Need Help with Mid Travel setup

Just about ready to pull the trigger on a mid-travel setup from a local shop for my 3rd gen. My truck is a V6 RWD Access Cab.

Trying to keep the budget from getting out of control, so I’m thinking 5100’s in the front and an Icon AAL in the back.

I’m looking to add 1.5” to the front and 1.5” to the rear of the truck. I want to keep the factory rake and don’t want it leveled. I’d go for a 2” lift in a perfect world, but don’t want to spend the extra money on UCA’s and a full leaf pack to achieve that right now. I’m looking to get some extra travel as well as the increase in ride height.

Here’s where I need help, because I don’t have a lot of knowledge about suspension:

I’m unsure what coils I need to run, but have been told by my local shop that OME 2887 will be my best bet. They said that the front 5100’s will be set to the 0” setting and that the coil will give me the lift I’m looking for. After looking, all my sources are telling me that the 887 will give me 2” of lift, rather than the 1.5” I want. I’ve heard that the springs will settle naturally and will probably not stay at the 2” mark forever, but would I not need UCA’s in that case? The other concern is that my truck is 2WD, so there’s no transfer case/front driveshaft/etc to weigh it down and I don’t want the ride to be too harsh since I’m mostly on pavement anyways.

Lastly, I am not sure what rear shocks are going to work best for my setup. I know that the AAL will provide the lift, but I’m really hoping to maintain the rake, even with my ARE camper shell on the back of the truck. I do tow sometimes, but not super often so I’m trying to avoid squatting in that scenario. I think 5100’s would be fine but have heard from others that the 5125’s or even the 6112’s will help mitigate the weight.

I appreciate any help in advance. Thanks!

 

Is the mid-travel suspension in the room with us now?

Nothing you've listed so far increases wheel travel over stock

 

So what should I be looking at for a mid-travel setup? Genuinely unsure because everything I’ve read up to this point seemed to indicate more travel.

 

Are you sure you actually want a mid travel setup or are you looking for a lift with a little offroad performance increase? The cost is going to triple for a mid travel setup. I dont personally see the advantage of a mid travel setup on a 2wd truck. You need speed if you are using it in the sand so you kinda go all out on long travel or stay simple.

 

Hey, maybe I'm wrong, it happens all the time. King, Fox and some others make extended travel shocks but it's like 1" or less of additional travel. In the rear you'll need a shock relocation and 12 or 14" shocks (and obviously extended brake lines). Since you're 2wd that's the only thing I'd even consider doing. It doesn't matter if you've got a front wheel on the ground or not since they don't provide power.

You may be better off calling Accutune or Headstrong offroad, who are both active on this forum, and ask for some advice. They're all good people who know their stuff.

 

This is super helpful perspective. Looking for a lift with a little improvement on off-road performance. There will come a day when I do long travel for this truck but since it’s my daily, now’s not the time. I guess I figured that any suspension lift would increase travel, but I think I may have just been misunderstanding.

 

What type off offroading are you going to be doing? I don't have any experience with those coils so hopefully someone else can help with those. I think there's a setting for 1.5" like you are after on the 5100s if you use your stock coil. I had 5100s with stock coils on my 1st gen and liked them. I used it for high speeds on grave and dirt roads with some mild trails. The rear 5100s I think are good for 1" lift but if you have a topper I bet you will be right at that lift with the aal. I'd run em

 

Nothing too crazy since I’m not 4x4, probably just fire roads and lighter trails. Mainly looking for the lift and want to keep the rake for towing/payload. How was the ride on yours? Everything I’ve watched/read has put 5100’s at the best for the money.

 

If that is all you are doing, then yeah a small lift with 5100's and maybe an AAL (add-a-leaf) in the rear will keep you on budget and let you do those things. Like others have said since you are 2WD it doesn't make sense to drop $$$$ on a King/Fox/etc. big money "mid travel" kit.

Another suggestion: Call up @Crikeymike at Exit Offroad and see what a Dobinsons kit would do for ya, they have great budget options that also perform well.

