Lifting 2011 PreRunner 2WD DCSB (Daily Driver)

After a long time lurking, i joined the forum. I just paid off my truck and its the to time to make it awesome. After reading on lift kits, i've got a bunch of questions and I'm hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.

Truck: Lifting 2011 PreRunner 2WD DCSB. It is my daily driver, has 142K miles on it. 265/70/17 Primewell Valera A/T for last 50K miles.





Reasons for Lift:

- Cosmetic. This is the biggest reason. I want my truck to have a move aggressive stance and look cool. It is my daily driver but i like to camp/fish/hike on weekends, but even so the roads here in TN are just dirt roads and are nothing like the roads back in Colorado. So ZERO off roading currently.
- Bigger Tires. I've got about 50K miles on my 265/70/17 Primewell Valera A/T's and they've been awesome. When i upgrade i'm grabbing some 285s, probably Nitto Ridge Grapplers. The only obstacles i fear i run into these days is rain/mud. Bigger tires with a meatier grip should solve all my issues.
- Towing john boat. This isn't a reason for a lift, but it's a use of my truck. I don't want a lift to make towing a 14ft john boat a pain in the ass.

NOT concerned with: 4x4, crawling, obstacle clearance, etc. IF there comes a time i'm interested in that, i'll rebuild my lift or get a new truck.


Questions:

1. I know spacer lifts are trash in the 4x4 world. But a lot of people like them, and they're super budget friendly. With my use in mind, would a spacer lift work? Recommendations? Supreme suspensions has a nice kit. If you have a nice spacer lift - chime in! (@71tattooguy)

2. Another recommendation i've found here are the 4" spindler lifts, specifically for 2nd gen 2WD prerunners. Why do those work best? And can i just get the spindler lifts and blocks for the back, or do I need to buy a bunch extra of stuff? I really like the way those look after install.

My budget is 800 bucks shipped to my door, self installed. I'm open to all suggestions. I'm hesitant to get bilsteins because in order to get the 3" lift i want, i have to jack them all the way up and have a super stiff ride. They also don't seem to look as good as the spindler lifts.

EDIT: My budget could increase to 1200, but i'd have to wait a few months. Would need to be realllllly worth it.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to give you all the details. Thanks TW

 

If you want more than 2”, get spindles.
Your budget won’t allow 3” of lift and UCAs.

 

Rear blocks too? I just edited my post. I could save up for a couple months and spend 1200 or so, but it'd have to be a big difference for my goals

 

It won’t be a big difference, it’ll allow you to align it correctly at that lift height and not chew tires up and drive like a shopping cart. Truck will look the same.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/suspension.18/

 

Looking at this kit.. https://realtruck.com/p/maxtrac-4-basic-lift-kits/v/toyota/tacoma/2011/

That should have me covered?

 

Lift spindles + rear blocks

For PreRunners...the lift spindles allow for near stock suspension geometry. And near stock ride because its still the factory spring/rate. Its a win-win. I went with a few combos of 5100s at different clip settings and with and w/o 885s. And eventually settled for lift spindles....which i should have gone with from the start.

 

Since you asked OP... My truck is the best riding truck on the street that I have ever ridden in. I've ridden in over 20 lifted trucks. My truck has stock struts, stock springs, stock shocks, sway bar delete, 37's (E load range), and $22 spacers and $26 blocks and $350 JBA High Caster UCA's. That's a hair over $500 with an alignment done at a alignment shop and my labor doing the installing.

But once you've completed the task it will still be a one wheel drive PreRunner, just like mine currently is, and I found myself 3 days ago off road on a slight incline with one 12.50 width tire spinning and going no where. If you don't have plans to make your truck a 4x4 and you're looking for better traction then I think your money would be a lot better spent on a locker of any type but that won't get you the look you're looking for - unless you do both a locker and a lift. With the lift I did at $500, a locker at $550, you can get both within your budget if you do the labor.

Your knowledge exceeds most already, at least you know cranking up a coil over shocks preload cranks up the harsh ride equally.

 

Pics of 37s on stock shocks/springs please.

 

Profile picture

 

I've got Bilstein 5100 front and back with Old Man Emu 885 coils and 2 inch blocks in the back. I'm on the stock UCA's and got a 3 inch lift, aligns fine, but I might be lucky. You could get the struts for around 400 bucks and coils for 200. I bought new sets of struts on craigslist and OfferUp for a steal, but if you have time just look around there's always people who buy new sets and end up not using them so they sell them at a good price. I paid around 400 bucks for my lift.

 

OK - that makes a lot of sense. The thread about spindles + prerunners was 600+ pages so I wasn't able to grasp the clear benefits. From what i've also read, they also work decently well with stock struts/coils/etc yea? Thanks for the reply

 

That's awesome. I like the fact that you're still running stock struts/coils/shocks. Can you tell more more about the sway bar delete? I've seen other threads but that's above my paygrade.

 

Call Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road

Ask for the @ChadsPride special.

 

Are you fully cranked on those bilsteins then? Yeah i'm leaning towards a kit because I'm not super confident in my knowledge yet. If i continue to hold off and research I might go that route and just source individual parts for my own kit. Thanks for the reply, and sick lift

 

Gonna look into that

 

Haha - i've seen you guys all over the lift threads. Glad to see you pop up here - I've already checked their site out but they're closed through the 6th. Was hoping to purchase friday, but if not i'll call for sure. Thanks for reply

 

Worth the wait to do it right. Instant gratification isn't always (rarely?) the best path to a solution you'll use every day.

 

Very true. That being said, I'm really focused on longevity with this truck. I'd like to see it through 300K since I own it outright at 142 now. Anyone have advice on how these different lift kits will impact things wayyy down the road?