Picking my lift

So first off I tried to avoid creating a thread. But researching has just led me to have more questions and i figured it might just work best to go ahead and post.

The desire for a lift stemmed from my first real "off-road" adventure. had the skid plates from the factory scrap just going over crests of hills whereas the buddy with his lifted tacoma (2.5" lift) didnt. Skid plates did their job perfectly but no since i would like to get out in those types of areas more often a lift is needed i think.

The truck -
2011 Tacoma Off-road package.
V6 4x4
Leer canopy on the back
Otherwise mechanically it is stock

Truck usage -
This is not my daily driver. It is mostly for hauling lumber and for heading up into the mountain. I would say it is probably 60% highway, 30% forest service type roads, and 10% (not currently but future!) more off-roading. Condition wise i do drive it in the snow in the winter to go up skiing. Most of the truck drives are longer (30min +) so having a comfortable ride is needed as well.

The truck also makes long hi-way runs from San Diego to my home (basically Seattle) every couple years as I go there for 3+ months to work. In August i will be heading down there for 6-9 months as an example.

Desired Lift -
I want 3". I dont know why exactly i picked that number but i have and i think it is a good compromise between everything. Id also like to go for something more even front to back to get rid of any lean

For Sure Things -
I plan to do UCA's from the get go. I know they are sort of a maybe or maybe not thing but I will just do them anyways. Planning on just getting LR UCA's as they should be more than enough for me. These will come with the lift.

Front Bumper - Eventually i will get a new front bumper and most likely a winch. How soon...could be a year or it could be 5 years. I just dont know. The winch could be even longer unless i find a great deal.

Rear Bumper - Same sort of deal as the front bumper but it seems like they are cheaper so it might come sooner than later. Wouldnt be anything to fancy but rather just a new plate bumper.

Extended Brakes Lines -
Figure i might as well since i am planning 3" of lift. Might get away with stock but figure if i am tearing it apart i might as well do these at the same time.

Rear Leaf Pack -
More than likely i will just go with a new leaf pack. Which more than likely means the OME Dakar pack since it seems highly rated.


So on to the lifts! Basically I have been looking at three setups. Icon, Bilstein, OME, and the Toytec. I simply pulled the completed kit options off toytec so pricing could be different elsewhere. just using it as a guideline.

I more than likely will be doing the install (other than alignment) and just have basic tools (ie no spring compressor) but do have a torque wrench at least. I feel i have the tools and ability to do the install but the less i actually have to do (ie assembling coils) would be nice too since this is my first time doing it.

3" lift kit with Bilstein 5100 Height Adj. Coilovers - $1360

Seems like sort of the basic lift. Everything comes reassembled and with everything i could need.
*noted add the upgrade for OME Dakar pack so thats why price is higher than first look

Pros
-Rebuild able Shocks from what i understand.
-Pretty cheap and simple overall

Cons
-Comes with the 620# springs so it will probably be a bit rougher of a ride than using a less spring.

Toytec Ultimate Lift Kit - $1620
Im not really sure what all is different than the above lift to be honest. Red coils instead of silver ones and it comes with a differential drop which i wont be using. Again added the Dakars to the price

OME Lift - $1384
Again added the Dakars to the price. Also added the 100 bucks for it to come assembled.

Pros-
-Well reviewed and liked
-Can pick which coil overs to go with
- Pretty much a "plug and play" system like the others

Cons -
-Not rebuild able.
-Have to add a small spacer to get 3" lift.

Really a common lift it seems like and well liked. The spacer for 3" doesnt seem like it would matter to much for my intended usage. Also i could start with say the 885 coils and then when i do get the new bump go ahead and just change out to the 886 springs.

Icon Stage 1 - 1900
Again with dakar. Also with the extended travel option since i will be going with new UCA's.

PROS-
-Seems like most people say ICON over nay other of the ones im looking at if you can afford them
-Should last a long time with my intended uses (icon says 1-3 years but that depending on use they have also seen up to 150k miles before rebuild)
-rebuild able

Cons -
-Most expensive
-Ride may be a bit stiffer but thats hard to say.

Seems like the lift people say to go with if you can afford it. They dont really say how much lift you can get but i am sure 3" is possible with this with the heavier springs and all.

Ok with all that said and my intended uses what do you guys think? Right now I am leaning towards the Icons. Havent heard a real bad thing about them and they should provide great ride on and off road (or so i have heard) though it could also end up being a bit stiffer. Seems to be person to person on that. I end up just going round and round from one lift to another the more i read so thought maybe posting my exact uses might help.

