Let's See Those Double Cab Long Beds! 3rd Gen

Congrats on rig. So many options on the way to lift these trucks. Research is key. I suggest do that see what kind would fit your needs. You plan on adding weight? Off-road? All those factor into the lift.
Good luck and enjoy the ride

 

Having lifted my last several Toyota vehicles 2-3”, I’ll say what I wish someone had told me: don’t do it unless you have an actual need for it.

I’m not lifting my new DCLB and I actually do off-road monthly (I guess more “overland” type off-road, not super aggressive stuff), but I definitely wouldn’t make the trade off of lift problems for a daily driver that sees no off road.

Why do I have a strong distaste for lifts, unless specifically needed?

- Notably worse gas mileage
- Decreased ride quality (unless you go high end Kings, etc)
- Driveline vibrations
- Front diff needle bearing
- decreased performance from larger tires needed after lift

There’s other negatives that don’t bother me; tire cost, being in the upgrade $5,000 plus after wheels/tires/lift/control arms/etc, trimming for any rubbing, etc but man did a few of those listed cons really irritated me on my last few rigs.

For my new Tacoma, I’m doing a slightly larger tire size (either 265/75R16 or possibly 255/85R17 one day) and equipping it with some body protection (bumpers, sliders, skids) and those two will get me everywhere I’ve ever tried to go here in Colorado…and do it with better MPG, more comfort and less issues.

Feel free to ignore or argue my unsolicited opinion…I’m probably just getting old and have lost time for anything less than “most practical”.

If you have a tolerance for those cons, by all means go for a lift and bigger tires, because it does look damn good on these trucks. As I sit here typing this, I’m looking at my truck thinking, “it looks a little dinky, a nice 2.5” lift and some 33s sure would fix that”, but I’ve got to remind myself that I’ve 100% regretted it every time, outside of cosmetics and an obvious improvement in ground clearance, which does makes trails easier, but I’ve very rarely ever REALLY needed that extra height/tire size.

My suggestion would be to do the light wheeling you occasionally do and if you find weaknesses to your setup, dive into the upgrade needed at that point. You’d be surprised what stock setups, with good tires, can handle and it not feel abusive to the truck.

 

Big Bend this February.

 

exact same situation here. Not going down that rabbit hole again. How do you plan on stiffening up the rear for additional weight overlanding ? Sumo springs ?

 

We do long weekend adventures at most and haul a trailer that carries the vast majority of the weight, so no plans to touch suspension…but something like a HD leaf pack, sumo springs or helper bags would probably be good options for weight control with minimal drawbacks.

Old Tacoma and GX460 with the trailer…though admittedly the trailer is running modified suspension and does stellar (Jeep CJ-7 leaf springs and shocks with a shackle lift). Sold the trailer in the fall, so need to build another or buy one.



I had so many lift related issues with the last Tacoma that it was 100% of the reason I sold it. Had ongoing driveline vibrations for 4 years and replaced diff bearings, center bearings, ran wedge blocks, custom driveshaft built with a double cardon joint in it, swapped springs, TSB springs, etc etc.

Same with the Lexus, 3” lift and bam…constant mild driveline, wheel and suspension issues.

Add a few other vehicles and little issues in and it’s been over a decade of constant issues…I’m gonna keep suspension on this 2021 stock for a while…if not it’s entire life with me.

 

2021.. First vehicle I have ever ordered straight from the factory.

Anyone else have a vibration between about 45-65 mph? I've got it and have been complaining from the beginning. Dealer has aligned, balanced, changed the tires and one dealer thinks it is in the driveline and another thinks resonance in the transmission. Toyota now won't accept that it is a problem - says it is typical of this truck.

 

Great looking rig!! Sorry your dealing with that BS

 

Here’s my ‘21 with factory trd lift

 

Put it in 4hi at those speeds and see if it goes away. If that solves it, it's the needle bearing. Definitely shouldn't have issues with it with bone stock suspension but that's about the speed that needle bearing issues manifest.

 

Thanks. I will try that and let you know

can I switch from 2 to 4 wd at high speeds like that?

 

Well here it is

 

Under 60mph is ok

 

Just got back from trying this. No luck. Still vibration. Maybe I felt it a little more through the steering wheel in 4Hi? But maybe not. Anything else I can try to self diagnose??

 

Assuming you've got an automatic, put it in S mode at those speeds (it'll likely go into 4th), bump it up to 5th. If still vibes, bump down to 4th, if still try 3rd. --you'll be forcing the transmission to not be able to upshift and thus keeping the engine from turning such low RPMs. The ECT will also help keep RPMs up by moving the shift points up a few revs.

That make sense? Probably could have worded it better but it's 2+hrs past my bedtime

 

Actually, a technician at Toyota said that it occurs in 5th gear as I recall. I will try that tomorrow

How about them Tarheels!!

 

No issues on mine..

 

Unpossible.
You can't do DCLBs on technical trails.
Looks like a ton of fun!!

 

I tried both 4th and 3rd. Still have a vibration. It really feels like the wheels, but they’ve balanced, aligned, changed the tires, etc. still vibration from about 45 mph to about 65-70 mph.