Lift Kit Recommendations

Hello folks

My suspension is getting to the end of its life and I'm wanting to put in a 3-3.5" lift kit when I replace the old suspension. I was originally looking at a Rough Country kit, but a friend of mine, who is a jeep guy, told me that those are just cheap Chinese garbage. Are his claims valid? Also if anyone has experience with any brands or kits they'd like to recommend, that would be much appreciated! I'm driving a 2011 4WD Base Model and looking to spend around or under $1.5k

 

they are pretty cheap and not well regarded. and 1.5k for a lift? cheapest is bilstein 5100s and a crappy block or add a leaf in the back

 

There’s a number of vendors on here that can help you pick out a setup. @HeadStrong Off-Road

 

$1.5 was kinda just my "uninformed budget" I've got some time to prepare, though, so if I need to bump the number up I should be able to.

 

Yeah probably Bilstein 5100 or Bilstein 6112/5160 and add a leaf or Icon replacement leaf pack if you spend a bit more.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bilstein-6112-5160-setups.735728/

 

there is other factors as well, once you go with a higher lift. you will like have to replace the control arms so there is another cost. with the age of your truck as well it would likely needed to be replaced anyways due to rust. then what's bigger wheels? great truck isn slow and fuel economy went to the dumps. now a regear. so really have to think about what you will be doing off road, pavement princess. then realize there will be compromises and budget will always be the limiting factor.

 

and I will pile on this as well....your lower control arms bushings are most likely shot, ball joints? perhaps, and you might start to experience the howl of your left front CV bushing, so factor in an ECGS bushing, how are the CV boots? if theyre dry rotted or torn, the new geometry will then make them worse and you will need to re-boot your CVs...

So back to yeah, you can ignore all this, slap some springs on it and off you go, and hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Not saying you WILL need all of this, but a 13 almost 14 year old truck....well....

Also, the better the lift components, the better the ride and if this is your daily driver, something else to think about. Headstrong as mentioned above and @AccuTune Offroad can put together an entire kit for you.

 

So, my control arms and cv axels are in great condition cause I replaced them last summer, it's the shocks, struts, and leaf springs that are still stock.

 

Well, then you get to choose what price point you want to be at. 5100s are ok(wont get you 3.5 inches of lift), and then you start to go up in dollars from there. and at 3-3.5 inches...youre going to run into $$$$
OME 886 springs and 5100s will get you about 2.5, and then you need either an add a leaf, or a new spring pack for the back ( I do not mention a rear block as they are the least favorable)
I would reach out to @HeadStrong Off-Road or @AccuTune Offroad for a package deal

 

OME