What would you do if you were me?

2017 Trd Sport stock at least in terms of suspension. I put 265 70R17 falkens and Fuel Trophy wheels. I would like to upgrade the suspension. Like yall I dont absolutely love the factory rake and plan to put a aluminum CBI T3 bumper. So I am soon to add even a little more weight up front.

I would like to get the truck a little closer to level but not sure how to accomplish this and not invite problems to my suspension or truck that I have read over and over about on here. I dont offroad but do go on hunting and fishing trips where I get on dirt and trails but nothing crazy.

Given my driving habits and my uses what would you do? Coilovers with light racing UCA's, Icon Toytec, Fox, Bilstein, it all confuses me

 

Cheap answer. Buy a set of TRD Off Road take offs and add a leveling spacer up front. Measure your front and rear before you start. I think they ride nice and its an easy option.

Expensive answer. Buy a set of adjustable front shocks "Coilovers" and adjust them was you want. You spin the ring below the spring and just up the preload which lifts the truck but your ride is going to be rougher. Just know you have to do an alignment each time.

I measure mine fully loaded as well to figure out how much my rear is going to dip when I load it for camping/hunting. I don't like the Cali lean. We have Tacoma with a 6" lift and Icon coilovers and one with the TRD Off Road suspension if you have more questions about them.

 

any particular less expensive coilovers you would recommend? Might not be any TRD off road take offs available when I am ready to proceed

 

Wouldn't have bought a sport! LOL

 

But I really wanted a hood scoop and the 6sp transmission...In my neck of the woods nothing else really exists

 

Ok... This is coming from a 1st gener so take it for what it's worth. I am a hunter and I began the modifications to my truck for many of the same reasons you speak of.

Just keep in mind... once you start going on your truck, you will probably keep adding to it. Examples: You'll lift it, then put a bumper on it, pretty soon you'll add a 2nd battery, then sliders, then maybe a roof top tent or camper shell... and then... and then... and then (I know this from personal experience).

You'll also tell yourself that you just want to set the truck up to make it to your camping/hunting spot easier... then you'll get the lift and realize you can go further in to the woods... so you'll start doing a little heavier off roading, and then a little heavier etc.

So, I would suggest you do a lift with some degree of adjustability. Coil overs (Fox, King, Icon etc) are the best for this (and most expensive) but Bilstein offers some degree of adjustability at a more affordable price. If you aren't set to do rock crawling or blasting around on the sand dunes... Bilstein may be the route you want to go for the front... If you carry a lot of gear camping/hunting a good set of heavy duty or "expedition" leafs are the way to go for lift in the back.

 

Sport or not, once you put heavier wheel/tire on, you need better damper to support unsprung weight

 

You can get Bilstein 5100s all around and set the front to 1” lift and get back to stock height.

If you add weight in the back you can AAL to raise 1.5” and it’ll settle to the weight you add, perhaps close to stock.

All of this for less than $450 if you install yourself. You can run the stock coils and leaf springs for most applications and leave the overload in and haul more on the road than most progressive leaf packs.

 

Air bags are your answer you can adjust the height in the rear depending on the load

 

In my opinion, the best budget lift is Bilstein 5100s paired with OME coils and an AAL or block(cheaper) in the rear. I would not recommend using the stock coil.

My truck sits very 'eye level'. I have Bilstein 5100s (front and rear) with 885 coils in the front and a 1" block in the rear. The rear is 0.5" higher but looks pretty level.

Depending how much weight you will be adding, you may need a higher spring rate coil to compensate for the added weight.

 

If you’re adding a heavy bumper and want an economical option, look into a full OME kit with 886 springs and dakars. If you’re on a budget, you won’t be disappointed or broke.

If you don’t off-road, skip the high end coil overs and save some coin.

You can also piece the kit together and use 5100s instead of the OME shocks if you’d like. Same result.

 

That bumper I would be adding is just around 100# in aluminum

 

don’t need 886’s for aluminum. I’ll
Show myself out haha.

 

The cbi bumper is half that weight. the steel ones weigh 100+

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-t3-front-bumper-install-review.461582/

reviewer mentioned with mid hoop its 51-52

I went from stock sport suspension to a full ADS setup with coilovers in front and shocks in rear. Its adjustable with the preload (basically height) and compression dampening and its been the best mod i have to date. Buy once, cry once.

 

I really like Icons so I'd try to get a used pair and rebuild them or you can look into Toytec I think they make a few adjustable. A pair of plain adjustable coilovers is all you need. No external reservoir. No adjustable dampening. During the Black Friday sales last year I think they were 20% off so take that for what its worth if your willing to wait. I think I got front and rear matching shocks for $1100 something shipped.

I think that is slight overkill but they ride nice and you would be able to use to really haul ass down the dirt roads.

 

Had no idea it only weighed that .... thought the reference on the website was the aluminum but guess it was steel... sweet