new tacoma off road suspension what to do??

hi everyone I'm new here so i would love to hear everyones advice. well to start i purchased a 2017 tacoma trd off road 4x4 a couple months ago. I don't do much off roading and me and my family just love to use our tacoma for camping i have RTT and most of the time usually find myself around the eastern sierras where the roads are not too crazy and my stock suspension has been ok. i would love everyones feedback if i should upgrade suspension or leave it stock since I'm not doing crazy off roading and what is a good lift kit for my truck. thank you

 

Leave it alone. Your truck out the door is already a bad ass off road vehicle. And since you won't be doing anything major off road it be a waste of money.

 

Nice thanks! i figured that if i wasn't going crazy i shouldn't do anything. probably just get lift kit. thanks

 

I agree with Modesto. Use the truck for a while and see if it needs improvements.

Welcome aboard!

 

From a reliability stand point I would keep as much stock as you can. Stock these are pretty capable vehicles for most people. I would only make major changes you truly need to.

 

Get some skids and sliders.and just drive it as is.

 

thanks everyone the feedback is great!

 

Depending on the weight of the RTT, maybe look at add-a-leafs for your rear to return your car to factory rake.

 

drive it first

 

Leave it alone until it fails to do something for you that some change will correct.

Most folks that 'lift' or 'level lift' are not actually adding function. And many induce new problems along the way.

For actual off road use (like needing 4wd to accomplish something) an improved-over-stock set of tires will make the biggest single improvement.

That, a practiced driver, and learning how to properly recover a stuck vehicle will get you places most people will never go. Just like it sits.

 

Between your RTT and gear your load will be at least 300#, if not 400#. You are going to be sagging hard with the weak stock pack. I would get OME dakars, they ride great with a constant load. Since this lifts your rear around 2"+ you will want to do something for the front suspension as well. But as others said give it a shot with the stockers first.

 

Ironpeak u have the weight about right I added an active cargo system to put the RTT and plus all the gear it has a lot of weight. I'm soaking in all the feedback bc everyone is right I'm not doing anything crazy except for forest roads in the sierras

 

Like others have said, I would see how stock performs first. Then, if you need to change out leafs, etc., then buy it. No sense spending money if you don't have to, I like to wear out what I've already paid for first then upgrade as needed.
Oh, welcome to TW and congrats on the new ride!

 

Drive for a year see what the limitations are for your own uses. If you want an upgrade in ride quality and a mild lift see the writeup in my sig below for Bilstein 6112/5160

 

leave it stock for normal everyday driving, the stock suspension can handle it

 

These things are pretty capable while completely stock, especially the model you purchased. Drive it a while and see if you still really want/need a lift.

 

Thanks every one Im leaving it alone don't have the money right to make any changes

 

It's always fun to build in stages anyway if funds are limited. My 2 cents for a budget build for mild wheeling would be: A 3/4 top strut spacer up front giving you 1.5" of lift up front. I would couple that to a 1.5" block in the rear to keep the factory rake and ride. With a RTT though you might prefer an add a leaf set up. Keeping the front at 1.5" should avoid the need for a new upper control arm. Also only 1.5" all around will still look good with the factory tires. There are pluses and minuses with spacer lifts do some reading on here to decide for yourself. Learn the difference between spring preload style spacers that affect ride and top strut spacers that don't though. Next for a family adventure vehicle I would install rock sliders. Not that you would be doing anything too hardcore but they would prevent accidental damage and if you got some with a kick out might help when people whip their doors open in parking lots. It's easy to cave in rockers so they are nice to have. For budget slider have a look at the trail gear weld on ones. I bought the bolt on model for way more cash only to discover bolt on means drilling holes anyways. Lastly I would look at a skid for underneath the belly and an exhaust re-route. It's very easy to drag your belly and for some reason Toyota decided to run the exhaust sideways as low as the could. You'll see some companies offer skid plates with a re-route in mind or if you're handy you can fab your own skid plate. Do you really need any of this stuff, no. Is it nice to have? Absolutely.

I really debated going this route myself as I think it will handle most anything you'd throw at a stocker with much less worry of damage. Instead I ordered the cookie cutter package I see here of an Old Man Emu kit with Light Racing upper control arms. I'll be getting to installing my sliders and lift soon and eventually look to the re-route, belly plate and winch for peace of mind. Have fun out there.

 

These trucks are plenty capable as is (with a good set of off road tires) right off the lot. I wheeled the hell outta my Gen1 SR5 4x4 before I put a suspension on. Only real reason I upgraded was to add a winch and arb bull bar. That set up required an upgraded suspension due to weight.

Same deal with the new 2017. Adding a C4 Fab Lo Pro and winch. Need to upgrade to handle the weight.

If I didn't need the winch, I'd of left both suspensions stock more than likely. Although, the kings are nice as hell at the speed I typically drive off road. But beyond that, can't say it gave me much in the way of off road ability. Can fit 265-75R-16's j st fine on stock suspension.

If ya don't need it, save the dough and buy a new gun or camping gear!

 

Yeah for now I'm leaving the truck alone and maybe first thing I can get are rock sliders but yeah every upgrade that can be possibly made are a lot of money but for what I use my truck for a stock suspension would do. But if anyone has any recommendations for tire size or tires that would look good on stock suspension I would gladly take everyone's input