3/1 Leveling Lift Kit vs an actual lift

So I'm new to trucks in general i have always had sports cars and crotch rockets, yes let the noob jokes begin! But i recently got a 17 taco off road in quicksand. I was trying to decide on a leveling kit vs an actual lift kit. OTHER then the price difference what are the pros and cons and what kits should i look at?

Also I'm all for the general a**holeary of forums so don't hold back the sarcasm!

 

kings/icons/fox all racing shocks. there top dogs when it comes to suspension lifts and for a good reason. but depending on what your doing with your truck they might not be necessary. bilstien/ome they have pretty nice entry level off road shocks that will get the job done on most occasions. also racing shocks have to be rebuilt and if your not about that life then maybe not the choice for you. then theres spacer lifts which yeah... ill just leave that there.

 

Why do you think you need any lift?

Is it a poseur craving, or do you already know of an incompetence the truck has that will be cured by a lift?

 

"leveling" kits is a fairly generic term. It just means you've used a lift to remove the factory rake of the truck.

The two "types" are spacer lifts vs suspension lifts.

Spacer lifts involve using the stock suspension and a spacer to achieve the lift. I believe the biggest drawback is that you can bottom out the strut before you hit the bump stops and cause damage to the shock.

Suspension lifts replace your stock suspension components. These can be in the form of spring and shock combinations, or adjustable coil overs.

99% of the people here will recommend a suspension lift vs a spacer lift.

 

I was planning on doing bigger tires for some moderate offroading, nothing to crazy but the guys i work with said i should do some sort of lift first then bigger tires.

 

thanks! now at least i know the proper terminology! And you advise is appreciated.

 

You can also take a look here for a lot more information on lifting your truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...2016-tacoma-presented-by-toytec-lifts.395798/

 

Ignore them. Spend more time here.

255 x 85 x 16 or 255 x 80 x 17 will fit your stock wheels, no rubbing on stock suspension, look sharp, and serve you well off road.

Some folks will claim they are too skinny. The folks running them have no issue. You can find a couple of long threads on it by doing a bit of searching.

Oh yea, you'll get ground clearance 'lift' by running that significantly taller tire. Play w/the tire calculator to see what's up.

 

Also just a word of caution. A lift alone will not allow you to run larger tires. Your wheel choice (offset etc.) will also determine how much you will rub, and where you will rub.

You can run skinny 33's using stock OR wheels though (255/85/16), but if you plan on going wide (285's or something like that) you will most likely have to do the cab mount chop (CMC).

 

Great idea thanks, any recommendations on brands for that size and where to get a good price?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/put-255-85-16s-on-stock-or-wheels-and-suspension.491079/

 

i was trying to find a thread for the bilstien/ome kit i need for the gen 3, can anyone help here?

 

https://www.tirebuyer.com/tires/cooper/discoverer-s-t/p/tv090100478

These are 255 85 16s tall skinny 33s that will fit a stock trd off road.

 

When did lifting 3" in the front and 1" in the rear become a "leveling kit"

 

smitty99 has a dank write up for bilstiens on the 3rd gen

 

factory rake is 2 inches isn't it. there for 3-1 would make it level

 

No A leveling kit used to be just a 1" spacer in the front to level the vehicle. Spacers for 3" in the front and 1" in the rear is just a shitty lift kit.

 

I guess lol. well its a lift and a leveling kit in one then

 

Yeah, just semantics

 

That drives me nuts when people say that! Leveling is when the front is lifted to match the rear and the rear isn't touched. More common on full sized trucks with 3+" of rake.