Recommendation on 2” to 2-1/2 lift kit

Hi everyone.

I’m new here on the TW and looking to see if anyone can recommend a solid 2” to 2-1/2” suspension kit.

Any advice is much appreciated

 

What do you plan on using your truck for? Budget?

 

My taco is my daily driver and may be once or twice a month I’ll go on light trails.
My budget is $1,500 but can squeeze out a bit more if it’s for better quality

 

Welcome to TW. At the top right is a magnifying glass - that's the search button. I'm mentioning the search button because this exact topic is probably the most asked question on TW. With that written I believe most people go with Bilstein 5100's and a aal in the back.

Go big or go home. Lol

 

Thanks @DG92071 for the info. Waking up a bit early today and spending some time on here searching (several hours) almost everyone is going with some combination of Bilstein 5100. I did come across the OME Kit did the research on TW and some other websites and thinking of this kit seems like a solid lift kit.



*** Any advice on whether I should leave the overload leaf along with the 1.5" 3 leaf progressive to reach somewhat level stance? Thanks again man I really appreciate it.

 

I have those UCA's on my truck and they do exactly what they're supposed to without constant maintenance that uniball UCA's seem to require (unless you like squeaks, lol).

If you do any kind of hauling with your truck I'd reinstall the overload leafs after installing the AAL.

 

You might also check out Ironman 4x4. Lesser known Australian outfit with a newish US distributor in Oregon.

Their marketing is cringe but they make quality stuff. I run their Foam Cell Pro kit. Their nitro kit seems as though it'd fit your needs just fine and is under your budget. They're always running sales so keep an eye out.

https://ironman4x4america.com/nitro-gas-suspension-kit-suited-for-toyota-tacoma-2005-stage-1/

 

for the rear probably Icon RXT, extended brake lines, Archive hammer hangers with cross tube, upgraded shocks Bilstein 5160 or better

 

Seems like overkill for the OP (post #3).

Definitely waaaaaay overkill for the OP (post #3).

 

so you’re saying get 5100, AAL, spacer, and TSB springs? Because that’s what I have and it rides like garbage on road.

I’m sorry if it offends OP that he bought a Tacoma with weak factory hangers that flex. That’s what comes with buying the truck and is a problem.
Like if you have an engine and a timing chain fails. It’s an expensive fix whether you like it or not.
Or keep having a shitty ride.

the parts cost what they cost and there’s really no way around that.

it’s very cheap to take a 5th gen 4Runner and put 5160’s to have a smooth ride.
But that alone does not work on the Tacoma due to coming with shitty stock leafs and hangers.

If you do less than that you end up wasting your time and money having to redo it again later.

Cheap combo does ok off-road where you’re going slow over uneven ground allowing it to flex. Sudden cracks and deviations on road (common) it rides like shit. Anyone with that combo will tell you that and eventually swaps it out.

front is not that expensive depending on if you get UCA or not. It’s just a shock and spring choice. Lift springs from ARB are like $200. Because there is no crappy leafs and hanger shit to deal with in front.
Totally up to OP. You get what you pay for. Spend less and it’s the same as getting to the top of a hill, climbing into a shopping cart, and having a friend push you on down the road in it. Especially annoying if you give a ride to any passengers family friend or otherwise only to find that out.
I don’t want to be in that situation either but am right now (cheap lift, shitty ride)
A lift that I installed to perform better off road and clear rocks better without banging up the underside as much as I did with less lift on it prior. That left the truck possibly riding a hair less shitty than stock. They’re both kind of in the same category. Stock? Shit ride. Cheap barely upgraded and lifted? Still shit ride. But taller on top of a rock.

it may be useful for OP to learn from others experience. Or will just learn the hard way by doing himself.

I regret not jumping on the used leafpacks I saw for like $300 a month ago. One was RXT and the other OME medium duty Dakar
Used is always a great way to save. It’s also impossible to find because once a person puts a good quality part on their Tacoma that lasts forever and is kept a long time, they don’t tend to remove that part and sell used.
Useless step bars can be found used all the time. Leafpacks not really.

In fact, that combo isn't even something I want to improve off road capability. The fact that it will is just an added bonus. I want that combo to make it stop riding like a shopping cart daily driving on the road, as will OP if he installs something cheap.
The only saving grace is if he ends up installing it himself. If he pays labor on install then that is money thrown out the window upon ending up still unhappy with it looking to later redo the job with better parts.

 

I like the Eibach kit.

 

Wow, that's a really long rant but you obviously never read post #3.

Neither the OP nor myself wrote anything about spacers.

Have a ball and rant some more proving your superiority to all.

Oh, and maybe read post #3. Maybe.

 

I've been in a similar situation looking for lifts. Lots of different options. I ended up going with the 5100's and ome 885's and a rear deaver aal for my dclb prerunner. According to headstrong it yields 2.5-2.75" of lift. The kit itself was ~750-800 at the time in November, might have gone up since. I added spc upper control arms which definitely added cost but I wanted the lift to be done properly. Seems to be a well tested setup through all of the research I've done that doesn't break the bank compared to other options. Better than spacers but also not a full Icon/king set up. I get it installed in 2 weeks so I will have a better opinion then. At the end of the day its not a lexus but most suspension lifts will ride significantly better than a spacer lift. From what I've read, the Bilsteins are better on road and good off road (digressive) while the OME shocks are better off road but good on road (progressive) due to their design. Depends on your specific needs 90% of the time. Headstrongs research and information on their site definitely made the choice easier for me. Mostly gravel and muddy roads for what I do here in Florida.

 

Hey OP so I’m in the same boat as you with mostly road driving and some light off-roading… I know many people will disagree with me on this (sorry I’m on a budget as an E3 living in California) but to each their own. My setup has been on my truck over a year and I’ve had no issues and love it. I have a 3 inch rough country lift up front with Off-road UCAs up front and a 2 inch lift in the rear. With an OME driveshaft drop, it’s great. I took off my sway bar and love it.

 

I had a similar budget/use case as the OP.

I have had this set up for about a year now

Light racing UCA
Bilstein 6112 front (2.5" lift)
Bilstein 5160 rear
Wheelers 3 leaf progressive AAL
Factory overload leaf still in

Alignment is in factory specs

This set is a little rough on road (not plush on small bumps) but does well off road for fast fire roads, crawling, and the dunes.

Are fox,king, elka...ect high end set ups way smoother and handle better off road? YES but given the cost of the bilstein package it's, in my opinion the best bang for your buck.

 

RXT might fix that bro lean

 

I put the factory overload leaf back in since that picture and leveled it right out

 

Thanks to everyone on here for their input and time. I have now finally purchased the Bilstein 6112/5160 Combo, OME Dakar leaf springs (Medium Load For the RTT later), & JBA UCAs. I will be posting pictures when fully installed and a brief review.

 

Where did you purchase this set from? Or did you buy them individually. Looking to do the same

 

I’m just curious and not trying to offend but why oh why do you want to spend $1500 plus for a lift on a 2 wheel drive daily pavement pounder? Seems like a waste to me. I assume its just for the idea of look at me everyone, I’m cool in my lifted truck. Again not trying to be offensive, not criticizing, just trying to understand. So many other things I can think of to spend $1500+ on that would actually be beneficial and useful.