Budget 1ish" lift for 2021 TRD sport 4x4?

Did some searching first and wow. Overwhelmed. Former audio guy, just bought out the lease on my 2021 TRD sport 4x4 so of course I need a new expensive habit and dabbling in mods.

I want 275 or 285 tires and a small lift, mostly just to improve appearance and gain a little clearance. Not worried about wheel/tire advice yet, focused on lift at the moment.

I live in the country but most of my travel is on paved roads/hwy and do not do heavy OR or crawling.

What are my budget options to do a 1/1, 1.5/1 or 2/1 range lift? Dont really even know where to start with this cost wise and dont want to go replacing all of the suspension system.

Appreciate the collective wisdom and also any sarcastic hater bumps

 

1/2” spacer in the front leave the back stock and go for 255/85r16 or 255/80r17.

 

thx @Ricardo13x. Had to google to realize the 255s would be taller than 275/285s in that scenario. Really trying to get up to speed quick on this. lol

Guess I should also mention that I haul a 14ft dovetail trailer semi regularly. Any concerns there? Used for mower or light hauling to dump, etc.

 

If you tow, than I would skip the blocks and do a full rear leaf replacement.

I never liked blocks. They multiply axle wrap, which will multiply again if you have weight on the hitch.

 

Save yourself the hassle early and just do a cmc if your looking to go a 285. It's do able with just an alignment and small lift. I did it on a 2" front uca's and an aggressive caster setting without a chop but hindsight being what it is and for what the cost was easier just to chop it.
Not wanting to talk wheel spec at the same time is a poor move as your offset will determine to tire size you can fit without a chop.
As for towing do a full leaf pack and do not level the truck keep the stock rake of around 1-2" the driving characteristics of a loaded nose high truck simply suck. I'm sure you have already felt it on those limp noodle factory leafs.

 

This^^^^

 

Everybody has an opinion: mine is Bilstein 5100 front set for 2" lift on stock coils - 5100 in the rear with an AAL (add a leaf) then just stick with the 265s but go 265/75R16 tires on your stock wheels, at least for now or if the Sport comes with 17" rims whatever the equivalent is for 17" wheels 265/70R17 basically 32s (I like BFG KO2 they will look bad ass and are great tires IMHO - but talking tires will just open a big can of worms on here so just take what I like with a grain of salt ). Tacomas can handle 32" tires with no problems or modifications. Bilstein 5100 are relatively inexpensive will give you a nice ride on the hardball and good for light off road. The little taller 265 will look good and you won't have to deal with rubbing and cutting. Going to 285 can get tricky - some people on here will tell it can be done with no lift or cutting on stock suspension and stock UCA (upper control arms) etc. I am not doubting them and if they did - great. All I'm saying be careful and go into 285 or wider and taller than 32s with you eyes wide open. When I went to 285 (285/75R16) I was doing a lift anyway but I wanted to make sure I had no rubbing even when going off road so I had a viper cut and CMC (cab mount chop) done I also went with SPC UCA because I wanted to make sure I could get a good alignment. I just tell you this because after talking to lots knowledgeable folks who off road and doing my research I found that that would be the smart way to go. But that to me seems way more than what you need or really want, at least for now.

My rig on stock suspension and 265/75R16 (TRD Off Road on BIlstein 4600 which I understand gives it a 1" lift more that the Sport . . . . I could be wrong so someone who knows can chime in on that)


My rig on on 285/75R16 - you wouldn't have to do everything I did to get the 285 on - just the 5100 and AAL with some trimming of the front bumper and a CMC would probably work

 

^^THIS^^ I don't know what axle wrap is exactly but the off road folks that I talk to out on the trail definitely do not ever recommend blocks as the primary way to get lift - actually I don't recall anyone recommending them they always talk about not using them because of the axle wrap thing. Maybe for mall crawling they are OK though.

 

And I suppose this is where I drop my endorsement for General Springs HD leaf pack. It'll net the small lift OP is after, they're some of the cheapest on the market, and I have zero complaints after 3 years.

 

This is axle wrap. Notice that the further you place the source of the torque (axle) from the leaf pack, the more leverage it has to wrap.



At it's most extreme it will make your rear end feel like it went for a walk without the rest of the truck (aka wheel hop).




At its less extreme it feels like the passenger rear corner is squatting down when you mash on the pedal.


All of this unwanted flexing has the ultimate effect of reducing traction, meaning it won't take as much for the tires to slip. This is annoying off road, but can also be a major pain in the butt when trying to accelerate on wet asphalt.

If you're towing a trailer, severe axle wrap will noticably steer you and your trailer to the left, forcing you into a slight corrective countersteer to the right. And the opposite effects are true under heavy braking - your trailer will noticably steer to the right.

Overall it makes things less comfortable and increases wear and tear. So, not great.

 

Great post. It’s interesting that Toyota used small blocks on the 22/23 TRD Pros.
I haven’t noticed any axle wrap yet, but now I’ll pay closer attention.

 

Bilstein 5100's up front is your best bang for the buck. You can do 1" up front and leave the rear stock, (still looks lifted), or you can do 2" up front and 1" in the rear. Regardless of which one you do, get an alignment asap.

Whatever you do, don't do a spacer lift up front, or let people tell you it's fine...

 

Yeah this would an excellent budget approach - then just 32s (265/75R16 or 265/70R17 depending on stock wheel size) when it's time for tires.
The advice on the alignment and no spacers is spot on as well.

 

I run Toyota's 1/2" block on my 2016 drivers side rear as a leveler, in addition to an extra circlip notch up in front on my 5100s.

It was one thing where I thought if Toyota installs it on Pros, then I can live with it.