More Armor or a 2-3 inch Lift??

Hit a trail rated "Hard" in Colorado. Quite close too bottoming out on a lot of them. Took the bypasses and ultimately had 3 hard hits. One dropping into a mud bog that was deeper than expected i hit my cross member dropping in. Other time I had to push through a rock that gouged the entire length of my front skid, and finally I think I just came off a rock too fast and hit the front skid again.

so at this point I'm putting it up for a vote. More armor, or time for a lift?

Stock truck other than sliders an the main skid. On 265/75/16 wildpeaks.

I only had to lock the rear diff twice if that helps get an idea of the trail?

lifting 2-3 inches will require me to get a lower profile RTT to clear my garage.

 

Lift that bbbyyyy!!!

 

Armor.

Also those 2 "skids" aren't anything more than stamped. Pretty much just a "hey your vehicle is touching here" warning. Nothing wrong with a warning. But sooner or later (by the sounds sooner) you're gonna have a costly moment. By the sounds of it alot sooner than you'd expect.

 

I love voting with other people's money. What's more american?

I vote both!

 

This dude abides

 

I would check out @81treckers stuff. He has made a lower a arm mount relocate / skid plate that allows you to run up to 35s without a lift and cmc that is for sale. Seriously cool stuff.

The thread is getting full of bs anymore but has his build up, and he seems to know what he is doing

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fitting-35’s-with-minimal-trimming-now-adding-long-travel-and-934-cv’s.626274/

 

Don't forget if you add more armor, you are may need to replace your suspension anyway to compensate for the weight.
If I am understanding correctly, you have aftermarket front skid already. What you need is to increase your approach angle so I would get a lift.

 

Ahh crap good point. I will eventually put on steel bumpers too and a winch...wondering how shitty it will ride if I get the spring rates to support that weight without actually having it yet.

 

Pretty rough in my opinion. I had a buddy that did that and I felt like I was bouncing everywhere. I like my ride to be plushy though on the road. I know people with about the same weight I have like to run 700# for it to be firm and hardly any body roll, but I like 650# rating with slight body roll to act as "cushion".

Honestly, it will just depend on how you like your Taco to feel. Some don't even notice the difference with a slightly higher spring rate so they just go with 650# w/ stock weight with an adj suspension that has hardly any pre-load (since the spring rate will hold you up). Once they get bumper and winch, they adjust the preload to get back to the height they wanted.

 

Thanks thats useful info. Maybe 650 is the way to go then. I like my off road truck to ride...well...like an off road truck! I actually don't mind the body roll and like the plush feel. I've had my hard suspension race car days already lol

 

Sounds like a moderate trail here, I would get armor. Can go more places with armor than suspension but once it becomes a heavy pig you’ll need to beef up the suspension to handle the weight.

To some other comments, I recommend 700# springs especially if you are getting a bumper and a winch. I have 700# and wouldn’t mind going to 750#

 

get at least a better front skid and sliders. Then go for suspension. If you fit in both you prob will go cheaper on suspension and often folks will end up swapping it out. If you can swing it get sliders and full skids.

 

Same. I still have a stiff AWD 3.7L V6 Acura TL if I want to go somewhat fast, but pretty much done with that scene. Love the way Jaguar/Ranger Rover SUVs feel with their plushy suspension, so I went for a plushy feel for the Taco as well. I also got a suspension with a Compression adjuster to firm up suspension if I needed to when I am out on the trail or have weight in the back (like to do high speed runs).

 

def I would only run 700lb if you a heavy MF up front. Full bumper, winch, battery etc. I ran 650 on mostly stock and I like the ride. It was maybe slightly stiff but ran that rating for while until I swapped all the armor and such up front.

 

Yeah I would just need to fill out the under body with atleast two more skids regardless. The front skid and adding sliders were my first purchases.

 

ah nice! you on your way. get those matching at least the mid skid. I ran the front/mid for a long time and will cover most of your needs. If your at that then depending get mid and suspension or if your mashing body panels look at front or rear bumpers.

 

I don't run an extra battery, but I do have a full bumper and winch that I just added on. About an additional 200 lbs upfront vs stock. Not nose-diving, soft, and not stiff. However, I also had my suspension custom valved specifically for my Tacoma's weight and my preference. I prioritized suspensions, drivetrain, performance, etc since I don't rock crawl with mine, I do highspeed runs up and down (30+mph) mountains in Arkansas.
Don't have a pic of my taco with the new rock sliders on, but basically this is my rig (no full skid, just the front skid):

What he said^. My new suspension is my third one. Stock was first, then went with Bilstein to give me 1.75" lift. Now my custom built radflos that gives me 2.5" lift.

 

Nice! Your doing it right. Suspension valving is key and most overlook it.

I have my front shock re-valved to go with bypasses along with re-valved rear bypass setup. Front full steel hoop, full bamf skids and a 12k winch. Main reason I went 700lb springs. Shock valving is worth is weight in gold.

 

Awesome rig!
Where was that pic taken?

 

Ohhh I like thattt! Looks like a bruiser!