If you could do it over again, would you still have lifted your truck?

Engineers are often stifled by bean counters, marketing departments, and regulations. So they design a product to maximize consumer appeal, not niche performance.

 

I think it’s pretty normal to get it at least a bit wrong the first time around. Until you have experience modding and have taken your time you can’t really know what your preferences are.

A lot of people make the mistake of changing everything at once and not going slowly and actually figuring out what setup works best for them.

 

Thanks for this thread guys. I’m new here and just bought my second Toyota pick up. My first was a 1990 basic pick up. I drove the heck out of the thing and honestly regret trading it in on the Chevy 1500 those many years ago. I am now the owner of a beautiful 2020 TRD OR manual trans that reminds me of the old truck. Albeit the engine and trans are a world apart from what I remember. I am looking at threads and deciding what I want to do to make my truck mine. That’s what it’s all about. Again thanks for the information sorry to high jack the thread but...

 

Imo, todays tacoma isn't a simple lift like you could perform on the old solid axle toyota compact pickups of the late 70's and early 80's. The factory nor states as ours allow for trucks lifted too high. From what i've seen its fairly involved to do a proper lift, and not run into issues down the road.

 

Yeah I might see a leveling kit of some kind and some sweet bronze wheels but that will probably be it. My 17 year old son inherited his grandfather’s 2015 Sierra and I drove it prior to him making his full license and he decided he wanted to lift it and new wheels and tires. Kinda knock some of the grandpa off of it and make it a true teenagers truck. It looks awesome but it rides rougher makes more noise and uses more fuel. Perfect for me as a teen but not so much as I near 50. I ain’t hating on it. It is awesome but I guess I’m just softer. Lol Besides if I need to go way off-road I will just tow the side by side and go where few can go.

 

Never again. Had a '16 TRD sport with a 3" that I bought used. Eventually grew to hate the harsh ride and sloppy handling. Loved the looks, but horrible ride wasn't worth it. Not to mention the shortened driveshaft and needle bearing life. Traded on a '21 TRD with stock suspension and can't believe how much better it rides and handles. To anyone thinking about it, I'd say spend your money elsewhere. Not worth what it does to the driving experience.

 

Stock coils?

 

Welcome to TW!

 

What was the lift on it? There's a vast gulf in ride quality between a cheap lift and an expensive properly tuned one, with stock being somewhere in the middle.

 

Thanks 9mmMike. It seems to be a very informative and enjoyable site. A bunch of like minded folks who enjoy picking at each other a bit but willing to help.
To that end do you guys think leveling would be a poor choice? I know it’s all personal choice but so far I’m really pleased with my truck and I’m coming from a $70grand GM that I really liked until the typical GM recalls and oh that’s out of warranty garbage. I was nearly in a Ford but better sense prevailed. Lol my wife wanted a new Camry. So I got my truck and she got her Camry. Win Win.

 

Great response and viewpoint!

 

Bump

 

You have to ask yourself if you actually NEED a lift, or is it simply for looks? With a bigger set of tires and removal of the air dam, these trucks have a pretty good ground clearance right off the lot.

If you are towing, or need more clearance for your usage then do the research, spend the money, do it all the right way and chances are you won't run into problems or sloppy handling mannerisms later on.

I'd say anything over 2 inches is going to require a lot of research, a couple/few grand, and a lot of maintenance on parts wearing out prematurely. For example, I hear plenty of folks pulling the needle bearing on these 3rd gens because of premature wear after lifting.

I've posted here and based on my experience with lifted and lowered suspension on multiple vehicles including 3 gen 1 tacos. I decided from the door that I was NEVER going to mess around with my factory suspension on my 3rd gen. I want to keep this truck for 20 years and starting off with suspension mods wasn't my approach this time around.

I have had the truck for 4 years 55k miles of trouble free sedan like driving on my bone stock SR Hitachi suspension. I decided to get bigger tires and a nice set of wheels to improve the aesthetics.

I've had my truck off-road a bit more especially this summer and I haven't had any issues with my stock setup

To do it right you've got to get everything you need to do the job right. I remember after messing with my first gen 3" lift I was constantly chasing problems and spending loot to rectify them... diff drop kit this .... brake proportionig valve that... what is this clunk?..... what is that noise? Chasing vibrations....why do I have axle wrap?.. my truck drives like crap .... no thank you . Albeit, this forum is a great resource and you can get an answer.

 

Yeah I would do it again the same way. Minimal issues everything but the alignment part done in my driveway.

 

Would’ve went long travel from the get go. Buy once, cry for once, for a while.

 

From all I've seen with lifted trucks, they have their place if doing serious off-roading, otherwise the price, and issues you pay for a lift just to look cool on the asphalt is far from worth it.
Everyone wants to look like a bad ass until it comes time to be one.

 

I would do it again.
Mainly for looks a couple inches lift and a 0 to -10 offset is how tacomas should come stock. IMO.
To each their own.

 

Small lift, 5100’s, OME front coils, 3 leaf-add-a- leaf, added a little load capacity

 

For my part a 1.5” lift with high quality shocks, 650# coil springs, and Deaver AAL provided just enough clearance and control to better navigate off-road trails. Add 265/75/16 tires for another 1/2” clearance, and I’ve had zero issues for 60k miles.

 

My first lift was a bilstein 5100 and Icon AAL. It worked well and I like how the shocks firmed up the suspension. I thought the truck had to much dive and sway.

Second lift is a OME BP51 and OME med leafs. At 2.5” of lift. I also have no sway bar so I turned the compression up on my coil overs. Which now has pretty close to the same sway as when I was stock with a sway bar.


I absolutely would lift again but I also bought the truck with the intention of off roading it.