Lift kits for my truck

hey I am looking to lift my 1999 Tacoma base model Rwd. I am looking at a skyjacker strut lift kit and I want to know if it is a good kit to buy. I am not looking for serious off roading kits but I would like to be able to go off road with friends. If anybody could help me with that I would appreciate it

 

Now by base model, do you mean 5 lug or 6lug prerunner?

 

Honestly, I don't know what you mean by 5 or 6 lug. Do u mean like on the wheel?

 

It is the base model no prerunner so I'm assuming 5-lug

 

a 6 lug is a pre runner, has skids, taller, different wheels, I don't know much about lifting 5 lugs but I think they have spindle lifts that are a good route and then just add-a-leaf the rear with a progressive leaf pack and slap some decent shocks on there (probably not nitro's if you want a nicer ride), someone else will chime in I'm sure...

 

Oh alright thank you

 

5 lug taco is the wrong truck for the job tbh. I would recommend not lifting at all.

 

Isn't much of a job to look the part imo, think he wants more form over function. Generally I agree though, usually you don't lift 5 lugs

 

Thanks guys. I really do want to lift it though. Is there any way that it would be alright to lift it even though it's a 5-lug?

 

Ain't nothing wrong with lifting a 5lug. If I was you I'd look for 3" lift spindles for the front. An as for the rear, you could do a AAL (add a leaf) or a lift shackle. Both will lift you, but the AAL could make the rear end a little more rougher riding. Other side of the coin, shackles, can eventually wear the leaf springs out and cause them to loss their arch. Between the two, I'd do shackles.

 

Thank you man! Do u have a specific brand that u would recommend?

 

Fabtech for spindles. You can find them on ebay for less then 400 all day long. I can't remember who makes shackles for it or the add a leaf. But I'll look it up and post it up for you.



Edit. Fabtech and daystar make lift shackles for it

 

So you have a 5 lug 2wd model? (5 lug = the lumber of lug nuts on wheels). The 6 lug 2wd, the so-called Pre-Runner looks exactly like a 4wd, but no transfer case or front drive axles.

With a 5 lug, your options are quite limited. Since the fenders of the 5 lugs are different than a 4wd, even with a spindle lift, your tire sizes will be limited. So your truck could end up looking like a monster truck with those tiny wheels they use to transport them (i.e. GOOFY!).

If you want to do any sort of "off roading" beyond what your 5 lug truck is already capable of (i.e. not much), then you're going to need to invest of serious coin and turn your truck into a beefed up long travel pre-runner: Long travel kit for the front (Total Chaos makes a front susp kit that runs almost $3k), likely custom suspension in the back (another couple grand easy if you're talking 3 or 4 links, air shocks, etc...), diff locker, fiberglass fenders, wheels/tires, etc... This is to go FAST in the desert, jump the dunes, etc... You know, a trophy truck with a/c and power windows.

But that's not what it sounds like you're interested in...

So I ask:

What do you mean "off roading with friends"? If you're talking what I did in highschool (drifting an '84 VW Rabbit on the fire roads), then you don't really need the lift anyway... If your friends have 4x4's, best to just hitch a ride with them, or sell the 5 lug and get a 4x4...

 

Yeah a lt setup would be better over all, but if he's just wanted to run some old logging trails then a spindle kit would be just fine for him. Truth be told if it was me, I'd take the money and get a ratchet locker for the rear and a set of mud tires. He'd make it farther with both tires spinning then 3 more inches of clearance.

 

A ratchet locker, IMO, would be really annoying on the street, though.

My take-home point is that if you want to improve the off-road capabilities of the 5 lug by any significant degree, your best bet is to either sink $10k into it with long travel, 4 links, etc... or sell it and get a stock 4x4...