 

Honestly, I'd keep my stock coils on the 5100s then. You will get the lift you want rather than it being a guess where it will settle. Save the money and save up for true long travel if that is where you want the truck to end up. There is a lot to learn about long travel and what type of coil over and spring rates will work for what you want to do with the truck.

I liked the 5100s. They were slightly firmer valved than stock, took harsher bumps a little better and they seemed to be a little better with shock fade than stock. If you find yourself bottoming out a lot after the lift and 5100s instead of going long travel right away you could try bumpstops. Something that will make it not so harsh bottoming out and are progressive. Durobumps and the archive kit Ive seen a lot of people like and are what I plan on using on my 3rd gen soon. They are common with people that run long travel so you can keep them if you do go that rout. I would wait and see if you actually need them first though because they are pretty expensive. It sounds like you will probably be happy with just the 5100s for now.

 

Bumping this thread rather than starting a new one.

The shop that I’m working with on putting this together for me said that the 5100’s won’t work on the rear with the AAL since Bilstein quotes a 1” lift for the 5100 and the AAL is of course 1.5”. They also aren’t convinced that my ARE camper shell will provide enough constant weight to drop the rear .5” to make it compatible. Anyone have any experience with the 5100 on the rear with a 1.5” AAL?

 

I know I already gave my opinion, but .5 will be fine. It should be more like .25 or less over the inch with your topper. You wont be flexing it out on rocks or anything. I'd recommend some searches on the forum here and google and make your decision. You could always just have them put in a 1" lift block if you don't need the extra load capacity of the aal.

Here is a thread asking basically the same thing but on a 2nd gen.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1-5-rear-block-on-rear-5100-bilstein-shocks.456113/

 

You’re incorrect, 5100 are extended in comparison to OEM, 4600 or 6112’s

 

Thanks for that. My shop is pretty firm that it won’t work, so I reached out to some other shops to see what they think.

 

I often times see toppers drop the rear a full 1" in the rear from the weight. The stock leafs just don't hold weight well.

I would take your truck, measure from the center of the hub to the fender while on flat ground and don't bend the tape measure. Stock 3rd gen is around 21" front and 22" rear. This is your baseline to figure out how much front and rear lift that you need and also maintain the 1" of rake.

You need to go with a shop that has a history of installing a lifts, there has been numerous times where I would go in and fix a shop's incorrect installs.

Rear End - The Bilstein 5100's state that they are good for 0-1" of lift, but you can stretch it to 2" with no ill effects. 2" would actually be about 24" in the rear. They will generally work fine for what you are looking to get. The Bilstein 5125 are for 2"-3.5" but you might want extended bump stops for them if you are closer to the 2" or less area so that the shocks dont compress too far and damage them.

Plus they provide a lot of droop so then you have to be mindful of the rear brake lines. Stock leafs don't droop as much as aftermarket though.

Rear Lift - I would go with the icon 3 leaf add a leaf. Because you have a topper, this will hold the weight better than a 1.5" block. If you take the overload out for the install then its more like 1.5" of lift, if you leave the overload in then its about 1.75"-2". I do most of my installs with the overload leaf left in. If you are sagging bc of the topper then I would also leave the overload in, but again shops have to know how to trim the keeper brackets on the original leaf pack in order to install them correctly.

Front - If going with Bilstein 5100's then I would use one of the clip settings with your stock coils and the height will be pretty accurate. For your access cab 2wd you are not supposed to use the 5th clip setting on the 5100's (2") so it would have to be the 1.55" clip setting. Its been a while since looking at the sheet for it. With it being a 2wd, the front is lighter, so your results on lift are going to be different with the old man emu springs.

Front Bilstein 6112 is a much better shock though, (Softer valving, 600lb spring) if you can afford it then I would always pick this shock over a 5100 combo with an old man emu spring. You are only spending a little more too. $600 vs $900

If using an aftermarket front coil on the 5100's then you will want a driver's side lean spacer too. 1/4" thick. If going with 6112's then they alternate the clip setting instead. If going with stock front coils then its not needed bc the driver's side coil is a small amount longer.