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

Dakar work great with a 10" travel shocks in the factory locations. You will get more droop from them and you will not be limited by the shocks extension. My understanding is they work with the factory bump stop as well. As far as recommendations on brands and types I need to know what you are running up front for a failover. Shocks actually need to complement each other otherwise you might not get the best ride.

 

Tough to figure out exactly what components were installed. I had the shop build it out before the listed 3rd gen specific kits were available so icon sent what they recommended at the time. Receipt with components listed below. My coil has 158504 listed on it which I believe is a 13" 650lb spring. Kit looks to be k53001.

 

Anyone here do just a 2" lift in the front and be able to run 33"s. Im not a fan of the 3" lift look. My plan is to get the fox or iconn coilovers and rear shocks. Purchased from toytec of course.

 

I received some good information here when doing all my lift research. Here is what I finally ended up with:

3-1/4" Front with Bilstein Gen. 2 5100s (set to 0), OME 888 coils, and LR Upper Control Arms
2" Rear with Headstrong Progressive AAL with Overload still in
4Runner TRD Pro wheels (I believe 17x7 or 8?) Im thinking of getting SpiderTrax 1-1/4" wheel spacers....
BF Goodrich 275/70/17 K"Bro"2 tires (just under 33")

 

A year later, I had to make changes so I could live with this taco...

With a 275 70 17 tire you can make it work fine with a 2 inch lift. However, the third gen is a gutless pig and bigger, heavier tires suck out what little life there is under the hood and the taller tires make the gearing situation miserable.

I went down from the load range E 275 70 17 bfg KO2 to load range D BFG KO2 265 70 17. I also have a little more rake as I don't have the front up as high as when the bigger tires were on(that may change a little, because it can with adjustable coilovers, since I don't want to mess with the Dakars in the back). The ride is better with the notably softer tires and there's a difference in the Icon's response with less thread showing. I get better fuel economy(still miserable in relation to power output) and the ride is better overall.

Free Advice: Steer clear of anything load range E and get the smallest tires you can live with.

7/16 Top Pic, 6/17 bottom pic

 

Any recommendations on rear shock lengths to go with a 3 inch lift Deavers U402's, I will be running Ext. Kings up front

 

Are the rear bilstein 5100's compatible with dakars or do I need to go with a longer length shock? (Sorry i come from a world of lowering cars so this is a whole new ballgame for me)

 

What about a diff drop with a fox 2.5 lift for a 16 TRD Offroad? I know people say you don't need them, but wouldn't it help, even if just a little? Sorry if this sounds like a noob post, it's just that I'm a noob.

 

too much to read i just want to see a lifted taco with this kit. I'm about to pull the trigger on this one
Boss Suspension System for 16+Tacoma w/1" body lift for extra clearance
Planning on adding SCS F5 wheels with 295/70/16....anyone on here running this specific lift with said details. Thanks in advance and pic for attention

 

Thank you for this. So If I wanted to go with the Bilstein 5100's and the 888 setup. What do you do for the rears to keep it level? I'm somewhat of a noob with lifts as well. I've only got 23k miles on my truck. Do I have to do Bilstein 5100s? Can I just add the springs to the truck or do I have to do bilstein 5100's as well?

 

I would highly suggest getting the matching 5100 rear shocks as well if you do the OME 888 with 5100s on lowest setting up front. I have that setup, along with a progressive AAL and left the Overload Leaf in. If you take it out, you will not be level (with my experience). Also, you should look into new upper control arms if you are doing the 888s...

My setup:
2nd Gen Bil 5100s (all around) on lowest setting (second gen has longer travel and a longer extension aka droop. However, dont expect much droop with that high of a lift. Going over a speed bump I sometimes top out my front shocks)
OME 888s
Light Racing upper control arms
Headstrong Offroad progressive AAL with overload in.
Sway bar relocation from Toytec

Came out to be around $1300 shipped, take out $450ish for upper control arms if you don't like having an aligned front end.

 

How does that add a leaf ride with the overload in?
How much lift did you get up front/rear?

 

I am still just slightly above 3" in the front and about 2" in the rear with the overload in. The overload basically acts as a 0.5" spacer, unless you put a ton of weight in the bed...of course.

The ride will NOT be change with the overload left in. There is not enough weight with the stock truck to put pressure on the leafs during "normal" driving. As for the Progressive AAL itself, I love the increase in stiffness. It is slightly noticeable, but doesn't change driving characteristics in a negative way.

 

What if I want to get 275/70/17's on? Can I just use springs and not have to do UCA or AAL? I'm trying to keep this as simple as possible right now but maybe it's not that simple.

 

You might have to do some searching on the forums for that. If you want super cheap and simple, a 3" front lift is not going to be it IMO. Just get the Gen 3 Bilstein struts and set them to the 1.55" (notch 4) setting with stock springs. You could set to 2" inch setting, but it isnt recommended and unless you have a rear block lift (again, cheap and easy but not recommended) you will be nose up to the sky by an inch. Ive stuffed my 275/70/17 in my wheel well and had no issues with rubbing, so with a small lift, you shouldn't have too much of an issue. This setup is just front struts, no rear changes, no UCA, super simple...

Contact Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road She is very helpful and can get you what you need. Link to what im talking about:

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p242/Bilstein_5100_Adjustable_Front_Struts_(Pair)_-_24-263108_for_2016__Toyota_Tacoma.html

 

I messaged. Thanks so much! Your truck looks great.

 

Question for you, did you put a 3 degree shim in or a carrier bearing drop? Just wondering if you had any vibes after the lift. I've been going back and forth on whether or not to do the 3 leaf or the Dakars but my main concern is vibes. Thanks!

 

I installed the Dakars in the rear with the carrier bearing drop but did not install any shims. It's been several months now and I haven't experienced any vibes. I know some people do get vibes from a rear lift but I have been lucky so far. If you plan on carrying any load in the rear I highly recommend the Dakar full leaf pack.

 

I prepped the rear leafs to use a shim if I had vibes. I didn't want to install and possibly give it vibes haha. Been 6 months, no issues with rear with no CB drop or shim. I only have the small vibe from front left needle bearing. I'll get rid of those once I have some time and $.

 

Do you have any pictures of your truck with the Darkars? My thought Process now is to add Bilstein 5100's, then I'll get the OME Darkar leafs and the OME 887's