5100's or 3" spacer: which is a better investment?

Hello all. New to TW as a matter of fact this is my first post! anyhow looking to get a small lift but after reading some threads im left wordering which is a better bet for me. I do fairly light offroading and am just looking for a little extra clearance. Just trying to decide what I should throw my money at since a local dealer has em both in stock. So whats it gunna be the billies or toytec 3" spacer kit? your input would greatly be appreciated.

btw- anyone know if i could clear 285/70/17 on the stocks with the billies set at 2.0 or so? with spacers? any pics of a set up like this? thanks again Tacoma family!!!

 

Welcome to TW. Go with the Billies and avoid spacers unless it is strictly used for mall crawling

 

No comparison...5100s

 

X2

 

x4 on the Bilsteins

 

I say get spacers, they make me feel better about my truck.

 

5100's

 

i just put 285/70/17 on my first gen, after i lifted 2.5" via ome 881 coils and billy's...and i had to use 1.25" spidertrax spacers, and beat down/grind the pinch weld.

the rims i used were 4.5 bs and 0 offset.

just my experience

 

thanks for your input but everyone is saying no comparison... what makes them such a better investment? I know i wont get as much lift out of them but is there a downside to running them at max height?Is it bad to run them at 2.5? thanks again and keep the info coming! I can slowly feel myself becoming more educated!

 

The lift you get from the 5100's is essentially the same thing as installing a spacer... the spring is compressed (or pre-loaded) to raise the ride-height.

A spacer lift is used with your stock shocks (if you only get a spacer and don't upgrade shocks too), so you will likely have a harsher ride, since the shocks aren't really intended to handle the stiffer, pre-loaded spring.

The difference (and additional benefit of the 5100s) is the much better quality shock that is valved for a heavier duty spring (or a pre-loaded spring)... so it rides a little better and will last longer.

 

If you run them at 2.5, you'll most likely want to get some aftermarket UCA's. I think some people run them at that height with stock UCA's without any real issues though. Someone else might have better info on that