Leveling kit or suspension lift

2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 2x4.
My new truck gets here tomorrow and I would like to lift it up 3 inches or more. I have never lifted a truck so I know nothing about it. It’s just for show and not for going off-road. Any advice would be much appreciated. I don’t know what the differences in lifts are. Please help out so I can do this right the first time.

 

Welcome,

Start here and check out the stickies.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/suspension.18/

 

Welcome. Check out the above link.

Also, Bilstein 5100s with OME 888 springs will lift the front about 3”, and a 1” block in the rear will level it out. It’s very cost effective and improve the trucks ride

 

Go with a suspension lift personally. The spacers are garbage As your retaining retaining the stock shocks. Also why get ride of the factory rake on the truck? The reason its there is so when a load is put in the truck it levels out and doesnt blind people with your head lights. If tou level it and put a load in the back your headlights are pointing up instead of down the road.

Thats another thing make sure you adjust your headlights after you lift the truck. Don’t be one of the countless morons on the road driving a lifted truck blinding everyone.

Also keep mudflaps on just get removable ones so your not shiwering people with rocks. Yes you are liable. I’ve done it xountless times from some idiot with a lifted f350 37’s and zero mud flaps showering us with rocks. Part of the reason I have a dash cam and yes I have a lifted truck.

Sorry slight rant there. Enjoy the truck!!

Steve

 

Slight rant but useful info. Been hit with plenty of rocks from various trucks. If your going to potentially be one of them, gotta cover your butt!

 

Welcome and congrats on the new truck. I would suggest Maxtrac 4" lift spindles and Dakar leaf packs.

 

I would like a 4 inch lift for sure but I have been told several times to not go above 3”. Not sure why. Unfortunately I have done research but it’s hard to find pros and cons of what I am going to be doing. I see 3” suspension lifts for $300 and then when jump to a 4’ They jump up to 1k or more. Ive been googling and researching but being as I am not a mechanic or know much in this area I am at a loss. Thanks for all the replies and help for sure.

 

Most people say stay below 3" because of the CV angles. You don't have that problem so 4" spindles will work.

Also, 3rd gens look pretty level to me. Very slight rake. Not a fan of the nose high look...

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-maxtrac-spindles.416793/

Bout a thousand ways to get a 4" lift but in this instance this will be the most cost effective way to get a good looking lift

 

I’m not to worried about price as much as the right lift that doesn’t stress or hurt my truck.

 

Good deal. I personally run the Maxtrac spindles on my truck (yes, it's a 2nd generation Tacoma and I understand you have 3rd) as well as hundreds of other members running them on their trucks.

I would strongly suggest doing a TON of research before making a decision.

Not stressing money sounds great but you probably don't want to throw it away either.

You can always pair the spindles with high performance (high $$$) coilovers and drop the preload down for better ride quality.

 

This also affects drive line angles and can cause a vibration in the truck Can be fixed to a a certain degree with shims and as noted in the following quote, CV joints are affected and can blow up. That is part of the reason why a lot of guys carry spare CV joints. They are also mind you a lot of the time using 4 low in tight areas and at full lock. generally not advised due to the pressures, but needs tobe done from time to time. YOu can fix a lot of the issues with cv joints by diff drops, but those bring in other issues on their own.

Best advice is really look into what you plan on doing. Show piece as in drive around town and not be used, go cheap (spacer/etc) actually used off road and I do not mean fire roads, then go for a 3" suspension lift. anythign more then a 4" is not needed. I have done some serious trails in death valley in a dclb with a 3" lift that everyone was telling me wasn't possible with that long of a wheel base.

 

Stressing and hurting your butt is more likely. I am kidding of course, but some of the less expensive tall lifts can really reduce the ride quality.

Hell, any lift can do that, but it can be more pronounced if the lift is taller and you are not compensating by adjusting preload etc.

 

yup, properly tuned shocks for the weight and the majority of the driving conditions are amazing. To many of the shocks we get are not tuned for what the majority of us do. 70% of my driving for the last two years is on washboard roads in Northern Canada, throw in 15% of hwy and the 15% actual legit offroad (this actually might be more, my job site is legitimately sketchy at times).

 

I appreciate those tips. I am coming to realize I know diddly squat about all of this. Glad this forum exist and people are willing to help out. Great advice from all. I need it.

 

just becareful of all the fan boys of products. A lot of BS on these threads and it takes a lot of time to sift through it sometimes as it seems legit, when in fact it is the wrong stuff. Also do nto get caught up in the what have you done to your taco today threads. IT gets addicting and hurts the wallet trying to get all the mods, haha.