IMO. I probably could have done it myself but with kids, soccer and my "honeydo" list, time is money in my world. Easier to just pay for it........

 

1st piece of advice; Headstrong Offroad. From there, everything else is easy.

Beyond that,

Pay for strut assembly. Money well spent even if you can do it yourself.

Stay under 2-1/2" of lift and save money. In most cases, that allows you to avoid buying new UCA's. Saves $300 to $600 right off the bat.

Use "taco lean spacer" . On my truck, I needed to use a 1/2" spacer to get level side to side. Most do it with 1/4".

I went with Bilstein 5100's and I'm 100% pleased with the results.

885X coils. Avoid using coils (ie, stock) that need to have preload (ie, 5100's set @ anything besides 0")

Deavers 2" AAL is a good balance of lift, stiffness, and load carrying ability for Tacoma's. Dakars are good, but I'm not convinced such a small truck needs such a heavy duty leaf pack.

I've done the above. Truck rides excellent, looks great, provides great on and off road performance, and didn't explode my bank account. ($733 from Headstrong)

 

What do you refer by strut assembly?

 

They install the coil springs on the shock, including a new "top hat".....No need for a spring compressor.

 

Making it 100x better and easier for someone to install themselves right?

 

Can I ask what is the price for this assembly?

 

Yeah, for the most part. If you're mechanically inclined, there is a way to install shocks/coils WITHOUT a spring compressor, essentially using the weight of the truck to compress the coils, but for the average backyard mechanic, having struts assembled by vendor is FAR easier. And you get a new top hat to boot. Often the old one is beginning the break down once miles start to pile up.

 

Around $90 usually.

 

^^^ I did this exactly with the same results. I was perfectly level with the 1/4" spacer.

Bluegrass Taco speaks the truth!

 

Yes @Bluegrass Taco you've been amazing rescue to our questions. Appreciate your time. Can I ask where you guys from? I'm form souther Cali.

 

I'm in PA - about 25 miles outside of Philly. Right on the PA/NJ border.

 

Are those standard rear 5100s that you are pairing with Dakars?

 

Doubt it. They're not long enough to work with Dakars.

 

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if they were simply because I don't see the RCD sticker on the shocks. If this is in fact the case they will still work, the problem is they fully extend too quick and because the rebound doesn't fight the spring rate well with these packs they are more prone to internal damage.

So they are not ideal shocks for these packs at all, but can work if all you do with the truck is commute to and from work. Also I see extended rear brake lines included as part of the kit, though new lines are a "nice to have" they are not needed because of the extended length of the shocks.

 

Indeed.

My extended rear lines I bought for extra insurance, but I have more than enough length in the stock rear lines than I'm worried about. I might do them one day just for shits and giggles, or I'll sell them to someone who needs them - but definitely not needed.

 

It took me 4 months to really learn what a lift is, what the types are and what the ramifications installing of each are. There is a lot to learn here, above and beyond just how high the truck is. At this point I know exactly what I want and need. The problem now is deciding how much I want to spend and what I am willing to compromise as a result of spending less.

 

Glad I can help! I'm in North Central Kentucky, about 25 miles south east of Louisville, not far from Bardstown. Right smack in the heart of bourbon country!

 

I really think they are, they said they would work with springs. But did a little more research and found they don't. Jumped the gun to fast. Had first the ome sport shocks but found all the bad reviews so I changed them for 5100s. Hopefully I can have them exchange them for the right ones. How can you tell the difference. And please don't need a shit storm I see it to much on here.

 

Talk to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road . Tell her what you want for your truck. She has helped MANY TacomaWorld members figure out what the heck they should really use. She knows her stuff.

I originally bought a complete Old Man Emu setup with 887 coils up front. Marie helped me a ton over the phone to discuss my needs and help me determine what I should really get to do what I wanted to do. And they had the best price I could find as well - shipping included. She makes it easy!