2004 Prerunner 2wd lift kit

So i just bought a 1st gen prerunner which I want to lift around 2.5inches nothing to crazy... i want to set this up for overlanding or prelanding... I need new leaf springs because the ones i have on the are bent down than up... I am new to this and I need a lot of help! i am new to the Tacoma community so anyone with advice or help please help!! thank you for reading this and helping ill be responding tomorrow!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome. Are you budget minded? What are you willing to spend and how much weight will you be carrying? We want to see the truck!

 

Prerunners are identical to the 4x4's. So any of the 4x4 lift kits will fit. Keep in mind the leaf springs changed in 1998 so make sure your kit is a 1998+ kit. On a budget go for a set of Bilstein 5100s and an add-a-leaf in the back. Better to get a set of springs for the front, like OME 881/2's or something.

I would definitely start out small before throwing a whole ton of money (and weight) at your truck. You don't need lifts and big tires, or RTTs, bed drawer systems, and skottles to go overlanding.

If you want to set up your truck for "overlanding" buy a tent and throw it in the bed. Then get a coleman 2 burner stove and a cooler.

Done: "Overlander."

If you're new to offroading in general, I'd stick with it completely stock. You don't need any modifications to go wheeling.

 

I don't even know who you are anymore

 

40s and tons, I think the prevailing wisdom goes

 

You caught me before I had my morning coffee.

Sorry fam, won't happen again.

But, 40's and tons and "overlanding" is only worth it if you have an IG.

#brolife

 

Congratulations on your new purchase.

And welcome to TW! This is the most expensive "free" membership you can ever have in the history of the universe. Where thousands of people are more than willing to help you spend your money on your recently acquired Tacoma.

There are quite a few questions that would need to be answered to give you truly adequate advice on what to do with the lift and suspension.

Starting with...
#1 - Is budget. Are we on a shoe string budget or a "buy once cry once" budget?
#2 - Are you going to be adding other weight? Front bumper? Winch? etc
#3 - Overlanding is a pretty broad term. Are you looking to camp in camp grounds or try to get further off the beaten path? Where are you located? Where will you be overlanding?

 

well i have somewhere in the 500 dollar range... my leaf springs are totally shot and i need new ones kinda soon which i see this as a chance to lift the truck 1.5 to maybe 2.5 inches i am going to be putting a bumper(tires are rubbing) and a winch and some lights maybe bigger tired with wheels with a tiny bit of an offset also there is the new truck this is my budget build till i have enough to buy a brand new tacoma

 

I really like your build and i dont want to copy it to much but its just set up perfectly but its freaking sick!!!!!!!
(also its kind of my daily driver too)
1) yea thats kind of the deal with my budget i am 17 and i am on a budget thats the only thing i dont have a lot of cash i see i can cheap out and get used tents stoves and crap like that
2)bumper a decent winch and some lights
3) I am looking for a little bit of both my girlfriend and i love to camp and my buddies and love going off the beaten path i live in north cali which but i am looking for spots to got to but i am not trying to do anything to crazy

 

@Tacoma_alex

Before you go spending any money at all (with the exception of maintenance), take the truck out and off road.

Just drive it the way it is as these trucks are very capable; you can buy the coolest wheels and the baddest bumper, but it won't make up for lack of experience.

 

With a new truck, the best advice is to drive the truck stock for a while and catch up on maintenance. Find the broken or substandard stuff, learn the truck, and then plan mods based on how you actually use the truck.
Gas and camp gear will get you way more fun times than a lift will. Old man advice, I know, but it’s true

 

Thanks man... It's been a labor of love.

I don't give a shit if you copy it down to the last nut and bolt, if you think it would set your truck up the way you need it to be set up. Check out my build thread (and the others linked to it). I'm not trying to keep anything I did a secret.

As far as budget goes... Probably the best, most budget friendly way to do this is see if you can find some Bilstien 5100s on your local Craigs or FB market. You're looking for front shocks like these: (I wouldn't pay more than $150 for a used set) If they don't have Eibach 620 pound coils, buy them from @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc (these are the Eibach coils) (Generally, on 1st Gen Tacoma Bilsteins, if the coils are grey, they are these Eibach coils) For the rear, to match the height of running the Bilstien 5100s at the lowest adjustment, with the 620 pound coils... And to help your sagging leafs. Id suggest finding a set of leaf springs off a 98-04 5 LUG (2wd non pre runner). Pull the center leaf out of that pack and put it in the leaf pack on your truck 2nd from the top.

Along with the 5 lug leaf, run an add a leaf spring from wheelers as well. This is the add a leaf: Adding both of the leafs in to the pack with cause you to need square Ubolts as well. I didn't see them listed, but Wheeler's sell them (I probably just missed them)

You'll need rear shocks. Either order them, or see if you can find them on Craigs or FB market. These are the ones that "match up" with the 5100 front shocks. Ran this set up for a couple years, and did just fine. It seriously helped my sagging original leafs (I think I actually like this set up better than the AllPro Expos I'm running now)



The cool part about all this is you can buy one thing here and another there and once get it collected, then you can install. You don't have to buy it all at once.

 

Thank you so much this is a great help i am still a little confused on the leaf springs and i shouldve taken a picture of them when it was on the rack because they are fucked so i am thinking would it just be easier to order a oem one?

 

With a $500 budget, you won't be able to get brand new leaf springs and shocks all around. I think he was giving you a decent option to stay under your budget.

 

i am going to buy new leaf springs but used shocks its easier

 

Don't bother with used shocks, unless they're just a super cheap, temporary fix...even then you shouldn't pay much if anything at all. I've thrown shocks away several times.

5100's are widely recommended and affordable as hell for a quality shock.

 

than what do u suggest because because i am not crawling or anything crazy this is a beginner truck to go in rugged dirt roads

 

Good thing you asked! Refer to my initial post -

 

yea i know thats why i want a starter build i need help and advice for because i have no idea what i am doing