Are there any shops or can anyone help me with learning to lift my truck?

Hello Everyone,

I've owned my Tacoma for a few years already and I've been wanting to lift it but honestly have no clue where to begin. I've been reading up everywhere but not sure if it's because I'm dumb but I have no clue exactly what I need for my lift and how to get it done. I've talked to a few shops out here and I've been quoted $12k for my install (Kings, falcon tires, method wheels, leaf springs, upper arm kit, labor). Again, I don't know much and not sure if this is about right or if it's just crazy expensive.

My taco is a daily driver and I do minor overloading (easy trails local here and pop up my rooftop tent). Weight wise, I got the GFC superlite and CaliRaise bed rack with the electric retrax and caliraise rock sliders, not sure if that plays a difference.

I know everyone talks a lot about fox or kings but if it's going to cost me $10k+, I don't think I'd be able to afford that. Is there an alternative? I was thinking of Eibach or icon?

What exactly do I need and where do I begin to shop? Is there a specific lift I need? Also recommendations on parts as well? From what I've been reading, I think I need:

1. Springs/coilovers
2. Tires
3. Wheels
4. Leaf springs

Do I need anything else? Also any recommendations on shops where I can just purchase the parts from them and get it installed or is it cheaper if I purchase the parts online, get it delivered to my house, and pay a shop to install it? If so, any shop recommendations?

Thank You Everyone! Please dumb it down for me, I ain't that bright. Also I live in Riverside but willing to drive anywhere in SoCal really if it's worth it.

 

Look up sibi built on google. It’s gonna be a long wait but well worth it. Also search him on Instagram if you have that.

 

Lots of members in your area. @GHOST SHIP and a few others do installs

 

I actually talked to them! Did their tune. Great guys and they just told me to buy the parts and hit them up but wasn't to clear what I needed for a build. They told me to just read around which I appreciate but still pretty lost on a lot of this lol

 

Second Sibi built, they can connect you to parts too.

I'd say that for easy trails and some camping expeditions stay with a bilstein or OME setup and focus on getting a good set of tires that will get you where you want to go. UCAs may be important if you lift over 2.5" or so up front, but otherwise if you're 2" or under, you can still get the adjustment out of the front to stay well aligned.

 

Dobinsons all the way around with the heavy leaf pack. Make some friends on here and do the install over a weekend. It’s pretty easy to do lift kits…specially when talking a fully assembled shock/springs and leaf pack from the dealer.

 

Thanks for the tag.

I’m in San Fernando Valley if you’re willing to come this way, but you have plenty of options. I can take care of your install and can answer a lot of your questions, but what it really comes down to is your budget and your intended use and future goals of the truck. If you would rather buy once and not have to upgrade in the future then save your money until you know exactly what you want. It’s easy to buy something that’s relatively inexpensive only to find out later it doesn’t work for you.

 

I shot you a pm, let me know if I can help out at all, I'm sure I can still find the connection to parts as well, was pretty budget friendly in the end.

 

@GHOST SHIP is a solid choice in your area. If you're willing to come down to San Diego, @Speed Freek in Vista does great work at a solid price.

i think it would be definitely cheaper to source the parts on your own then bring them to your shop/installer to do the labor, though there are some shops that will source the parts for you at cost.

Cheapest route would be to check out some of the socal forums/facebook groups and see if you can find some people who would help you with the install for a small fee/few cases of beer. Lots of those guys are more than willing to help. Though you'll probably need a tire shop at the least to mount your tires on the wheels.

TBH for your uses any of the aftermarket suspensions will be a good enough upgrade. Fox, King, Icon, ADS, Eibach, Bilstein, Elka, etc. choose the one that fits your budget best, you don't need top of the line for basic trails and camping, save that extra money for more camping gear or other mods that will net more use.