Any redflags in my 2023 build?

Hi I recently purchased a 2023 Tacoma TRD Off-road and am looking to upgrade the suspension and fit larger wheels and tires. I've read quite a lot on these and other forums and have a basic game plan but I wanted to post the details here for others to proof read for possible issues and just to get some thoughts on it.

Here my current shopping cart

OME/ARB NitoCharger Front Shocks - 90000
OME Coils - 2886
Freedom Off-Road Upper Control Arms -

$371 FO-T701FU Freedom OffRoad Front Upper Control Arms (05-23 Tacoma)

FO-T701FU

OME/ARB Nitrocharger Rear Shocks - 60091
TORCH Off-Road Add-A-Leaf Single Blade - ‎689355918781

PRO COMP Series 46 Prodigy Wheels - PXA7046-7983
17x9 / 6x5.5 / -6mm Offset / 4.75 Backspacing

I'm still choosing what tires I want but I'm leaning toward a 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country R/T

As advertised this should give me 3 inches front and 2 inches in the rear

My plan is to preform a Cab Mount Chop and cut the bumper and fender liner as necessary to fit these tires. I will be ordering an aftermarket high clearance bumper eventually which will cut away more material but I may have small "Viper cut" for awhile while I choose a bumper and wait on the lead time.

I'm looking particularly at a Southern Style Off-Road Slimline Hybrid Full Plate Front Bumper. Which doesn't cut as high as most other aftermarket bumpers and allows you to keep your factory fog lights. However I am concerned about its Off-Road capability's when compared to other bumpers with a higher clearance but I will probably make a separate post about this.

My idea with the Add-A-Leaf is to get the lift I need without replacing my stock leaf springs. I want to get some life out of them as they are hard to sell. Ill probably replace the pack around 60k miles once it starts to sag.

A few questions I have.
Will the backspacing and offset of these wheels be too little or too much and will I need Wheel spacers and if so what size?

Are Freedom Off-Road UCAs a viable substitute to OME or SPC UCAs? They seem well spoken of for these trucks but would love thought/opinions.

Can I purchase extended Front bump stops to avoid rubbing the fender flares when off-roading? Will it even be necessary at this tire size?
I understand some people with "35s" cut their fender flares to solve this problem and I want to avoid cutting my flares at any cost.


Any help is appreciated and thanks to everyone on here in advance. This forum has been invaluable to me in planning this. ~ MM

 

How and where do you plan to use your truck? With your current cart it might be fine as a mall crawler but it will ride pretty rough and your ride height will have the suspension close to full extension and you will not have any dropout.

 

I definitely plan on off-roading the truck. Do you mean that there isn't enough weight on the suspension? The coils I bought were recommended for a steel bumper/winch combo which I do plan on buying. Sorry I probably should have mentioned that. Also Plan on using a full toolbox in the bed or maybe a camper shell eventually. Ill probably always have about 200-300 hundred pounds in the back. Also will be getting sliders at some point.

 

Replace needle bearing.

 

I've never looked into getting that replaced. I could probably swap that out while I'm doing the lift. Do the stock needle bearings fail often? Thanks!

 

Yes, most get vibration from it. Popular one is ECGS clam shell, bushing/bearing.

Another thing to consider carrier bearing drop, rear axle shims.

 

Be sure to hammer and seal your pinch weld so it doesn’t slice your tires when stuffed off road. Then again if you leave your fenders in you will just rub tire against fender, then fender against pinch weld.

super interested in the final product of this. I would do upgraded bump stops and a u bolt flip kit with the upgraded bump stops if you plan on off roasing

 

You also might want to consider a research. From what I have read. Most whom end up running 285's and larger end up regearing. Just food for thought. You are going to drop mpg drastically with this setup, expect 12 to 15 mpg tops.

 

Yeah Im gonna hammer down the pinch welds whilst doing the Cab mount chop following a few videos on Youtube that go through it. Looks pretty easy. As far as the fender cutting Ill do as much as I need too I just want to avoid cutting into the flare ideally. Ill probably do some testing with the suspension after the initial lift to see how much rub I get and buy the bump stops if I need to.
Ill make sure to post pictures of the finished product later this month.

This Is the cutting I want to avoid

 

+1 for the needle bearing.
Don’t know much about the freedom Offroad UCA’s, but UCA’s are a must. They may be okay.

