3rd gen mod order - when should you lift?

Drive it a couple months. Then figure out what you want to do, and when.

 

I'd def call Toytec. Hugo was my rep, excellent vendor & just north of Globeville. I'd have to find my math sheet but I saved about $689 (accumulative) in savings without shipping. I wanted BAMF, Victory, Cali Raised products - but I can't afford the shipping. Plus supporting Colorado jobs at the same time

Toytecs new video - 2 days ago - Meet Hugo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzA6VJZCDb8

 

Sliders and a transfercase skid plate is a good start. And probably a front skid plate (I destroyed mine when I had temp tags). A 2” or so lift and ~32s are less of a hassle than ~33s. I’m going to 4.88 gears cause of 33s. But I went armor first because I wheel with Jeeps and they don’t drop down in holes like the taco with IFS.

 

From the responses it seems like there isn’t a consensus, you just do what the finances dictate. Ideally, you would have it all optimized out and it would take ~12k, but that isn’t realistic for most of us.

I’ve had it a year and have taken it on a handful of trails.

I have been looking into ToyTec. My in-laws got a 4Runner and had the dealership install a ToyTec. It seems to be pretty nice.

 

I agree with some of the comments here though, shop local. I'm in CO too and doing local pickup on a couple items has already saved me hundreds. I already have my bed rack & RTT too, so I'm thinking I'll go armor first suspension later so I know how heavy i'll be

 

I did lift, tires and wheels first. Put on an Eibach lift with 2.25” lift and heavy springs. Will do bumper and sliders next. $2700 so far. Bumper is going on today. That was another $1100. Rides like a dream with nothing on. Shouldn’t get any worse as I add stuff.

I just figured it would be easier to install stuff with it up a little.

 

I agree with the Colorado connection, had RCI and SPC (?) on my GX470.

what do you need to continue your off roading? Think about the trails you have done and what you want to do? Have you done any damage to the underside of the truck? Have your tires stopped you from doing something? Have you drag a bumper?

I think that tires can do the most for getting more trails done and not getting stuck. I will be going to some good off road 265/75/16 tires or maybe a bit larger with a small lift. Now for the tires you want, it seems a lift is need for them to fit. So I am thinking this is the first move. As for lift and the weight thing, how much is it to change out just the front springs or add a rear leaf, can this be done at a later date with minor cost? If the extra weight will come a few years down the road, this might be a way to go.

Are you going to rock crawl? If not, then armor might be able to wait unless you have already dented what is on the truck. If you have already damaged your stock skids, I will go with this first, protect the oil pans, transmission and transfer case. I would also go with the lightest possible armor, RCI does some nice aluminum stuff.

Bumpers, what do you need, extra ground clearance or winch mount or with the rear bumper to carry stuff? On my Jeep & GX I went for the cool look, but what really mattered most to me was the rear bumper for carrying fuel, antenna mounts and the spare. On my GX, the front bumper looked cool, but cause a lost of 2-3mpg going down the road, hindsight I don’t think I needed it, could of done a Hidden winch.

Good luck with your build

 

The only thing a spacer and block lift gains you is height, no performance or improvements in ride. They won't reduce your travel ( i don't think, correct me if i'm wrong everybody ) but neither to they give you any more travel.

 

Good comments. So the hardest thing I’ve done so far were the wooptie-doos at the end of balanced rock road outside of Monument. Didn’t drag my undercarriage but did bury one of the predator bar steps a few times. Eventually, I want to do some of the trails around the alpine loop. Probably no black bear pass, but Imogene and Engineer for sure. Not really too interested in rock crawling.

I am guessing I’ll spend 2-4k per year on the truck.

I probably won’t do full armor. The TRD OR comes with the front skid. Might do one or two panels as I figure out where the susceptible parts are.

 

most of the trails around Silverton & Ouray, I think you can do in a stock Tacoma, a locker helps, the stock red truck in my whatever you call it on the left did a lot of them and so did a friends 1st gen on street tires. Poughkeepsie Gulch is one I would stay away from, I think the wall would be impossible stock.

 

Great to hear! Thanks!

 

I did not need a lift. But, I live on a mall parking lot in the Pacific.

 

I do love the Ray 10s. How much did your cmc run ya? I’d love to run 285/70/R17

 

If I may...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/real-dirt-on-2016-trd-off-road-suspension-upgrades.548028/

 

Do you like the ToyTec?

 

When you start to step on them, you should get a lift.

 

I don’t understand.

 

Personally, for me, I would make a list of everything I plan to add/or already added with each of the items weight (RTT, winch, bumpers, skids, other protection, other misc weight like jerry cans, cooler, etc.) and add it all up to see what spring rates will work. Then figure out what tire size I want to got to. Then I would know exactly what I need out of a lift to make it work for my application.

I think the order of buying is not the biggest concern except for the lift before tires.

 

I did consider using some of the more "expensive" items, but was convinced these would be enough. Son agrees, but they are coming up for replacement soon with around 60K on them. He may also bump to 700s in the front because he's looking at a steel front bumper/winch.

 

Reading this informative thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...t-lift-answer-hopefully.688255/#post-24296065

it seems that you have to do the same trimming to fit tires at full compression, lift or no. Why not just do the CMC and trimming to get in a 32” and forget the lift?