PreRunner suspension upgrades... 2012 V6 SCLB

Hello TW community,

Looking for your collective insights and advice. A year ago, I purchased this 2012 V6 Tacoma PreRunner, access cab long bed with 86k on it. It's time to put a little love into this truck, and give the ride quality a serious update. The truck sits as I bought it, with LT285/75R16 tires, with a the lift accomplished via coil spacers, and an lift block in the back.

The truck sits nice and pretty, but the 'suspension' is purely cosmetic. The PO went the least expensive route on the lift, not atypical I guess. The ride quality is terrible. Extremely rough over any transition in pavement grade with no dampening of any sort. I really have to baby over drainage channels, speed bumps etc. Driving off road, on fire road, or basic dirt access roads has to be pretty slow. My girlfriend thinks I drive like a sally.

So... here I am. I don't have illusions of crawling over any huge 4x4 obstacles. Afterall, this is a Prerunner 4x2. I also live in SoCal so 4x4 for snow and crazy winter situations is a rarity. I DO want to be able to drive more comfortably over washboard fire road type conditions, light trail duty when conditions are dry, (passable for the 4x2). For any one familiar, the Oak Flat Fire Tower access outside of Bakersfield was doable for this rig.

I am pretty sure I want to the the coil spacer out of there, and get rid of the body lift, and into a proper suspension lift. I would love to know if anyone has been down this road, and if you might have any advice!

Thanks for reading y'all!

 

Old Man Emu (OME) is a mid grade and popular lift and rides good.

Probably looking at $1k-1200 in parts. Make friends and meet some new faces, have locals help install for cost of lunch and good beer.

 

Thats not a single cab LOL you mean access cab
Best way to lift would probably be the OME kit, new shocks and coils
5100 will work but are a little stiff when you set them higher

 

Thank you gentlemen, that is a great place for me to start with some research. Much appreciated! Access cab, yes! Meant that all along ... Thanks!