Purchasing a 2015 Tacoma, seeking advice

Hi all,

I am going to buy a 2015 Tacoma (access cab, V6-4x4), and would love to tap into some wisdom before the finer details.

If you were about to buy one and you would be romping around in British Columbia for 1/2 of the year using logging/de-commissioned roads to access rivers for whitewater kayaking, as well as doing a lot of highway driving would you:

1. Get a levelling kit
2. Get a levelling kit and bigger tires
3. Get a 3 inch lift
4. get a 3 inch lift and bigger tires
5. leave as is


Realistically I will be using some gnarly roads but I will also be on pavement a lot, so I am curious to know opinions of the best set up to keep the truck functional but at top fuel efficiency.

I appreciate your time!

Ben

 

#4

 

buy a TRD off road package and leave it alone.fuel efficiency will be worse with a lift kit and bigger tires.avoid a leveling kit at all costs.

 

Definitely NO on leveling kit. Especially on harsh roads would make for a harsh ride. You could prob even do sr5 model and upgrade suspension- I have yet to use my locking rear diff while out wheeling. But as said before- lifting it 3" kills gas mpg, I went from 17-20mpg to 14-16mpg overall but it looks awesome!

 

I added another option. It is in the Third Gen. section after all. I just had to.

 

New option, get a 2" lift and 31.7" tires.

Moving to 3" lift has a lot more potential for issues than 2", specifically drive line vibrations and CV boot tearing. Everyone wants to go to 3" lift so they can fit 33" tires, which of course are also going to eat up your mileage not to mention reduce torque performance if you don't re-gear your diffs.

So instead, just do a 2" lift and put modestly larger tires on - 235/85R16 or 265/75R16 will fit just fine. You forgo a whole 0.6" of clearance compared to a 33" tire and your bumpers are a whole 1.6" closer to the ground than with a 3" lift and 33" tire. In return you get lower risk of tracking down endless driveline vibrations, no risk of your CV boots tearing and less reduction in torque. If you go with a 235/85R16 tire (relatively narrow) you won't see much of a hit in highway MPG either.

 

Anything else and you're just asking for maintenance issues and headaches. It'll be just fine for your needs. Changing the tires to a more aggressive tread pattern, while maintaining the stock size, is all you need. Tacoma is more than capable for what you need.