How to lower for disability needs

I need ya’lls advice from a different perspective. I’m your normal truck loving, outdoors guy who happened to pick up a disease called IBM (Inclusion Body Myositis). My autoimmune system attacks my muscles, making it increasing difficult to climb steps or get up from a standard chair. One of my guilty pleasures is being able to still drive myself. So I sold my F150 and got a ’03 Tacoma DoubleCab, with the off road package. The goal being that the Tacoma is easier to drive and get in and out of with the exception that it is a little too tall… most days it is ok, but on “tired” days I just can’t climb in.
So I see all the posts about lifting Tacoma’s and with all the experience and brainpower out there can anyone give me some advice or direction on how to lower a few inches? As far as I know everything is stock except the wheels, but they are stock size. If I can’t figure something out, I’m going to have to sell it and buy something else. Thanks in advance for the help, you guys are the best, Bob

 

Hi Bob, there are kits out there for lowering just like there is for a lift, shorter coil springs for the front & for the back budget wise, you could take off the overload spring (if you don't do any heavy hauling) which by itself would lower the back by at least 1/2", it doesn't sound like much but you'd be surprised by the difference, I'm a "lift" guy myself but there are members here that have done alot of lowered trucks that hopefully chime in with other ideas, welcome to TW & good luck....

 

How do those shock sleeves and spring perches work?
I'm assuming they replace the lower spring mount on the front shocks?

 

just wondering, would it be easier to get/fab some sort of drop down step that would go about half way to the ground then fold back up instead of dealing with lowering the truck? .

 

Drop to 235/75/16 tires for a lower profile?

 

He mentioned something about climbing steps being a problem.

 

I feel your pain, Bob. I have osteoarthritis in my hips. In fact, I just had my first of two hip replacements about 6 weeks ago. Like yourself, I was having difficulties getting into the truck. I decided to pick up a set of step bars. Once installed, I found it much easier to get in. I liked the look of the OEM units, but they tend to hug the body on the 2nd gens. So I went aftermarket with a set of Westins. Shop around and you might find some that sit pretty low. It definitely helped in my case. I hope it helps for you too.

BTW, in case you're wondering how I got in on the "bad" days? I backed my butt up to the seat, grabbed the "oh shit" handle and the seat, put both feet on the step and pushed up. It looks funny, but it works.

 

Wouldn't be significant. It's only a little under 1/2" difference in vehicle height, but with the diameter being over 3/4" smaller it would look bad on the stock suspension, and it would increase the already-off speedometer error by another 3mph at 70.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the advice. Generaly speaking, steps don't work for me any longer but the step bar may give me that "push" I need as CRU described. I've been a butt backer for a while now. Enjoy life, it is hell getting old!

 

So doing my shopping for a lowering kit, being told that a pre-runner suspension is the same as a 4runner. So basically there is not any “easy” way or kit to lower a pre-runner. Any thoughts out there to help or confirm what I’m being told? Thanks, Bob

 

I think about the cheapest way would be to remove the shocks and coils and have someone cut about a half a turn off of the coils. Not sure how that would worl with the shocks, but it would sit lower. Maybe have to buy a shorter shock to make it work? Not really sure.

 

no, there really is no easy way to lower this suspension. every now and then people will ask how to lower a prerunner to get a street look...and generally the lowered guys just say buy a 5 lug, because its not worth it to lower a prerunner

 

Prerunner is the same as 4WD... NOT the Toyota 4-Runner, which has coils on the rear.