New member from Canada, 2004 Tacoma with a "small" lift

Hello all, I have recently purchased my second Toyota Tacoma and thought that I should join the forums, hopefully I can be of help to other members with issues I may have encountered in the past and get help from other members should I encounter any issues myself. Since I am no stranger to internet vehicle forums, enough talking, now for some pictures!

I have had lots of vehicles, but I will just post the related ones and any of the other ones if requested. Firstly I had a 89 Dodge Dakota, then a 94 Mazda b4000 which I spent a lot of time fixing/modding then came this 2001 Toyota Tacoma, bought it with 274 000kms on it, sold it with 328 000 kms

First Tacoma

2001 double cab, 3'' lift, 265 75 r16 trailcutter's






Next came a 1995 Subaru Impreza WRX Ver II STi, followed by a 2004 Saab 9-3 then this 2004 Toyota Tacoma, which I quickly made useful for my needs with a small lift and bigger tires.











As it sits now



Feel free to comment and I look forward to being a member of this community!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Wow, what a prestigious Welcome! The Mayor of TW himself!

 

Welcome to TW! Looks like you enjoy getting your truck dirty. You'll fit right in.

 

Thanks! I do indeed enjoy getting it dirty, this weekend for example after a weekend of hunting it needed a 45 minute wash job to get back to spec (the part I don't enjoy).

 

Welcome to TW! Awesome truck and I like your dog! German shepherd and collie mix?

 

Welcome! Awesome pics!

 

Thanks, but its my brothers dog, who I still treat like my own. Unfortunately as a University student I don't really have a living situation that permits having dogs, so the closest thing I have is taking his doggies out on my adventures. He is, as far as we know, a german Shepard, husky, rottweiler. This is him as a baby



He is about 100lbs now-a-days lol.


Here he is sharing with his new sister Maddie


Here are some more Toyota pics!
Pathetic Alberta articulation

 

Love the pics! Yeah I know that feeling, I am almost 300 miles away from my dogs at college, it really sucks. Worst part is, I lost my 17 year old buddy Jack just slightly over a month ago, and that really triggered the separation anxiety from my other two back home. I try to enjoy every precious moment I get with them, sucks that dogs can't live as long as we can.

 

Well 17 years seems like a good run but I am sorry to hear that!

 

Yeah it was, the events leading up to it were the most tragic, but I hate to bring that up...Still, nothing could prepare me for that day, I had him since I was 2 and a half years old. First friend I ever had, but I do know my pal is in a much better place called the Rainbow Bridge, we will be reunited again someday.

 

Welcome to TW, from Nova Scotia.

Frank

 

More dirty pictures!

Last weekend



These knives stayed here for 70kms before I noticed them




This morning,





45 minutes at the car wash, leaving at least 100 lbs of mud on the ground there later its back to being clean.

 

truck looks great! how do you like the 285s compared to your old 265s?

 

Although I am heading back to 265's for my winter tires, I prefer the 285's solely because they look better. Performance wise, I can't really make a statement because its not 265 toyo open country mt's vs 285 toyo open country mt's, the trail cutter and the toyos are much different tires. For my purpose, I do a lot of driving in the mud, I prefer the Toyos, they are just a surprisingly good tire. I have had Bfgoodrich mud terrain km1's, Bfgoodrich all-terrains, good year wrangler mt-r's and I would say the Toyo's are the best for wear and performance.

Thanks for the bump, soon I will have some ridiculously painted rims for winter and will update with pictures

 

Quick question, don't necessarily think it needs a new thread. I wish that my front end was a little more level with the rear. I installed a 3" revtec leveling kit and was thinking I would like just a little more. I am wondering your opinion on two ways of doing this.

1.) Obviously the least cost advantageous but probably the best performance, OME 882's and bilstein struts in the front.

Advantage: much more proper lift then the shitty rev-tek leveling blocks, get rid of stock springs
Disadvantages: Rough ride, price

Question: Will I notice more lift with the OME 882's compared to the rev-tek set up?

Option 2: 10MM Lift Enhancer Kit
Advantages: Price
Disadvantages: This may be loading up the shitty struts a little too much, kind of a farm way around a proper fix.

Ultimately, anyone use an "enhancer kit" (For additional 1/2"-5/8" approx lift. Installs on top of the upper strut plate, doesn't effect ride. Kit includes two chrome plated steel spacers and an extended stud kit) with a similar leveling kit? Results?

What do people recommend? Obviously the Billsteins and new springs are the proper way, but I am a student so funding is budgeted. I could get the enhancing kit now, the bilsteins would have to wait.

In return, pics: