Lift kit recommendations

I'm new to lifting and don't have much experience with it at all, but does anyone know of a good complete kit for around $1,500 I've seen some kits that say stage 1 2 3 and 4 but I have no idea what they mean, Ill be doing light offroading and trails, but not too much. I plan on adding a new offroad bumper on the back and a bumper with a winch on the front for some weight. I'm looking for a 3-4" lift. Thnx for the help!

 

You can get up to a 3" lift with new front coil overs and custom rear springs/shocks for $1000.
Lifting 2.5" or less you can get by with the stock Upper Control Arms, but any higher and you will definitely need after-market engineered UCAs adding another $500.

 

Make life easy. Call Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road. Tell her your goals, send her your money. Done.

 

I am also in this same situation. Does anyone have any recommendation of OME vs Toytec vs Icon? Positives and negatives? I am looking for good street characteristics plus being able to handle quick speeds down corrugated roads and trail running like the Rubicon (of course only the easy stuff with a 3" lift)

 

Look into OME Susension. I would recommend 883 coils up front since you're planning on adding weight up front. I think a full OME set up is around $1100. You can probably get some JBA or SPC upper control arms as well and stay within your budget

 

Here is the cheapest way...
I recently replaced my coil overs keeping the 2.5" of lift.
Bought Bilstein 5100s (adjustable) for $190 shipped and Old Man Emu 8100 springs off Amazon for $177.
On the rear I have Bilsteinn 5100s and Deaver custom leaf springs but cannot remember the prices as it was in 2004.
You will pay 500 for less quality.
Of course you can go ultra cheap to get your rear lift with an "add-a-leaf" for less than a $100, but they will be stiff.

 

So I was looking at the OME and it's in the price range, but I was wondering if you can tell the difference between no lift and a 2.5 lift? I want it to be noticeably different and be able to put bigger tires, can any one post before and after pics if you have them

 

theres a search bar at top of your screen.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/old-man-emu-setups-on-1st-gen.141055/

 

Lmao thnx!

 

2.5" with ARB bumper and std 31" tires

 

2.5-3.0" will be a noticeable difference. Your stock tires will probably look pretty small afterwards. You should be able to fit at 32" to 33" tire depending on the tire width and backspacing of the wheels you use.

 

Check out the May/June issue of 4WD Toyota Owner magazine. Great IFS lift guide.

 

Thank you so much @Clearwater Bill we truly appreciate it!

If there is anything that I can help you with @SteLo4x2Taco feel free to PM me.

There are several ways to lift the truck. The OME suspension kit can provide you with additional lift while being able to support the front bumper. It really comes down to what you are using the truck for and budget. Now for stages it depends on which brand you are looking for but if you are talking about Icon then you can usually look at the part numbers offer in the kit and they will list a small description. For example stage 1 has standard travel coilovers and rear shocks. Stage 2 has the same coilovers as stage 1, reservoir rear shocks and an add-a-leaf added. Stage 3 has reservoirs added to the standard travel coilovers, and the same add-a-leaf and rear shocks as stage 2. Stage 4 has extended travel coilovers with reservoir, tubular uca's and the same rear set-up as stage 3.

Now it is very hard to compare Bilstein and OME to Icon, Fox, ADS, and King. Though they are all bolt on suspension their capability, construction, valving, etc, are very different.

 

I was looking at the OME and it says 4x4 can I put it on my 4x2 as well?

 

Preunners and 4x4s have the same suspension.

Personally, I just went with Bilstien 5100s(lowest setting) with OME 881s and 10mm spacers up front. I have an add a leaf in the rear. I'm at about 3" in the front and the rear sits level

 

At 3" in the front do you have alignment issues assuming you still have the stock UCAs?

 

You can run the same suspension but one thing to keep in mind is that your truck is lighter so you will see more lift from the coils and potentially a stiffer ride from them, then you would if yours was a 4x4.

 

Is there a suspension where I can get the 3" inch lift and it not be as stuff as the OME

 

Nope. Never had alignment issues in the 5 years I've been at 3"

 

im at 3" on stock uca for a few years too. the added castor would be welcome but as far as tire wear goes its perfectly alignable. Il upgrade arm when my balljoints wear out.