Tacoma spacer lift experience

You're going to have tons of friends talking like that. Anyways.

Bilstien 5100 is what you're looking for .

 

The simple answer to this question that's asked over and over is:

Spacers on highway, not off road. Cheap for a reason .

5100+OEM spring and add a leaf - cheapest off road capable lift. ($500 or so)

Coilovers + AAL - next cheapest, more capable ($700-1000)

Coilovers + leaf pack - better and more expensive (+$1000)

From there the coilovers just get more expensive and more of your suspension is replaced.

The biggest issue with spacers is that they reduce the capability of your truck in order to lift it, instead of either being neutral or increasing the capability to go off road .

 

You are going to need larger tires to actually gain ground clearance. So to help you get to you house that is where you are need to focus I think. Three inches of lift would would help fit some taller tires, however, there are other ways of fitting taller tires on your truck that you might want to research. Also, if it was me, I might think about hiring a guy with a tractor to repair or build me a better path to my house...

 

This is pure gold, even calling him out by name lolol

 

He should fit in real good...with those guys with a line through their username.

 

Hey Mitch . Why don't you go have an f-ing good day? How about that? Maybe win a couple of scratch tickets. Get the big slice of pizza for lunch.....at the same price as the other. And we will certainly tell you if you can clear 33s.

 

Here are before and after pics. I bought my truck with a spacer lift and threw it on Craigslist and sold it ASAP. Tell me which picture looks better?

 

WTF is your problem dude? I dont remember saying shit to you. I was commenting on the new guy being a dick right out of the gate.

 

I think OP's response was appropriate to a comment that contributes nothing to the conversation. I have seen plenty of "guys with lines through their username" because they were jackasses to new members. Be nice people, its pretty simple.

With that said, OP, I agree with @myTacomaAccount above. Spacers are fine for pretty trucks that don't off road. But it sounds like your driveway is pretty rough, so you have two solid options.

1. Ditch the spacers and put Bilstein 5100's on with your stock coils. Don't crank them up all the way though the ride will suffer. Also put an AAL in the rear springs and ditch the blocks.
2. Fix yer dang driveway. lol

I think if you do some research on the 5100s and an AAL you will come up with plenty of information. That is literally the single most common mod that is done to these trucks!

Shocks
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s...air)_-_24-239370_for_05-15_Toyota_Tacoma.html

AAL
https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/s...eafs_with_u-bolts_(PAIR)_-_HS-TOY055-3AL.html

 

Must have been mix signals on my post. The guy was being a dick. I was poking fun at him by throwing nice comments, agreeing with your post

 

Ok man. My apologies for taking it wrong. Carry on.

 

I am gonna go with number 4, the last picture. The definition is perfect and the lighting is spot on.

 

I literally just did this last night.

 

Biggest downfall so far about a spacer lift is being roasted for having a spacer lift lol

 

You should probably apologize to Pat

 

95% of the ridiculous comments about spacer lifts are from people who have never had any experience with them. They don't change the ride.....It is the exact same ride as you'd have with same shocks WITHOUT the spacers, just slightly higher. All a spacer does is to make the strut assembly longer. No change in spring rate. Where spacers go wrong is, typically you'll run out of shock travel before you run out of suspension travel....Turning the shock into the bump stop...On hard impacts, the lower end of the shock can bend or break. I know of several trucks that have existed without problems for 250K or more miles, seen some hard off road use, and never had an issue with spacers. Likewise, a few snap shocks in short order. I've worked on a number of trucks for "paying customers", who have spacer lifts. I always suggest a spacer between the bump stop and the frame that extends the bump stop to where it hits the contact spot BEFORE the shock runs out of travel. You do lose SOME suspension travel as a result, but that's (slightly) better than breaking a shock.

Frequently, people will either buy a truck with a spacer lift, or, put one on with older, worn shocks. Then they replace it with a new "kit" including new shocks. Then they assume the improved ride was from removing the spacers, rather than the addition of NEW more supple shocks. Then the spacers get bashed....

For just a bit more than the cost of a spacer lift, you can put slightly better shocks in place. However, I don't like preloading stock coils in conjunction with adjustable shocks. Spend the little bit MORE and get longer coils too. Then you get the lift WITH full travel and arguably a better ride.

Long story short, spacers aren't nearly as evil as some would portray them. Just that there are far better options.

 

Exactly. You said it better than what I was just trying to type. @Zwilly if you're happy with the truck then don't change a thing. There are plenty PLENTY of trucks on the road with spacer lifts. I would say that a vast majority of lifted trucks you see on the road (not on the internet) are on some sort of spacer lift.

Just go slower on your driveway if that makes a difference, you don't have a race truck.

 

Agreed, this forum is ridiculous when in comes to spacer lifts. I swear these guys sit by their computers with all their pics of their expensive suspensions they cuff the carrot too every night, just waiting to send them along with some snarky remark to some poor guy asking a reasonable question..

Spacer lift is fine for most people. Had no issues with mine at all. If you off road every other weekend then maybe spend the money on something more expensive and functional..

 

"Cuff the Carrot" That is funny as hell right there.