What you need to know about lifting a 2016 Tacoma - Presented by Toytec Lifts

I know! It's tough. What size tires you running?

 

Thanks so much for the reply, @0uTkAsT. I really appreciate it. And great questions. First of all, regarding the rear, I'm adding a LEER 100xr canopy which will add upwards of 250lbs. I will also generally always have some surfboards and camping gear in the back. Furthermore, I'm building a little cabin this summer and will be hauling lumber and tools. So, I'm thinking about that while making this decision. But for the most part, just the camping gear and surfboards under the canopy.

Secondly, I'm not sure if I want it raked or level. That's a good question that I haven't really thought of. I guess I am more concerned with having an even amount of space in the front and back wheel wells. Also, I drive on the dirt quite a bit and take my trucks on the beach and down to Baja quite frequently. So, I definitely want a "proper" suspension setup for when I need it. I really loved the OME setup on my last trucks. Seemed to do the job. Not sure why I was recommended the Icon Stage 2, but it sounds like a great kit. Although, with the 265/70/17 I'm afraid it might be "too much" aesthetically. Ugh. I don't know. I'm so confused and you guys probably are now too.

I'd love to see pics and hear what setup people are running with a minimal lift like this. I'll peruse the thread now.

Thanks again! I really appreciate your time and help.

 

I am having the 17" SCS Ray10's today and getting 285/70/17 BFG KO2's or next size smaller!

 

Honestly I'd call Headstrong and talk to Marie. She had great suggestions for me.

You have to balance what you intend to use the truck for and kinda work into it. For example I tend to haul stuff, tow a 18ft alum boat, I hunt birds a lot with dogs, I usually am off road on both flat ground and up mountain trails with a load. I'm involved in Scouting so I'm hauling troop gear everywhere in Montana. I'm pretty certain Dakars are in my future with 887 coils up front. High speed off-road is not something I'll really be encountering.

I don't need an aftermarket bumper or full time winch, and I don't want the truck so high that loading and unloading the bed is a PITA. 265 or 275 size tires are all I want and need. I just need good tread like ST Maxx's.

Marie suggested the OME stock kit as a good baseline for me.

If for some reason I hate the nitro charger shocks- I can swap in 5100's or something else and retain the OME springs.

 

Thanks for taking a look

 

I was in Oregon two weeks ago and spotted your truck in that same spot haha...Small world.

 

Gotcha. That's gonna look killer. Stoked for ya. Wondering if I shouldn't have gotten the 275/70/17. In hindsight, I probably should have, but they're also the 10-ply, which I don't need. I dunno. Decisions, decisions. Haha. We'll be fine. After all, it's just a truck

 

Awesome. Thanks so much! Appreciate that. I'll call Wheelers again and annoy them with more specific questions about dialing in the ride height. Just want to get it right the first time. Maybe should have gone with bigger tires, but I also don't want that high of a truck. We'll see. I'm sure it'll all be fine in the end.

 

Awesome, @Threerun. Thanks so much. I'll give her a buzz. Yeah, I've had great success with the OME on my last two trucks. Really loved it, but didn't want that much lift this time. Even though it's not much, I do believe it's more than the Icon Stage 2 would provide. But I'll give her a buzz anyway just to see what she thinks. Thanks for the suggestion. Stoked!

 

Haha. Nice! Glad it stuck out enough for you to take a shot! Stoked! Hope you had a good time in this crappy state. Sucks up here. Nobody should ever come. Waste of time.

 

@cparkphoto Any photos? Sounds almost exactly to what I have and want. What size tires you running? THANKS!

 

Did you adjust the preset setting?

 

What a lousy alignment job this is, all he did was adjusted your tie rods. Then he told you that he can't adjust caster?? Did he even tried?? Your caster and camber stayed the same which means he didn't even toch the cam bolts at all.. It's easier to lie than actually doing physical work. Tell them you want to max out your caster while keeping your camber near 0 if they don't know how to do it take it another alignment shop. You should be able to to get your caster at 1.5-1.8 while camber is at 0. The alignment you have now will wear out outer edge of your front tires and your steering wheel will be very sensitive at highway speeds

 

Spot on. I was looking at the tires last night and noticed I was wearing more on the outer edge. I've been researching UCA as I thought that was what I needed to get the castor back and improve the ride. So I should be able to get the castor back in with the stock UCA? Some of what I've read suggests that I may start to rub as the tire moves back from the additional castor? Also I've seen where others are wanting 2.5-3.0 or more caster. Is that more ideal than the 1.5-1.8?

Thanks for taking a look and giving me a heads up on the crap alignment. Much appreciated.

 

With stock UCAs you should be able to get your caster in 1.8 at no more than 2" of lift, that's 23" hub to fender mesurements. From factory your caster is set at 1.8 that's where Toyota thinks it's the best for stock suspention. I personally liked handling while my caster was set at 2.0 but that give me rubbing on cab mounts, so I had to set at 2.7 to clear the wheels. I'm not a experts on this but from my experience I learned that 1.5< and less caster will make your steering wheel sensetive and very uncomfortable diving at high speed, 2.5>and up your steering wheel will not be as responsive as one would like but more stable ride at higher speeds, It would also be more stable while cornering at moderate speed, so if you had Baja truck I would see where 2.5 and more caster would be beneficial.

 

Here ya go. Still running really smooth. When I am loaded up the back end could possibly need a different leaf pack but still no sagging. Someday I may go to Dakars if I start carrying even more load on trips but for now this is great. Running 265/70R17 BFG KO2 on @SCSPerformance Ray10's. Thought about going 275 but decided to stay C-Load.

I did not install myself so I am not sure if there were any adjustments made. I don't believe they cranked on them much though. I have 1.25inches of threads showing.

 

Hanks for the info. I talked to the dealership and another alignment shop today. Both seemed to think the alignment numbers were ok. The agreed more caster would be ok but suggest I might need UCA to get 2.0 a 2.5. They both agreed that toe and camber looked good but I swear the tire look to me like they are wearing on the outside and the truck seems jumpy in the front when I hit bumps in the road.

Did you mean to say that a 2.7 caster eliminated rub compared to the 2.0 setting? I'm running 285/70/17 on a 17x9 rim with +1mm offset and don't have any rubbing currently. I'm concerned that if I go with UCA to address the caster then I open up other issues with rubbing. I don't particularly care to do the CMC. Hopefully there is some middle ground where I can have both... Increased caster with no rub on 33" tires.

 

When you add caster your essentially moving the lower control arm forward. After I installed my lift I was rubbing on the rear cab mount and lower portion of the fender flare, at that point I was sitting at 2.2 degrees. Had the alignment shop set both fronts to 2.9 and I easily clear on both sides now. It will also fix the jumpy feeling going over bumps in the road.

 

So it appears more caster does not increase the likelihood of rubbing the cab mount. The I should be ok with the JBA high caster UCA. Anyone confirm that the kinks are all worked out? I'm am almost halfway through the thread so I don't know the outcome yet.

 

I didn't mention that I have aftermarket tubular UCAs. And what they do is move your top wheel mounting point closer to the cab, which then creates rubbing do to not enough lift or aggressive offset(-12 on my 18x9 285/65) so to fix that you would adjust on lower control arm by moving wheel forward which resulted I n added caster degree. So if you are under 23" hub to fender, stay with stock ucas or you will be adding ucas then more lift or CMC...don't ask me how I know