Lift Question for 2nd Gen Tacoma

I have read through the various threads on the best lift for a 2nd gen Tacoma but I have a unique question that I am hoping the community can help me with. I have 2005 Double Cab long bed with 225,000 miles. Last year I added bilstein 5100's all around, replaced my stock front springs with OME springs, and then had the rear leaf springs replaced by the dealer (recall). I put 1/2" level in the rear to make the truck level. However I have been doing some more off-roading in the last year, and have bumped the bottom a few times, broke my trailer switch, and have realized that my truck is a little to low and unmodified to make these trails. I have 16" rims with ko2 on them. I would like to lift my truck a bit to make it more trail ready. Since I have already invested in new shocks and springs I am wondering if there is a way to use what I have and get a 3-4" lift? Most of the what I have seen on the internet has been sold as a kit (includes springs, shocks...). I don't mind spending some money to do it correctly. I also going to add a front receiver for a winch and perhaps some rock sliders as I dented my truck along that area a few times last year. Any help would appreciated.

 

You could get a strut spacer and an add-a-lead in the rear. If you do go for the strut spacer make sure it just bolts on top instead of having to wedge it between the coil and the cap, this will give you a better ride. Just so you know though it is highly recommended that you buy aftermarket Uca's for your truck anytime the front is lifted over 2.5 inches in order to allow for proper alignment. It sounds like you may have a 1/2 inch aal in the rear but you could always go for a larger one.

 

Realistically the stock system is only good for 1-2" of ride height increase. It only has so much usable travel and lifting it with stiffer springs or spacers typically pushes that usable travel towards the droop side only.

Now that isnt a huge get problem running larger tires but the ability to actually droop and stuff goes down as you load up the spring or increase tire size (unless you cut sheet metal).

There isn't much in between. You can do aftermarket arms which will extend the travel out and give you some durability but the stock system will only do so much.

With a Tacoma you either spend a little and go up a bit with one size larger tire. Spend significantly more for a decked out system and gain more but at a huge cost.

Or you end up with a straight axle which allows you any option you can afford for suspension.

Trying to go to 3-4" of lift you either end up with a jacked up stock setup that doesn't work at all of go drop down bracket system which maintains all the right geometry bit gives you not much in performance.

 

I have Firestone RideRites. They were installed with the intention of leveling the rear when I towed. It worked for that. The added benefit was airing up when I needed some extra clearance when I go off-roading. I’ve never aired up that much - usually 2-3 inches. And, I believe I read somewhere that 3 inches is the max recommended. And they are designed for stock leaf’s. Otherwise, you have to modify the mount so it makes contact with the axle, a relatively easy modification which I did to compensate for the one inch blocks I put on mine. I also added the Daystar cradles.

 

do it right the first time shell out the money for a set of dakars in the rear. itll give you approx a 3" lift give you more capabilities to haul loads in the bed and it wont give out on you. spacers if done improperly can still give out also i would suggest relocating your trailer harness