Looking for the best lift for my Tacoma

As the title says I am looking for a lift for my '13 Tacoma.

I guess I'd like to start by saying, I come from the other side of the automotive industry where "lowering" your car was the cool/fun thing to do when I was younger-I still have a thing for a lowered car haha but thats besides the point. My family, as I was growing up, always had a Toyota truck at the house-so I am by no means new to the automotive side of things and I always had an interest in trucks and lift kits but never thought I would do one myself. Well, last fall I purchased a 2013 Tacoma Access Cab new off the lot and have been in love with it since. As I said before, I have grown up around Toyotas since I was younger so I really wasn't expecting to be dissapointed with this purchase.

I am begining to slowly open up to modding the truck and have done a few things to take it away from its "stock look". I have been reading through forums on this site for quite some time and I can never seem to get a straight answer on what the best option for a lift is. I understand there are several routes to go and several choices that can be made with how you want to run the truck.

Right now, my main issue is the truck is under warranty. When I asked the dealership that I get the truck serviced at about a lift, they basically laughed a me and told me that any mod I do to the suspension is an automatic void to the warranty, the service department told me that "technically" my window tints could void the warranty on the window regulators which I thought was total bullshit. Tonight, I stopped by a dealership that is selling brand new trucks on their lot with lift kits that they are installing as aftermarket and the salesman that was there said the truck is under full warranty the way they are selling them as and said if I wanted one on mine, they would be more then happy to build me a lift. After I told him my story with what the dealership that services my truck had told me, he said they obviously do not know what they are talking about because we are able to warranty our trucks in full with these after market suspensions. (for the record, they are running a 3" suspension with toyota bilstein shock up front (I forget what spring) and a procomp shock in the rear-not too sure on this as I have read some crappy reviews on the procomps).

I have also looked into Toytec-which I have heard nothing but good things on and seems as though anything I read is also a good review.. ( I currently have my eye on the boss suspension with 2'' Boss HD springs and Light Racing Adj. UCA) I called Toytec and explained to them my issue on the warranty and they claimed that the dealership cannot void my warranty unless they can prove that the suspension was the reason for any fault.

Basically I am at a loss as to what to do. What I'd like is to put a quality suspension on the truck (I do not do any offroading-I baby the piss out of my truck) with something that is going to last and look great. I do not want to go any higher than 3 inches, and I am willing to spend money. I know the stealership (as I like to call it) that I stopped at tonight would probably charge an arm and a leg to build me a suspension. But right now, they seem to be the only one that would keep the warranty going...or at least it seems that way from the guys I talked to tonight.

Apologies for the book I just typed out, but I'd appreciate some feedback. As I said I am new to the lifting side of things but I am eager to learn more!

Thanks!

 

Welcome to TW and congrats on the new truck!

Toytec is correct on that the suspension cannot void your warranty unless they can prove the suspension part is at fault.

THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT http://www.autosafety.org/the-magnuson-moss-warranty-act–-an-overview

http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus01-businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law

Lifts up to 3" is up to you. Toytec sells a lot of quality kits(Down South Motorsports aka DSM is another), it just depends on your wallet size. Bilstein 5100s w/eibachs springs and AAL then up to King coilovers with full leaf packs.

 

Hey man thanks for the quick reply! Now, with that, does that mean that they cannot void a powertrain warranty as well? That has been the ify topic of discussion that I am still in a grey area on.

Also, after speaking with Toytec, I do not believe they are running the Bilstein shocks anymore. From what I understand, they have been partnered with Eibach for a year now and run their shocks back to front (still using their springs up front) on the boss suspension.

 

i wouldn't worry about it... its a toyota, your not going to be in the dealer much if at all.... and in my experience with the dealers, you arnt going to want them working on your truck anyways.

That stated the above is right.... they have to prove what ever modification to the truck cause w/e issue you are having.

 

Listen to these guys. The suspension cannot void the warranty unless they can prove that the parts installed caused the issue you are coming in for.

As for a lift, I would suggest coilovers in the front. King/Fox/Icon/Sway Away, If you intend on wheeling, and running it on the trails or in the desert at all or plan on beating up the suspension even a little, I would suggest a UCA. It'll get your alignment back into specs, and it'll increase range of motion and make travel easier on the suspension system.

Oh and welcome! Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask at all!

 

Sub
I am also interested in a lift/this discussion, and will do some minor off-roading.