Honestly if it was me, I’d just wheel the thing stock until I could buy the good stuff.

Camberg/icon/total chaos uca’s or something similar.

Buy some decent shocks
They’re pricey but it’s makes a world of difference.

Basically everything you’re talking about bolting on will have to be done again with higher quality components later.

Buy once, cry once.

The Taco is incredibly capable offroad in stock trim, and it definitely drives better on road than anything modified.

 

This. Also heavily agree with wheeling your truck first, I think I wheeled mine for about a year on just tires before I started upgrading. It's one thing to go for a certain look (which is totally fine, nothing wrong with that), but a) lifting it 3" is going to do way more harm than good and b) the components you listed are on the lower end of the spectrum, even for a weekend warrior build

 

Totally agree…

It’s easy to make it “look” cool, and nothing wrong with wanting to crawl the mall and look cool if that’s your jam, I don’t discriminate.

But if you’re actually gonna upgrade the suspension, you need to spend some $$$.
Otherwise it will probably run better stock.

I think your onto something.

My recommendation for this guy would be:
Stuff the biggest tires you can without rubbing, onto a stock truck. BFG KO2’s or something like that and go drive the thing.

Save your $ and splash out $5k+ on UCA’s, Kings or Fox’s and a wheel tire combo down the road.

 

My understanding was the OME/ARB shocks were pretty good and comparable to Bilstein. I dont think I will ever need Fox or king shocks.
I was worried about the UCAs specifically but many on the forums seem to think they were perfectly fine. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...are-rebranded-hardrace-suspension-uca.716794/
Definitely going to have to replace the AAL eventually though

 

Doesn't even have to be all at once, I swapped out piece by piece based on my needs as I went. You can easily fit 255/85r16s in the wheel well and that way you have a 33 that's taller than a 285 without needing to trim and cut

 

They may be comparable to the 5100 but again, those are entry level shocks that you will more than likely regret sooner than later. I do agree fox and king are overkill for most, I run bilstein 6112/5160s. Also for what it's worth, I'm still on factory uca's

 

OP, OME nitros are twintube shocks, kind of old tech now. I suggest considering an entry level monotube shock like the bilstein 5100’s or the eibach pro truck kit

 

There is nothing wrong with with OME/ARB shocks.
I just don't think the ride will be worth it over stock.
I've heard some decent things about the OME BP51's, but for a kit with rear leafs the kit is still $3k, wheels and tires, install and your right where I said you would be $5k+.

Sure, most of us really don't NEED, Kings or Fox's. But they sure are epic offroad. They work pure and simple.
And they are a major upgrade over stock. That's why guys run em... expensive sure. But they work.

If you're not going to be doing hard core off-roading where you don't "need" kings or foxes, why not stick with a stock truck and save your money for at least something decent down the road.

The UCA's your looking at are $360... SPC UCA are $690, Camburg UCA's are $750.
Sure they are more, but at least your getting something proven. ALOT of guys run SPC's... and like someone else said, they are running stock ones for now.
The stocks won't last if you do offroad a bit, but you don't have to do them right away.

It took me a few years to get where I'm at... I had a 2017 Taco before my 2021. My 2021 is so overkill it's dumb... you don't have to be dumb.
But get some decent stuff and you won't be sorry.

My 2017 had SPC UCA, King's, stock leaf's with a 1" block, wheels and tires, light fender trimming, and it was awesome. Loved that truck.
Looked good, wheeled good, was super happy with it.
You could literally do this same thing with a shock spacer kit to start, and then save up for the shock replacement.
That way you can go piece by piece.

Here is an idea for you.

Wheels and tires
keep the stock UCA
Shock spacer kit for the front
1" Block in the rear, set of inexpensive rear shocks.
Trim up the fenders if need be.
This is an inexpensive way to get the look you want.

Then when you save up in six months, get the UCA's

Then in a year or two, replace the shocks...

Just a though...

 

Bro just drive your truck before loading up your 'shopping cart'

 

You may want to take a look at this yet video, before you go ahead with your shopping list! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WOxFPUoQ4I

 

Why? Ive heard this before but I dont really believe in this mythical "getting to know your stock truck" phase. Im just taking parts off and putting new ones on. Its just a machine. Probably going to regear it and spend another 3k in different things all before 5k miles.