do i really need a lift???

I need to make this my sig....

 

It depends on where you are going and how serious you are. One of the people that went wheelin' with us this past weekend at Centralia had a stock truck and got around fine...but Centralia is fairly mild. I'm going back to Rausch Creek in a few weeks and am adding rock sliders to protect my truck and have a 3" Toytec Ultimate lift with 285/75/16's.

 

If ya have to ask you don't "need it" want maybe

 

That's easy -- people that have lifts and "wheel" will tell you that you need a lift. People that don't "really wheel" but just cruise FSR and hit the occasional boat ramp or campsite will tell you that you don't. Drive your truck - figure out how *you* use it and act accordingly. Yes, a lift is cool and adds some mod options but if you don't need it - why? Also, look at all the threads of those that have lifts that have to modify or re-do things that worked perfectly fine before the lift.

Your call.......

 

My ass drags more then a puppy that has diarrhea after eating a bucket full of peppers.

thats due to following modded XJ's and FJ's though.

I spent over $1,500 on my "lift" and it only gives me about 1" of lift. Aftermarket suspension is for more then just lifts. My ability to cruse through the whoops or go balls out on a fire road is far superior to any truck with stock suspension. My travel is also greater.

 

I like lifts. Like they way they make a truck look, and like the ability to scoot over gnarley crap on my way to fishing holes. I don't rock climb, so I don't need it for that. I guess it is all dependent in how you wanna see your truck and how you're going to use your truck.

Will be dropping my crappy spacer lift soon for something more....Bilstien.

 

Im really glad I found this thread. Ive been pouring over posts and how to guides on lifting my 08 tacoma for a couple days now and just couldnt make up my mind. My concerns about lifting are... how bad will a lift and some 33's effect my gas mileage and towing??? After consulting some hardcore off road peeps they all confirmed my suspicions that my mpg's will go to hell and the on road handeling will be adversely effected. I know I know you all will say "you souldnt drive a truck if your going to worry about mpg's or that your off road lift suspension will improve the trucks overall handeling. Well its impossible to judge what "better" handeling is since better is based on personal opinion. And the mpg are important to me since I primarily use my truck to tow with and its just plain ignorant not to try to get the best possible mileage out of any vehicle that you drive. Ok rant over ill get to the point. I thought I wanted a lift for the "agressive look" and to be able to stuff some more agressive looking tires under the truck. But I like the idea of doing more with less so ill keep the ride height stockish and try to determine what tire would suit my needs the best and buy them. I will be needing new rubber soon so I guess ill start looking around on here for advice. I may also look into some skid plates to better protect my investment. Where I wheel there are very little rocky areas so Im sure just a little armour will go a long way.

Thanks for making the thread op it was lots of help!!!

 

^ Disco pick out some 265/75/16s. Larger than stock, will fit without a lift and wont have as big of an impact on MPGs. A stock Taco can still do a lot.

 

I have a 1" lift and am running 33's getting 14-16mpg. You should get better as my truck is armored. If you tow all the time you will want some gears to go along with your 33's unless your truck never see's a hill. By far the easiest tall tire to fit is a 255/85/16.

 

Your running 255/85/16s on a 1" lift? I wanna see it post up some picks.
Here's mine with 3" lift & 255/85/16 BFG KM2s

 

this is the route I'll be going (265/70/17 as I have 17's )- I might add 1/4" spacers for ~ 1/2" of lift to take a little of the rake out

I do plan on beefing up the armor though

 

lol...is that your way of saying "your full of shit and I want you to prove it?"

A mid travel lift doesn't help clear bigger tires if you keep your bump stops in the same location. It just limits the frequency of rubbing. When fully compressed you'll still rub the same with or without a lift.

Proper wheels and caster is key.

Hundreds of pounds of gear in the bed 2 weekends ago






no trimming up front at all at full compression (black shit is silicone from mudflap fix along time ago). If I had my caster at 3* instead of 2.6* I'm sure I wouldn't even be close to that fender.


stuffed like a champ with zero rub







bump stop bumped

 

No it's my way of saying I want to see it (looks good). They are a close fit on my 3" lift & I had never heard of someone running 255/85/16s on a 1" lift. If I wanted to call it BS I would of.

 

I think I'm actually lower then 1" of lift to be exact...

TSB springs with 3 leaf progress AAL that has 40k on it and almost negative arch and up front King 2.5 remotes in front with 4 threads showing and 700# springs. I sat lower then a stock truck with my old tires and probably even with one now.

 

1st time truck owner here...getting my cap put on in a week or two...will this sag be noticeable, how do I fix it, and does it pose a problem, other than to the appearance of the truck?

Please forgive my ignorance on truck related issues.

 

NO, you won't NEED one, but you may like to have one. I have a 2010 TRD DCSB with NO LIFT and an ARE CX topper and it doesn't sag AT ALL. The topper only weighs about 130lbs, so not that much. Good luck and enjoy your truck as it is.

 

Welcome to TW!

What model truck do you have?

How many leaf springs are in your leaf pack?

If you don't have TSB springs you should look into it http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/158197-spring-tsb-why.html#post3205025

other then that it all depends on what you haul under the cap

 

See XXXX's response above

 

Thanks!

08 trd offrd dcsb.

IDK, whatever comes stock for my model, I guess.

Mostly dogs, camping gear, and mountain bikes.

 

Sorry to hi-jack but I have 4 leafs (canada) and my truck nose dives. Should I get 5100's to level it out? I have 3 inch difference from back to front.