WARNING!! DO NOT BUY ICON EXTENDED TRAVEL COILOVERS FOR YOUR 2016 TACOMA!!

So if toyota found it necesarry to change the spring rate shouldn't the aftermarket coilover company's. Seems simple. But I'm really new to suspension components like this so idk.

 

You're right. Sorry after reading the part about the fender I got hung up on that for a second. Why even mention the fender when the travel would suggest the 1" gain from preload.

 

You would think so, but for some reason the aftermarket companies got lazy and figured, oh well, hell it's the same truck, "Fit's 2nd gen and 3rd Gen Tacoma's."

 

3500 for a 2 inch lift is a bit ridiculous, especially considering its going to be stiff when cranked... I just bought some OME 885s with 1/2 top plates, progressive aal, and 5100s all around with some TC UCAs for 1500. At least I will be getting an extra inch of down travel with a decent durable ride. I know its not the best setup, but neither is icons mid travel; total chaos long travel with kings would be the best IMO.

 

Are the 5100's extended length the same as extended travel coilovers?

Edit: I think they do have a longer extended length than stock.

 

5100's are not mid travel. They may be a bit longer than stock but not by much. They are designed for a stock UCA so they cannot gain much more travel or else your stock UCA would be banging the spring on the stock UCA all the time. They are simply not as long at full droop as an extended travel setup like Icon, Fox, etc offer. I have 5100's installed on my truck and I'm going to install Radflo's next week. When I do I'll post pictures of the droop difference to show you.

Please don't recommend LT to people who are getting their first lift and have no idea how to maintain it. LT requires a fair bit of maintenance because it usually swaps out all the ball joints for uniballs and requires regular greasing of all of the other components. It also totally changes the truck, not just the travel of the suspension, and is nearly pointless for a DD. Not that you can't DD a LT truck... but that someone who is mainly a DD and who doesn't need long travel wouldn't find the value in such a setup.

Back to coilovers. When you buy coilovers you aren't buying just the lift number. You are buying additional cooling, better components, the ability to fine tune your shock, the ability to adjust your ride height quickly, and rebuildable components. The 5100 is missing the last three things there and that's why I'm dumping them. The extra lift, while necessary for most of us, is just one of the benefits of the coilovers out there for our trucks. I'd love to see someone measure the height of the 3rd gen truck from ground to clam shell, ground to frame, and ground to LCA to see if the new 3rd gen actually gained an inch over the 2nd gen. IF it did I see no problem with gaining only 2" of lift from these aftermarket OEM replacement coilover kits but they should be advertised as such and should of been advertised as such from the moment these companies checked out the truck at SEMA.

I also stand by my original argument that all companies, including Bilistein, are being lazy by not adjusting these shocks for the weight increase to the stock Tacoma. Even if the up front difference is only 100 lbs, with a bumper and winch you could easily push 200-400 lbs of weight difference up front and that will be far too much for the 2nd gen setup to handle without a rebuild and retune from an experienced shop on a good coilover which is not cheap. For a 5100... yeah there is no way that soft SOB is going to be able to handle that sort of weight increase effectively after a bumper without feeling like garbage.

See above. I don't have the specs but they are on here somewhere. I can tell you that the 5100 is not as long as the extend travel shocks from Fox, Icon, etc because if they were you'd have a billion complaints on here about the 5100's hitting the UCA all day long on peoples trucks who don't swap out to aftermarket UCAs.

 

Do you guys know if icon stage two is technically considered "extended travel" they don't say they need ucas. I'l most liklet get them eventually but do they need them?

 

If there are no UCA's including then it is not extended/mid travel.

Manufacturers clearly state whether the shocks are extended travel or not to avoid lawsuits if people bend shit running the extended travel shock with stock UCA's.

 

I said 1 inch extra of down travel, and that's only because of my ucas and 5100s, not mid travel, and I won't be adding a bumper or sliders so weight won't be an issue knowing that my ome coils will compensate the weight difference. Only gave my opinion, 3500 is ridiculous for a stiff ride. If you don't agree I respect your opinion.

 

No worries. I was just expanding on what I thought you were saying. There isn't anything wrong with running the 5100's, and for all I know they might give a bit of extra travel, but it's so small it's hard to notice. The mid travel or long travel discussion though versus cost has a lot more to do with what you do with your truck rather than how stiff of a ride you want.

You could pay $5K for a shitty ride if things are setup wrong. That's why it's good to know what you are getting into and a part of this thread is showing people who are new that the manufacturers aren't always sure of what they are selling when it's brand new even though they may try to tell you they are.

Personally I wouldn't go back to 5100's unless I planned on bombing around town most of the time and rarely going out on trails. They are definitely easily overwhelmed IMHO but that doesn't make it a bad shock for other people. Just remember that a heavier, or higher weight, spring doesn't compensate for the extra stress of dampening additional weight. If you take your truck offroad you will notice the shock fade on a 5100 after a really good run. Even at low speeds my truck felt excessively bouncy at the end of some runs.

 

I ordered my Icon lift from 4Wheelparts in March 2015, It took them until August 2015 to finally get my order right. Avoid them like the plague.

 

I agree about the 5100s, I wont be using my 2016 to mob in the desert that much. But icon should have offered a slightly heavier coil for the 3rd gen, especially for the cost.

 

If you go back you'll find that I agree .

Actually, I think that they should of re valved the shock and changed the spring rate to be honest. However, that would of taken a few months and they wanted to cash in on the new 2016 crowd just like everyone else did.

 

My head really hurts after reading this thread. Seems like I'm back to square zero for the lift kit decision.

Just got my DCLBOR today. Already on the list for getting the SCS F5 17x9 wheels.
Plan to add a camper shell and get 285/70/17 tires. So I need a lift that will be tall enough and handle the added weight of the fiberglass camper shell. I Don't want to cut anything.

Had my mind on the All Pro LOLA 2.0 lift. Now I don't know if this will still work for me.
I'm choosing the full leaf pack version instead of AAL to compensate for the added weight of the camper shell - but I don't know if this is necessary. (the 2.0 version is half way down the page)

 

Talk to John and Tracy at Allpro. They will steer you right. @allpro

I have the Allpro expedition rear springs. I love them. I got the heavier spring because I have armor and I tow a lot.

 

Thank you, Wile!!

Tracy
tracy@allprooffroad.com

 

The Lola kit will work for you, you just need the Expedition springs.

Jon in our office is the guy to talk to about your lift if you have any questions or reservations about which shocks to run or what you need to get your truck looking great while getting a great ride too!

Let us know how we can help you!

Tracy
tracy@allprooffroad.com

 

jesus fucking christ

 

Thank you Tracy and Wile. I Just order the LOLA 2.0 kit. There is a waiting period of 2 1/2 weeks. I'm super excited about this. Got my SnugTop Extra Vision ordered as well. On the list for SCS F5 gunmetal wheels. It's a good start to the year.

 

I have the same front end combo and it’s fantastic! Great way to ball on a budget but still have sick UCA. I have a Dakar pack out back though. Not just an AAL.
I am about to put 1/2 strut top spacers on top of my 885/5100 coils. I am currently running only a 1/4” spacer above the drivers side. How are you liking the 1/2” spacers paired with the 885’s? Your 5100’s are set to the lowest no lift setting right? I was actually planning on doing the 1/2” plus 1/4” spacer on the driver side and just a 1/2” one on passenger. My driver lean is super noticeable. I feel like I don’t have any more than about a 2.5” front lift with just the 885. I’d like to be closer to 3”.