NEW TO TRUCKS

Hello,

So i'm fairly new to all of this and I just inherited my late grandfathers truck. it's a 2005 Toyota Tacoma and i've been wanting to put a lift kit on it. and i know there's some Do's and Don'ts.. The one i'm possibly going with are the Bilstein 5100s... but i'm not sure what a circlip setting is, and the springs provided i'm not sure which best provides a high enough lift. one thing i was told is that if i don't go above 2.5" in the front i wouldn't need an UCA upgrade but i Just want to verify on that as well. as for the rear, I was going to go with the Icon Progressive AAL 1.5" lift

Another thing i'm not too sure about are rims and tires.. What would be a good size tire and rim to get for the amount i'm trying to lift my truck? If anyone could help this would be greatly appreciated.. I'm a sponge so i can absorb and retain the information well, as long as it is provided.

 

You
Can go as big as a 265/75/16. Without cutting anything

 

Welcome to the forum. You've already done some good research, congrats. But keep doing it. Lifts and wheels are very spendy, as are mistakes.

Ask yourself why you are getting a lift, and how you intend to use your truck long term.

Also, how many miles? Service records? 2005 could need some longer term maintenance like new fuel filter, exhaust, etc.

You're a lucky beneficiary!

 

Has it had an alignment recently? Are the tires wearing evenly? Are the cam bolts OK or are they seized with rust/age?

 

Hello and Thank you! I live in southern california and i do intent to take it on light trails, and it's currently my daily driver. I took it to a buddy of mine who owns a shop and when we did a brake fluid flush, oil change, and spark plug change, there really wasn't much damage or rust at all.my grandfather took care of that truck and only took it across the country twice. every other time he drove it was just down the street and back. when it was handed to me the truck had about 105k miles on it. Yeah it has been aligned because when i first got the truck two of the tires were 14 years old so i got those changed out, the other 2 tires were 4 years old and we wearing down evenly. I got it aligned that same day because that shop unfortunately didn't do alignments. but that same buddy told me that i could get lifetime alignments from firestone for $200 and still had a coupon that saved me another $35 on that lifetime alignment which is what i ended up going with. pretty soon i'm going to be getting transmission fluid flushed and the filter changed out, new brakes and rotors and a whole new drum set with the accessories.

But that's interesting.. i will definitely check up on that fuel filter. because i am the kind of guy that likes doing maintenance when maintenance is due

 

The 5100s will come with a diagram and C-clip settings. I’ll see if I can find a set of instructions and post them.

 

I was looking on the website a buddy of mine told me to check out and it was called shock surplus

 

This sight shows an example and explains the lift for each setting.
I have never don’t business with them, so I can say anything about them as a business far as good or bad.

https://theyotagarage.com/products/...able-shocks-2005-2015-toyota-tacoma-24-239370

I can suggest using a vendor on this sight.
Shady businesses aren’t allowed on this site.

 

What are the generalities of the truck? 4WD, mileage etc... What do you really want to do with it? It is already suitable for light trails. A solid little truck is a different build than a trail rig but the are some reasonable overlaps once the basic platform is right.

 

Welcome! Post pics!

 

I'll bet your grandpa got 17 years of reliable, trouble free mileage from your "inherited" Tacoma, because, he didn't mess with it! (fourteen year old tires ) This site is full of touching stories of hand-me-down trucks that were quickly modified, with follow up posts that go like this: "My dad gave me his Tacoma, I put on a lift and bigger tires and wheels etc etc, and now, can you help me with this noise, vibration, harsh ride etc etc."
I would tell my grandson - don't do anything that would affect drivability or ride characteristics or reliability. Stay on top of routine maintenance. Rub on it, shine on it, make it the cleanest Tacoma in the parking lot. If you don't mess with it, you may well hand it down to your kid.

 

Be different and lower it. The world has no shortage of lifted tacomas.

 

I'd have to agree.

 

Tons of people lift their trucks with no issue, you’re in Southern California I’d check out Accutune Off-road @AccuTune Offroad ,they have lots of stuff and tech tips
https://accutuneoffroad.com/