1st Gen suspension lift questions

Hi y'all!

I am new to this forum and super excited to finally be a Tacoma owner. I want to lift my 2002 Tacoma but I am drowning information on what to do. My reasoning for the lift is I carry my dirt bike on a hitch mount and a lot of the trails I go do I end up bottoming out. Plus who are we kidding...lifted trucks look badass. That being said I do not want to lose performance or reliability. This is my only vehicle and I do trips from Colorado to Washington a couple times a year. I want to do it right but I also don't want to break the bank. I believe a 3" lift would get me what I need. Here are some of the questions I have:

1) New leaf springs? - My truck fishtails like a SOB anytime I go moderately fast over bumps. Would this help with this? Do I need to replace or add to these anyways for a lift?

2) What lifts do you recommend based on my reasoning for the lift?

3) Anything else pertinent that would be good to know or not do?

4) What tires/wheels would fit/look best with a 3" lift?

I hope I am not duplicating a post and I appreciate any feedback or advice. Thank you so much!

 

Get yourself some Bilstein 5100s with OME coil springs, they are cheap and will lift you’re truck plenty. Since you regularly carry weight in the rear, consider upgrading your leaf pack instead of adding a leaf. Maybe OME Dakars. Keep your tires somewhere around a 285/75/16 if you want the look of a larger tire without putting too much strain on your gears.

 

Over 2-2.5 you start introducing the risk of other problems. Less is more sometimes.

Why not put the dirt bike in the bed and eliminate the overhang issue?

Lift isn't the main thing to clear larger tires. Wheel fitment is. Choose carefully.

Looking at some builds of folks in the 1st gen forum might help.

A call to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road is a great idea too.

 

Thank you @MemphisTaco!

 

If you're looking for a 3" lift in the front, you will be pretty close to maxed out on down travel of your stock system. Most people who do 2"-3" in the front get new upper control arms with a upgraded ball joint or uniball joint, which gets you anywhere from 1"-1.5" of additional travel so you won't be as limited. I would recommend the high angle ball joint, less maintenance as compared to a uni-ball. With a 2+" lift in the front, you will likely be wearing your CV Boots out every 30k miles. Easy enough to swap out, but it definitely gets annoying. Most people who put this amount of lift in the front run a front diff drop spacer to alleviate this angle, but they will still wear out, just buys you a bit more time and less front end driveline vibrations. Something to keep in mind since it sounds like you daily it and will put a bunch of miles on it.

 

A few parts to this.

1. I'm suspicious of your shocks. They should be controlling the rear from end swapping even if you have a load back there. If it's bouncy or they make noise check them out.
   
2. If the back is dumped/overloaded the front end will be pointed upwards and it's alignment could be out of whack when you are towing/hauling.
3. However, if the springs are blown out enough and the back sags enough to be on the bump stops, that is an infinite spring rate. i.e. you have no up travel and it can be very squirrelly because there is no place for the rear end to go when you hit bump. All that travel goes into the body

Check 1 it's easy.
2&3 are related and stiffer springs might help.

 

New leaf spring 100% I would recommend the OME Dakar with AAL- being as you plan on using a hitch hauler.. Also get appropriate shocks (be it the bilstien 5100, 5125, or toytec boss) and extend brake lines(wheelers offroad +3" Teflon stainless brake lines is what I run) in the rear.

For the front, really depends on weight (l4 vs v6) AND if you plan on running a winch bumper, skid plates or other added weight up front. Then there is the issue of anything over 2.5" you have to consider either new upper control arms with uni-balls or extended travel ball joints.

Hope this help a little.

 

This helps! Thank you!