how to make 34's work

I am going to be honest - you will get a lot of bad advice on this forum - people say a lot of crazy shit and I am not sure they actually have done what they say. You need to do your research (see links below) the Tinkerer's adventure is a mechanical engineer that knows what he's talking about unlike a lot of folks that will tell you can do this or that to your truck - stuff that is flat out wrong. so that is the first link but the others are good as well.

I get it you want poke for looks ......OK - the higher the negative off set the more your tire will stick out AND the more the will have rubbing issues unless you have some lift and maybe some cutting. Some folks that don't go off road seem to be able to live with some minor rubbing (I don't know how but that is what some of them say). You want to go off road so that is not going to be OK.

A completely stock Tacoma can go up to 32 without doing a single mod no rubbing and can do easy and intermediate trails pick your lines with common sense - actually that is the best way to start because you gain some valuable experience. To go up to 33s will involve some minor mods 34 and up it gets more involved - lifts, maybe re-gearing, Cab mount chop, fender trimming. Upper control arms to get good alignment and so on. But if you are going to go off road do it right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAYGdcKSA3o

https://www.trailbuiltoffroad.com/b...-fit-best-on-a-third-generation-toyota-tacoma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouasV7Z3nqc

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/blog/toyota-tacoma-tire-sizes-guide

 

Thank you for the advice- upon further inspection, I found that the previous owner had installed a 1.5 or 2-inch body lift. So i should be able to fit 34s down the line- thouhg it is not a priortiy. RN im focused on bumpers, rock sliders, and recovery gear.

 

Just out of curiosity do you know what suspension bits the previous owner installed to get the lift? Good call on sliders. Bumpers sound good as well - I would like to do that too but so far out of my price range. My first two mods were 32s (265/75R16) and then rock sliders. I did easy a some intermediate trails like that on stock suspension - that really helped me learn how to pick a good line. I wanted to do some of the more difficult trails and obstacles and did my research and probably talked to a dozen folks with tons of experience especially Taco guys. I formed the opinion that 33s are the sweet spot for 3rd gen in terms of capability and cost. For sure you can go bigger (34s or 35s even 37s) and if you do it right with no problems but the cost really starts to climb. The biggest thing I saw on the trail in my two years of going off road is Tacos with the bigger tires breaking tie rods ( two incidents) and CV axle (one incident). I know, small sample size but I can't help but wonder with the more than 2" lift and heavy tires if that was a factor or just taking a bad line. Anyway when I went with 33s (285/75R16 - my DX4 wheels have a +10 off set - I was more concerned with rubbing than poke)I got a 2" lift with 5100s - 5100 with 2" lift from heavy duty coil overs in front (OME 888 because I also armored up underneath with skid plates all the way back) and 5100 with 1.875" lift RXT leaf pack in the rear - I also went with extended bump stops front and back and to add to my rubbing paranoia I spent $450 and had the shop do a CMC (Cab Mount Chop) and viper (I just wanted no rubbing off road so probably over compensated). Two other things I did that I probably could have gotten away without doing was getting new UCA (SPC brand but there are others) to facilitate a good alignment and also got spindle gussets to beef them up for off road because of the heavier tire and banging around off road. I could easily fit 34s I suppose and maybe even 35s but from everything I read I would need to re-gear which is ~3K and do some upgrades to the suspension plus go to 17" wheels with an off set that would clear the UCA etc. For now I am very happy with the 33s and so far have been able to go where ever the Tacos with 35s go - so yeah I am happy with the 33s.

 

Very in depth- thank you. I still want to go up to 34's, when i have the money. But i have come to the conclusion that im going to stay with my -12 offset wheels. I actually don't know what type of lift, or even how high it is, I have on my truck- but I have reached out to the dealer to acquire the history of the vehicle. All I know is I have RoughCountry N3 in the rear and Bilstein upfront.

 

If those wheels are what you truly have, those 17's have a +12mm offset. You're lucky you aren't rubbing now. When I had 285/70R17's with 0 offset, I was rubbing my upper control arms. I got new wheels shortly after and went with -12 offset. Even with a 2.5" lift, I was also rubbing my cab mounts and my forward fenders. Got a cab mount relo and high clearance bumper to clear. And then after all that, I'd go wheeling and would still hit the fender liners, ha.

 

With a -12 offset you're still going to have to do a CMC, new UCAs and still trim a bunch.

Like others have said a 33" is probably going to be easier.

I have 285/75R17 on -12 offset wheels. Before I went to a 34 I regeared, aftermarket front bumper, lockers, sliders, full skids, Icon lift.