Good 2-3" front Coil over lift recommendations

Hi Gents, I'm diving into the fun off-road world for the first time and I wanted to gauge people's likes and dislikes on quality front suspension coil overs and an overall 2-3 inch lift.

I am willing to spend money on something worth it and I am staying with stock control arms, for now anyway.

Someone gifted me some good leaf springs still in the box, so I'll be putting those on.

Also, if I give it good upgraded coil overs in the front, and these upgrade leafs, will I also need/want any particular rear shocks?

Additionally, it also looks like adding a beefy custom Bar on the grill with lights changes the front level due to the weight, so I'd love to see what people are enjoying and Im hoping to have the taco body remain level at the end of whatever lifting I happen to do.

Thanks in advance,

Kyle

 

There's a million threads on this.

Look there for good info:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-thread-compiled-list-of-helpful-links.95271/

What do you mean "some good leaf springs"? You get what you pay for just just make sure you know what they are...

Old man emu, all pro (uses bilstein or fox shocks) are good. There are others, too, but the best known budget 0-3" lift would be the bilstein 5100 shocks on your oem springs. The shocks have 3 grooves to set the spring in, so you need a spring compressor to install. A good bolt on set of coilovers is this from All Pro. But check out that sticky thread for more info...

If you have a heavy plate bumper/winch etc... Get the heavier spring rate (650lb)...

 

Sorry if i'm a bit rusty, I haven't really been super active on this site in 4-5 years. Your cheaper option is the Bilstein adjustable 5100 series, good for up to 2.5 inches of lift. You can also pair the Bilsteins (set at .85) with the Eibachs for the same lift but a bit of a stiffer ride (I think the Eibachs are rated at #620 compared to the stock coils of ~500 (?)). Coilovers, of course, will cost you more. As far as rear lift, what were you given? I'll stick to front lift since that seemed to be your main concern, but as the above poster noted, there are many, many threads on lifting


Edit: I just realized i'm in the first gen thread. Thought I was in the second! Sorry

 

...way to fluff yer monkey !? Lol

 

Bilsteins set to 2.5" with factory coils will be wayyyyyy stiffer than .85 with aftermarket coils. The more you preload the shock the worse the ride will be. I have mine set to .85" with 881s and it's not exactly soft but it isn't terrible. I cringe to think what the middle or highest setting would feel like though.

 

Jbrandt,

I'm not too familiar with the site yet so thanks for those links.

I would like a smoother ride if possible, not s stiffer ride. And I'm not on a budget.

leaf box pictured

 

Go big or Go home! King, Icon, Sway away, ADS, or Fox coil overs! Fully adjustable & rebuildable and buy aftermarket UCA's too. If you don't have a budget. In the rear of the truck pair the same brand rear shocks as what you buy up front. The rear shocks are fully rebuildable too if you go w/ the names I mentioned. Then later on you have the option of going completely mid travel or long travel. Get extended travel coil overs if possible for the front. Contact the place you plan on buying your coil overs from so they can valve them right for the kind of off roading you do! After talking to them, spend away my friend! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

x2 for kings.

 

Thanks for the advice y'all.

I put in an order for an ARB front bumper, wire winch, front extended travel fox coil overs /w auxiliary reservoirs and rear fox shocks. Then I said what the hell and got the UCAs as well. Looking forward to enjoying a sweet ride but also to forgetting how much money I just spent!

 

I do not believe that free leaf pack you got pictured will provide your desired lift in the rear. I'd recommend looking on this forum for a more appropriate leaf pack to achieve that 2-3" (e.g. alcans, deavers, dakars)

 

Yeah I think you're right. It's just a single leaf for each side to add bed weight capacity, which I do need. I live off grid on a ranch and need to carry a 100 gallon fuel tank through forestry roads every other week. The leaf doesn't look like it will be providing much lift, if any.

My current dilemma is ive gotten all these nice parts and im getting the impression that anytime a truck is lifted, ride quality is stiffer by every bit I lift. Is this true, or am I misunderstanding?

I would like to lift and remain level, which is what my thread here is about, but Im also realizing I want to retain the smoothest ride I can.

 

Mine definitely got stiffer. Mostly in the rear, the front wasn't bad when my 5100s were set to 0. At .85" there's a stiffer quality to them. If you want a lifted, plush ride you'd probably be better off looking into performance coilover setups...Icon, Kings, Fox, etc.

 

That's why I got Icon Ext travel CO's w/ Camburg UCA's. And Icon 2.0 smooth body shocks. I used to have the 5100/3" Eibach combo on the bottom setting with rear 5100's and a 1.5" AAL. But sold that set up and got my Icon set up!

 

Well, it's been some time since I've updated upgrades.

Truck is looking pretty sweet...I spent somewhere around 4 grand if I remember correctly...Icon coilovers /w aux reservoirs, rear fox shocks, rear add-a leafs(free), total chaos UCAs, front ARB bumper, warn winch, all terrain tires. Did all the installations myself (mostly), as I am fortunate enough to have access to a shop and lift.

It's fun and really helps me on the backroads around the farm, lifting up to 1300 lb loads, while retaining the good mpg required to make town trips, like tacos do. The clearance is perfect for the big whoops on the property.

Gripes: Rear fox shocks rub ever so slightly on rear add-a-leafs. ( Super springs). Somewhere around 1100 lbs on backroads, the weight and width of the springs comes in slight contact with the shocks. It doesn't appear to be enough to disable the shock...A little angle grinder should take a sufficient amount off of the leaf to address the rubbing. I talked to the leaf company and they were manufactured for a wider variety of trucks than just my year bracket of taco. Rear is stiff, and lifted perfectly (1/2 inch higher than front). There are two leaf adjustment positions. With bedload, only the stiffest and highest adjustment works without the add-a leaf shackles coming in contact with the frame.

The off-road store sold me the wrong winch at first. I "installed" it only to find out that Warn makes the only compatable winch for this year bracket taco with the ARB bumper. It works killer. I used it the other day to bend an ATV frame back into shape.

I originally ordered FOX ex. travel coilovers. After two months, they still had not delivered, so I cancelled and found some icons with aux. reservoirs. They are awesome and I installed them in the adjustment configuration they came in. I think I have another 1/2 inch of adjustment if I wish, but I want a squishy ride as much as I can get along with my previously stated needs.

However, at wheel rotation and a little shock absorption, the wheels rub on the aux. reservoirs and the associated reservoir line. The bracket was not manufactured quite accurately enough for real-life stock use. I'm riding tires with the same clearance measurements as stock tires. It is a problem I have not gotten to get into with the company yet. I don't have the time right now.

The upper control arms are cool. They make the drive feel more rigid, slightly less fluid...almost as if I have less power steering. I didn't expect that, but I like it.

The bumper resembles a tank. I feel pretty cool riding around with it and no longer worry about hitting the large amount of large wildlife/livestock in my area. I'm still getting 300 miles out of a tank on the freeway, so I don't really see much loss in MPG due to the winch and bumper, to be honest...Which is great!

Thanks for your help.