 

For what you described your usage to be i would go OME and not look back. Get the dakars and LR ucas and brake lines and you're set. Either get the 885 or 886 coils and be some with it.

 

Do those ICONS really only last 1-3 years? that seems quick for a rebuild on $1700 coilovers.

But for your setup I would go with OME all around. Ive heard too many good things about them. I have Bilsteins with Eibachs and Its perfect for my setup and uses. The ride is a little harsh but I do not mind. Ive read the OME coils provide a better/ cushier ride. On the rear I have DAKARS and love them. If your gonna be carrying constant weight I would recommend getting the OME AAL. I carry 200#s constantly and after install the rear was sitting .5" lower than the front. Ive since added 1.5" shackles and now have a slight rake but I need to add the AAL for more load carrying capabilities

 

The icon rebuild being 1-3 years is only what i have read. Followed by it depends on how you use them. For my use i would imagine it would be a lot longer. Plus its 65 per a shock to rebuild (for the non-res type). And again i am thinking that the 1-3 applies when you are using them more for th eoff-road aspect vs the lift aspect Its what i read at least so could very well be wrong

The added weight is a good consideration. in the winter i will add weight for snow driving. But during the summer its usually an empty bed. I am assuming you mean you get the AAL in addition to the Dakars for your setup?

 

TOTAL CHAOSS LONG TRAVEL. PRICE IS IRRELEVANT. I REPEAT PRICE IS IRRELEVANT

 

yeah I was just suggesting to get the AAL when you buy the DAKARS especially if your gonna carry weight. Its what I gotta do eventually since im carrying 200#s constatly

 

You misspelled TOTAL CHAOS btw

 

Gosh darnit you're absolutely right. I put two S's on CHAOS

 

Ill add it to the list of stuff to look into for sure. I do carry the canopy year round which is ~200lbs (i think) so that plus sand bags might be worth the AAL with the dakars

 

I just got back from my virgin run with my extended travel Icons. The ride is very smooth, I love em, Im happy I went with Icon instead of OME/Toytec.

 

and thats why i have trouble picking. Just when i think i've decided on one someone comes and raves about theirs and it makes me rethink it.

 

Well stay within budget. Im only comparing to stock TRD suspension, I havent ridden in a truck with OME or Toytec.

 

Im not to worried on budget. I can afford the stage 1 setup. Its just a is spending the money worth it vs the ome for me type thing.

Or more i should say i would spend the money for the icons if its worth it. Im not bleeding money or anything like that lol

 

Well I was very close to buying Toytec with the Eibachs, then was told to look at Fox/Icon/King so I waited another week before ordering. I came across some posters who had switched from OME/Toytec to Icon.

I read through this entire thread.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/203714-king-vs-icon-vs-fox-racing-coilovers.html

 

True it does seem nobody complains about the icon setup. Leaning more and more towards that route.

I'll browse through that thread tonight so thanks for the link

 

It's been a few months now......did you make a decision? I'm currently trying to make the same choice as you (Icons vs. OME), and I'd be interested on any further info you have come across.

If you did make a choice, what was the reasoning? And add pics please!!!

 

I drive 90% on road and so far my OEM lift is great and is hard to justify the extra cost but if you are going to drive that much off road a better kit would be worth the money. You can get different springs for coil overs because you will need different springs to get a good ride with or without the bumper. Most coil overs can be revalved for your application, so with the proper valving and spring coil overs will ride much better that OEM but are alot more $$$ and more maint....

OEM is great but if you drive off road every day you'll want better down the road...

 

I went with icons.

Icon 2.5 extended coilovers
icon 2.0 rear resi extended to work with OME dakars
Icon UCA
OME Dakar leaf pack


Reasoning for it...mostly just people saying the Icons *would* be better of a ride over OME. Plus i plan to add a bumper in the somewhat near future so being able to adjust and maintain height was a bonus. I know OME you can get different springs but thats a lot more work than just turning a spanner wrench.

Is it worth it...not sure yet. Still need to install everything. The rear shocks had to be custom ordered and took an extra ~3 weeks before they shipped. Next week will be install time though. Was it worth ~3x the cost of a OME setup....ill let ya know in a few weeks


headstrong offroad is where i got mine. Cant say enough about all the help they gave me. Cheapest price on the icon packages ive seen too

 

well was it worth the ~3x cost of OME?