Lift and Rim question (Newbie alert)

Please try not to flame too much, but I have a question. When I return from my deployment I will be purchasing a 2009 Dual Cab Tacoma 4x4 Sport. I've been looking around at different sites to get an idea how I would like to mod it. I found this one and I really like how it looks. http://www.socalsupertrucks.com/truckdetail.jsp?t=236&move=top&currentPosition=0

It says he's got a 2.5" leveling system, but I was wondering if I should get a whole lift kit such as and if I did, how would it look in 20's wrapped with an aggressive low profile tire? Would that kit have everything I needed or would I need to order extra parts. I'm asking this because I plan on ordering all this while away then having it installed when I get back.

I have looked over the links stickied here and on other sites but I just want to be sure before I start ordering parts.

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice you can give. This will be my first truck (been driving a ford escort for 5 years) and I really don't know a lot about lifts etc, etc.

 

i never looked at your links as soon as i saw 4x4 rapped in 20's with low pro tires, please don't do that. But to answer your question go with some billy 5100's and it will level it and give you a good ride without spending alot of money.

 

You should definately buy the entire kit and not just a leveling kit... I guess it just depends on how tall (what size) of a tire you want to run under it... I have an 05 Taco 4x4 access cab and I have a 3" EZ lift suspension lift installed on that (takes about 5-6 hours to install by yourself with experience) ( i can send you pictures -my 33" (285/75/16 Nitto Terra grappler purchased at Discount Tire Direct for $620.00 out the door) tires have not been installed yet so it looks tall but truck still riding on the stock 30.5" tires (245/75/16 dunlop AT20) the only pictures I have of my truck on the tacomworld site are from before i lifted it so i can add some updated pics soon though. anyway, back to your lift....You mentioned Toytec , and they do make good lifts because I installed that lift kit on two of my Tacomas (1998 4x4 Taco and 2005 4x4 TRD sport Tacoma) but they're kind of a pain because the coil spacer goes inside the coil and it has to be compressed whereas many of the other coil spacer lift kits install ontop of the strut/coil assembly without having to compress the coil. The lifts that install on top of the coil/strut assembly incorporate a 1" differential drop spacer between the front diff and the front diff mount in order to re-align the front axles and maintain the proper drive angle to prevent any excess wear from wierd angles and shit.. and in the rear of the truck the lift is created by your choice of lift blocks or add-a-leafs which is an extra leaf spring that you install in your existing leaf pack that recurves your rear leaf spring pack and lifts it around 2.5" which will make the truck perfectly level front and back because all stock trucks are higher in the rear because they are made for payload and sit up higher in rear. There are several companies manufacturing these coil spacer lift kits and I have installed this lift in four different tacomas and I really like the EZ Lift 3" lift kit which costs $189.99 plus shipping which totals $209.99 out the door... you can order from their ebay motors store or their actual website which is extremetrucktoys.com . many people like the look of the 20" or bigger wheels and the sport tires to get that sport truck look so it would probably look really nice. i like the offroad blacked out wheels/aggressive offroad tires/lifted look but everyone has their own taste. you should definately check out KMC Wheels XD series , they have some really sweet wheels -or the MotoMetal wheels also.... Anyway, if you have more questions just ask , i will be glad to help..... Chad

 

@ Bajamoon: I knew that comment would be coming. My wife actually gave me the ok to get 2 sets of rims, one for show and one for play so I'm definitely kicking around that option as well.

@ Chad: Thanks for the reply, I've bookmarked the site that you attached and will look more into that as well. I guess buying a lift isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I will probably have more questions as I look more into it and if I do, I'll get back with you. I'll be on the lookout for the updated pics as well. I googled the tires and they do look pretty nice.

 

Welcome to the board. This forum is has tons of great info and many terrific contibutors who are very helpful.
Grab a beer, water, ice cream sandwich or whatever.. sit down and dig in.
Next thing you'll know is you're spending way too much time and probably way too much money on your new Tacoma

Seriously though, almost anything you need or want to know is here, just search or ask. I'm still just a rookie with this stuff, but have learned sooo much logging in and reading and asking questions.

Send a PM(private message) to Neubs, who is a fellow member, and he can hook you up with a Toytec discount coupon code.

What color is your truck going to be?

wmb67

 

Lol, Thanks for the welcome. I've actually spent a lot of time on these forums lately. I've already learned tons and will probably learn a lot more before it's all said and done. I will be purchasing the Magnetic Grey Metallic Tacoma.

 

I was doing the same thing man. I was deployed, bought my Taco on R&R and before I made it back home for good I had already ordered $2500 worth of parts and mods. Good luck with your modding.

 

I'm actually coming back to Fayetteville. I see you're from around here too. Sharp truck btw.

 

Yeah, I can see myself spending that easily, and that's not including putting in the Kenwood Deck with the 7" screen. I figure it's going to be my first brand new vehicle and something I've wanted for awhile, so why not go all out right?

 

20's would look stupid On a lifted 4x4. If your gonna put racing/ high performance tires on a vehicle make it a race car (or truck)

 

Thank you. Like I said all comments are welcome, but helpful posts about my questions are appreciated.

 

First off, welcome! Second, congrats on the upcoming truck purchase- MGM is the best looking color IMO, biased though! The Toytec Ultimate 3" lift looks great and drives amazing. IMHO if you go with 33's I would go with 18" rims at the most. I just think that it looks a bit better ratio wise. With 33's i think that 20's would take over the wheel. How often are you gonna offroad? If not all that much, then why get two sets of wheels or 4x4? If you are gonna be out alot then I would buy some really good offroad tires with good streetability. Now don't get me wrong I am in no way trying to flame or knock you down. The different ways we all customize our trucks is what is sooo cool. It would suck to drive down the road and everyone had the exact same setup as you did. My only thing is low pros on a 4x4 (2 wd would be fine). Again congrats on the upcoming truck!!!