My Taco sits lower than my Wife's...Help!

My Wife has a total stock 2009 SR5 ACLB no bed cap, original 16" tires. I have a 2013 TRD Sport DCLB with a Leer cap 265/65 R17 original tires no armor. After some ribbing about how my truck looks lower than hers I whipped out the tape measure and sure enough I'm sitting 1" lower!

I had already started researching lift kits and at first figured 2" would be a good lift and eventually going to 265/70 R17's. I figured my 4 leaf factory springs where fine...until we went camping this past weekend. With only 1/4 of the bed stacked with wood, a large cooler, clothes, assorted camping stuff and 4 people the truck, we were hitting the bump stops when going over speed bumps! So I guess rear Dakar springs are now added to the buy list as well. So I do have a few concerns...

Is the TRD suspension lower than the SR5 or is it that the DC and cap are weighing it down enough to make the truck 1" lower than my Wife's AC with no cap? If it's weight compression then I might want to consider a 3" lift (Then I guess I'm in for a set of UCA's as well). If the TRD suspension is designed to be lower than a SR5 would a 2" kit actually raise the TRD 3"?

I keep reading that the gen 2's need no diff drop at all (Why is this) others say only after 2"'s others say ANY lift. But my truck is NOW 1" lower than a SR5 so if/when or should I consider a diff drop (and rear axle geometry corrections as well)?

With all that in mind I'd like to have my truck look like it's well lifted while still maintaining a smooth ride. I don't want to be eating up drive line parts. My 4 wheeling will be lighter than most with mainly hunting, camping and eventually I might get back into surf fishing although I salted and killed a 1981 Jeep Scrambler in just a few years doing that so I'm kind of hesitant on corroding my Taco out that way. With the bottoming out this weekend I also need to increase load capacity. My daily driving is 70 to 80 miles on the highway so I'd like to not totally trash the fuel mileage...and again, comfort.

I'm between OME with Dakars, Toytech with Dakars, and Icons with Dakars. I don't have money to burn but I want a nice set up so spending a little more isn't a huge concern (The wife is fully on board with me getting a lift since I sold my F-250 diesel!). But still, now I'm wondering about 2" or 3" as well as what brand. I'm also concerned about drive line geometry corrections if and/or when needed.

I actually had less questions BEFORE I started researching lift kits but I probably would have really screwed up if I hadn't.

Thanks in advance!

 

Toyota is saving $ by trimming the springs 1" so they can build more trucks with the same amount of steel

 

I think the man handbook states clearly that your truck must sit as high as her "taco" ....

 

The Sport model does have more rake ( lower front end ) because It has different OE shocks and coils than the other models. 2" in the front will only level a Sport so if you want a bit of lift overall you need to go 3". It really sounds like you are on the right track, I would go with the Icon's. Overall remember that it will never ride as smooth or soft as stock again these are all heavier duty parts you are talking about. They will handle a million times better off road but be a bit stiffer on road. You should give Down South Motorsports a call they have worked out a custom valving for daily driver highway mile tacos with Icon.

 

IMHO it probably is the fact the you have a lot more weight. between the cab and frame being a little longer. i could see how that would make it sit 1” lower. if it was more than 1” i’d think it maybe something els as well, but it just being 1” does not make me thing that.


also the stock leafs suck a$$ for hauling a lot of weight around.

 

This ^

 

Go to a dealer and measure a Sport, Off Road and SR5 etc and you will see that they all sit at a diff stance. The Sport has the most rake as it was intended to be a " sport truck " . You can look up the specs of the OE front coil overs and see the differences there too. Stock the Sport has over 2" of rake, same thing for 4Runners too.

 

ok. maybe the front is lower. but from what i am getting it’s not just the front of the truck thats lower?

also i have never noticed that the sport sits lower than my OR, and i have parked next to a bunch of them.

 

You need to get some bilstein 5100 shocks and some eibach coils and your front will be leveled

 

Sorry about the delayed response but it's a real busy time of year for me. I'm know thinking Fox or King since I'd want a progressive suspension versus a digressive suspension. The rear might get air bags bags although I'll probably go with a spring pack. I guess I'll keep on researching.

Oh, the height is 1" lower both front and back compared to my wife's 2009 SR5 ACLB.

 

Right after I got my TRD Sport I found myself nose-to-nose with a 2013 sport - that was taller. I was looking at it and thought I saw a 5100 kit, which I confirmed with the owner when she came out. Without replacing coils or adding a lift kit, the 5100 raised everything and the front - even at the 1.75" setting. Firmer ride, too. So that may be enough to even things up without a lift.