Yes, a suspension lift inquiry..

Hi all,

So I'm looking to do a suspension lift for my truck. I'm wanting 2" front and 1.5"-2" rear. I don't plan on going bigger in tire size, currently I'm running 265/75r16 E-load KO2s. This truck is my daily driver, but I'm also very big on adventuring and offroading. I'd probably say the truck spends its time about 60% on-road and 40% off-road. I hit some pretty gnarly tails when out wheeling, though not much if any rock crawling. I do haul a pop-up camper that's around 2700lbs every once in a while and only during the 3 months of nice weather we get in the PNW.

I don't plan on adding metal front/rear bumpers for a couple years, and I'll worry about making the necessary changes for those then, but I want to put it out there to keep in mind for possibly picking something that'll "upgrade" easy for those.

I'm up for any and all suggestions to suspension kits that'll get me the 2"/1.5"-2" lift with my type of driving in mind. I do like the idea of a full kit in a single purchase as to not miss anything I'll need for the job, but a comprehensive enough list would most likely do as well.

I would say my budget is around $1500 but willing to fluctuate some if it's worth it. I know I could save longer for "better" but I just personally can't spend upwards of $3k on suspension even if I could.

A couple concerns I'm wondering about with a 2"-2.5" lift.. Will/Do I need new UCAs? And will I need to worry about the needle bearing issue?

Currently I'm eyeing these options. Feel free to talk me into or out of them.

This GTS set is apparently made by Dobinson's, but tuned by MLO. No hiding the truth, the biggest reason I'm into them is the color scheme. But I've heard great things about Dobinson's, just haven't heard anything about MLO and this kit.

https://www.mainlineoverland.com/co...gts-suspension-kit-3rd-gen-2016-toyota-tacoma

ARB OME set. Another brand I've heard great things about. I do like the color scheme too.

https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/...QSS1I_YI4AEEFMG0FO33U2HCPK1SZKl8aApGgEALw_wcB

And then the Ironman4x4 kit. This one I've heard fantastic things about their foamcell pro suspension, but I hate the color scheme, like I really do

https://ironman4x4america.com/toyota-tacoma-2005-foam-cell-pro-suspension-kit-stage-1/


Lastly, pictures of the truck for attention

 

Why do you need a lift at all? Are you hanging up on approach/departure angles?

Since a suspension lift doesn't raise the ground clearance at the axle lines it's not going to help there.

Maybe you can save $1500 bucks......

 

Needle bearing, maybe, most likely... just replace it
New ucas, nope dont need them for 2 inch lift
Nobody can really choose a lift for you... only your butt dyno can tell which is the right one.
See if there is anyone in your area that has a set up similar to the ones you are looking at and see if they will let you test drive it.

 

Yes, partly for better approach/departure angles, and also for the look/stance. Totally understand I won't be getting more ground clearance

 

Would love to find some people with exact or similar lifts that would let me test drive. Hopefully some of those people will see this, hah.

You do bring up a great point about others not choosing my lift, but they can give me their input on them and how they ride if they know/have first hand experience. That's mostly what I'm after.

 

Try here in the north west section
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-tacomas-portland-area-off-road-group.651170/

 

The bilstein 6112 is pretty popular setup, not too pricey, headstrong Offroad is a good place look at. Good luck on your decision, many options and even more opinions

 

Thanks, super funny.. I'm actually already a part of that thread and was about to ask in there since I wheel with them sometimes, hah.

 

I do have a friend with those and I'm not at all against them. Been trying to get out with him to test drive.

 

hey here are my 2 cents on this being that i setup these for customers left and right. your basically looking at a 3/2 kit. 90% of tacos you see out there being used offroad are on a 3/2 kit. in general most tacos are lift 3 inches in the front and 2 in the rear to allow for 33s without trimming. other then that there are leveling kits to bring the front up an inch to level it with the rear. i ALWAYS recommend UCA with any 3/2 kit. they allow for better alignments and make the trucks drive way better. i recommend SPC UCAs. they are not that expensive and they have extended travel ball joints so all extended travel coil overs are now on the table. my ideal* lift setup for customers goes as follow
SPC UCA
extended travel coilover (Icon, fox, king, old man, Bilstiens)
Icon Rxt rear springs (way better way of lifting the rear then blocks)
2.0 or 2.5in rear shocks
also remember if you are looking at icon i can custom make kits for you. you are not stuck buying their stage packages. i can custom make your kit with no up charge.
here is a link to c kit creator i developed that gives you a base kit that you can customize every aspect of
https://downeastoffroad.com/i-30519841-deo-custom-3-2-tacoma-leveling-kit.html

 

Thanks a bunch for your input, definitely appreciate it.

I'm not too keen on 3/2 since I really don't want to go bigger on tires, and I want the rake since I often carry a lot of gear when I adventure, just not during the work week. And I've come to like the look of some rake, so 0.5" difference would be ideal.

 

I would still look st 3/2 kits. As the fronts ride hirght is ajustable with coilovers or bilstien 6100s. The rxt spring will allow you to set the lift you want per the wieght you carry. Its a stage 1, 2 , 3 spring rate all in one kit. So you could put 2in lift up front and 2.5 in in the rear for the rake u want. And then its level with 200 to 500 lbs in the bed

 

Bilstein 6112 fronts and 5160 in back with your choice of OME leafs... SPC UCAs if you want more lift. You can do all the work yourself with the info on TW and then you just need an alignment shop afterward. You won’t know whether you need the needle bearing replaced until after.. Likely not if you are on the lower 6112 settings and a medium OME leaf pack in back.

 

265/75/16 on Bilsteins 2” front 1.5” rear aal IMO great budget lift. Eibach is also a great lift. Good luck OP.

 

Those bilsteins are great. Only thing that rivals them are the fox 2.0 coilover. But ill warn you tacoma parts are extremely hard to find these days. Everything is sold out

 

Dobinson's has their kits in black shocks with red springs, by the way.

https://exitoffroad.com/product/dob...n-kit-for-2005-to-2020-tacoma-4x4-double-cabs

Look through the drop down options and you'll see color selection for the coils.

I currently have my kit waiting to be installed whenever I find time, but it's the Dobinson's kit linked above with the following parts:

C59-314 Front Coils
GS59-221 Front Struts
L59-110-R Rear Leafsprings
GS59-940 Rear Shocks

This is supposedly going to lift the entire truck right around 2 inches at all four corners. I'm a bit worried about the rear sitting too high and since I'm also running 265(70/R17 though) tires, making the truck look a bit silly since the only constant weight I've got is an 80 lb Diamondback tonneau. Hopefully the rear settles a bit and doesn't make it look ridiculous but I believe I can pull one of the leafs out to lower it some if it really ends up looking awkward. Or real worst case scenario: upsize to 285 tires (luckily Nitto Ridge Grapplers can be had in SL load so they're the same weight as my 265 Wildpeak AT3W's).

Anyway, wish I could provide some pictures for you, but I need to find some free time to get all the work done one weekend. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll have results.

 

Thanks, fortunately I've seen this and check in every so often. Sadly, they're sold out of just about everything I'd want/need. I'll be keeping it on my radar still. But honestly I would like to hear more from those who have it before going any route.

 

Which Bilsteins and AAL are you running?

 

im not icons and love them. bilstein and icon are both a digressive shock and have alot of the same feel. but i think icon does a better job in the end with the product.

 

5100’s all’s round deaver aal in rear. For me it’s perfect.