How'd you choose a lift?

How do you pick a lift?

On an old Audi A4 for example, you pretty much have one choice.
ST coilovers. Done. $500 on sale. Let it settle, adjust the ride height with those hook wrenches on the coilover sleeve, and move on.

Sure there's more above that in the $1-3k range, but most people don't do that.

____

Then there's the Tacoma. Holy shit.
-ADS
-Old Man Emu
-Dobinsons
-Toytec
-Bilstein
-Fox
-new or used OEM/factory parts, including from other model Toyota's
-King
-Icon
-and probably more

How do you guys make the hard decision, with so many to choose from?
Given that Tacoma's will need supporting mods to accomodate a lift, including (but not limited to?) ECGS bushing, they say plan to spend what you spent on the lift kit, to make the truck work with it.

So $1500 on a lift kit? Another $1500 on changing the truck to handle/work with that lift kit, = $3000. All to sit inches higher.

What's worse, some people even complain their lift kit rides worse than stock. Hard to believe because IMO, stock = really bad, and $300 upgrade to Bilstein 4600's = less bad but still bad.

I have a gut feeling that if I pick a lift that some company is trying to upsell,
I'll end up sitting higher but crooked after installing an extra leaf
and it will ride like trash

That would be horrible
imagine spending hours on a weekend of labor installing thousands worth of parts, just to mess up the truck
and now the parts are pretty much stuck installed unless you spend more hours removing them, to try and re-sell at lower value



Maybe the answer is to just do years-worth of research.
Funny thing is, with other model trucks, it seems you don't have to do that at all.
Like the Ford Ranger. Simply google Ford Performance suspension for that and boom, you've found yourself an easy to install factory-approved upgrade at a decent price, with many benefits.

$1,450 M-18000-R Fox 2.0 Off-Road Suspension Kit made for Ranger 4WD 2019-2020

https://www.amazon.com/2019-2020-Ranger-M-18000-R-Off-Road-Suspension/dp/B07Z8GR9L9

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-18000-R



$3k to sit 1-3" higher almost sounds like it's not even worth it
because even if it looks better
the Tacoma still seems pretty capable off-road in stock form
I guess in some situations it becomes more necessary
like after installing a heavy front steel bumper that lowers the ride height, then putting different springs to raise it back up again

 

You are way over thinking this.

 

write them all on sticky notes and let the dart board decide.

 

Trial and error process
Honestly ultimatily decide what you wanna do with the truck end overall product and go from there. Spend money where it counts on good sliders, skid plates, tires, recovery and camping gear.
You can do a lot with a stock truck if your just cruising back country ome or dobsonsin is great. If your mobbing in the desert for sure one of the coilover setups with resi and clickers are better.
You’d be suprised what airing down does for ride quality and traction in the dirt.

 

Yeah, having lots of different options available so I can do exactly what I want to my truck is the WORST....

For reals though, like @MattCowsmasher said, decide what you want to do with the truck and start looking at what parts you need to get your truck to that point. Different lift kits work better for different people depending on how the truck is being used. Some upgrade suspension to haul a heavier load, some want to rock crawl, some want to "overland", and some people just want a reliable commuter. It all depends on what you want to do.

 

This. Otherwise you'll get a bunch of stuff that been regurgitated ad nausea um. Or just slam the shit out of it.

 

well having a budget can quickly narrow down what you can buy. 1000? stick with entry level Bilstein's or ome. 5k? well then you can get some interesting stuff. 10k? 20?

 

It really is a hard decision though. 5100's? Cool. But which springs? Oh, have a steel bumper? Now you gotta think about sagging. 886s seem good. Wait, some companies don't recommend those with 5100s? It can be overwhelming.

 

My truck is a daily driver and an overlander. I don't go hardcore rock crawling or things like that. (yet???)

For now, I opted for Bilsteins with OME Coils and dakars. They are reasonably priced for what I plan to do. Once I come into more money, I would then jump up to Icons or some other brands.

My truck rides like a dream.

 

My advice is to call Headstrong. I went through the same thing last year on my Tacoma. I ended up going with Bilstein 8112 HS AAL and JBA UCA's. After ordering all this from a few different online sources I then came across Headstrong. Their pricing was better and they seem to have most of the sought after suspension products for Tacomas.

 

Like stated before, it all depends on what you want and expect, and how deep you want to go into the pocket to pay for it all. I'm sure you have heard the saying "buy once, cry once" already, and that is really something to take into account. One thing to also take into consideration is the fact that the top three brands (in my opinion)King, Fox, and Icon are rebuildable instead of replaced. But on the flip side that means that your truck will be down for a week or two while they are being rebuilt.

I had Bilstine 6112's (don't recall which springs) on my 4Runner and the ride was great, was able to handle the camping gear and did everything I wanted it to do on the trail. I'm now running King on my 3rd gen and they have handled all the extra weight, ride amazing, and are damn good on the trail.

 

Customer service.

 

I parked outside Bilstein and they asked to borrow my truck in exchange for a free 6112/5160 set with install

 

https://youtu.be/QKXj0jBenIk

 

Some twentysomething college girl on social media had brand X on her 4Runner.

Seemed as practical as picking a color, which was the consensus I got at the time.

I look at it as they are all parts that eventually need to be replaced or rebuilt. Plenty of time to try different brands and designs of shocks.

Edit: and who when looking at any kind of lift dosen't want long travel anyway?

 

Was kinda joking
it's awesome that there's options, big community following, and aftermarket support

Rough Country > King

iono about replace and rebuild; some shocks last 100k mi

but I guess it could be sold used

 

If you really care about your tacoma you'll take the time to research the differences in suspension components, this education bleeds into all other aspects of automotive engineering. Go to YouTube and look up filthy motorsports, great videos on the differences between suspension components. One thing is for sure,you pay for what you get, a great suspension is not only beneficial in Baja but on the rough, poorly paved roads we drive every day, good luck!

 

Best thing I ever did was save my money and wait until I realized that a lift would be a pure vanity mod and unnecessary for my uses, even for the decent amount of off road I do.

 

Hi Taco Tuesday,
I would start with how are you going to use your truck? A little off road, no off road (mall crawler), moderate off road or major articulation rock crawling.
Once you decide you can go from there. There's no need to spend $3000.00 dollars if you are not going to do any major rock crawling. (IMO)
You can get a decent kit either way you go for a good price from https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/

Let us know...