 

Toytec sounds like a winner for you

 

What exactly is minor to you? You do realize that minor is the gateway to heavy wheeling right? Lmao. That is how it ended up working out for me, and I couldn't be happier with the choices I made at this juncture. So much so that any other brand truck feels like crap driving it. If you or even the OP does 5100 fronts, you will be left with a lot to desire and wish you had went the coilover route from the get go. I speak from my own experience and mistakes.

These are conversions that I built, never meant to fit OE, but anything short of these kind of shocks, I would regret having.

 

Let the record stand as well, that with coilovers you are able to rebuild them when the internal seals go bad, typically after 100,000 miles. With Bilstein's/ OME shocks and similar monotube sealed styles you are not.

Limitless rebuild option with coilovers/ dispensible shocks with the others. You decide what's really worth the money.

 

Minor = not rock crawling, no muddin', just some trailing in the woods. I don't have a budget to afford serious repairs. I really can't even afford a lift right now, just thought I would jump in on this thread and get some ideas. I understand what you're saying. I would also want to do it correctly the first time, I like to get the best bang for my buck, not necessarily the top of the line, but not junk either.

Edit: Kinda interested in Toytec Ultimate lift kit... This is all new to me, does this require re-gearing or anything else I should know about?

 

Thanks for the info. How is your setup on highway? I don't want to be jarred around, and, in reality, will rarely go off road. I just like to have the capability when I want to.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys, I honestly didn't think I would get as much feedback as I have been getting on this forum. I come from a forum called vwvortex when I use to have a GTI and I hated dealing with anyone on there..bunch of crooks and haters.

Anyway, I think I am going to go with a Toytec Boss suspension (with light racing UCA and 2'' boss springs in the rear (replacement leaf pack)). They are running coils in the front and it seems like a quality suspension which is what I am looking for as stated in the OP. I spoke with Toytech and I believe Eibach is who they are partnered with for their components. Really, I'm not on a budget...I don't plan on doing any off roading but I want to be able to know that if I do, I have a suspension that is going to be able to take the light abuse...at the same time with not having a budget, I don't want to go ape shit spending money on something that I am not going to make use out of either.

Thoughts on that set up?

Thanks again!

 

As she currently sits

 

Toytec uses 5100 fronts I believe. Problem is, I have seen many people complain that they have only gotten something about 30,000 if not maybe 40,000 max until their 5100's blew. How often are you guys looking to replace shocks? How much is your time worth?

 

According to Toytec's site on the Boss Suspension complete lift:
Includes:
[FONT=&quot]----- TTFCS2005 ToyTec’s new BOSS front coilover is designed with a larger 5/8” nitro steel shock shaft which is much more corrosion resistant than chrome plating and is valved specific to your vehicle, improving the overall handling and performance. The threaded Clear-Blue Chromate zinc plated steel shock body is adjustable from 0-3” of front lift height and can be fine tuned to level your truck side to side and front to back. Each shock has a 200 psi gas charge and is dyno’d before it ships. Upper mounts and adjustment rings are machined from 6061-T6 Billet aluminum and are then anodized black to prevent corrosion. Long handled TIG welded spanner wrenches are included for easy adjustment. We only use Eibach springs for our coilovers which means you have the best name and quality in the business supporting your vehicle. Comes fully assembled and ready to bolt on for easy install. All parts are 100% made in the U.S.A.[/FONT]

 

What they are talking about is what I believe comes standard on a 5100. The 5/8 shaft. The gas charge (which you cannot adjust mind you). All the other stuff is stuff they designed and fabbed up to convert it to a coilover.

 

The Toytec BOSS CO's are not single use like the 5100's They can be valved for specific use and rebuilt. Like Icon's, King's etc

 

I see what you're saying. I just got off the phone with Toytec. They have full Eibach on the boss suspension and they are running Eibach springs with 5100s on the Ultimate suspension. Think I am going to go with the Boss one though.

 

Oh no shit? Nice. You learn something new everyday. If that so is the case then that sounds like a solid alternative to coilovers like King/Fox/Icon/Sway Away. OP if you are able to get them rebuilt tuned and valved and all that jazz from Toytec find out if they are able to upgrade the shafts to the larger 7/8 diameter. They are thicker allowing for better durability.

The fact they run Eibach springs is awesome. I run Eibachs on my Coilovers as well, and they are a solid spring manufacturer in my opinion.

 

Does the ToyTec Ultimate lift (or similar) require different UCAs?