Mods for base model (prerunner-like)?

I have done a quick search to see what already exists, but quickly got lost in the weeds. I would appreciate any ideas or links to existing threads.

I have a base model 2009 with 5sp MT, access cab. I bought it as a trash truck/bike hauler, but recently I've been driving it daily due to household vehicle needs. I've noted that it's performance is very modest (low performance but robust 4cyl, large jump in gear ratio between 1-2, and pretty tall third member 3.3:1). It acc. poorly and lugs going around street corners at 10mph in second. It is in good running shape, so it's not degraded. Anyway, the daily driving has me wanting to doll it up a bit, make it a little better for getting into the back country with the bikes (lugging up steep hills), and possibly getting a new paint job in preparation for letting the young ones drive it in high school.

This has me considering a prerunner type modification if I can determine it's not a bad idea. Inital search has people saying it's POS, just sell and buy a 4wd, which I really don't want in the first place, plus it's the idea of taking what we have and modding it with the kids.

Because it sits fairly low to the ground with 15" 5 lug-wheels, front lower than the back (presently all oem), i'm thinking:

TDLR:

Base model to prerunner concept:
-Level front and raise front and rear slightly using a well-known and vetted off the shelf kit
-Swap 15" 5-lug wheels for 16" 5-lug and go with std. prerunner size (will tires rub?)
-Necessary suspension upgrades-renew hard parts/align
-Replace third member with gear ratio that will rev 10-15% more than it does now after calc. new tire circumference
-elec. locker rear diff (do not want posi on truck (light rear end) due to spin out), but would be nice to lock up back end when climbing up hills.
-New paint job

Can you guys tell me why this is a bad or good idea, and or link to kits or threads that have already cover this? Mainly I just want to have a little fun with the kids without ruining this truck or making it significantly more dangerous than baseline.

Thanks for any Thoughts. Matt

 

A Prerunner is a 4wd truck without the 4wd drivetrain. Pretty basic. Maybe better shocks and minimal lift would get you on 16" wheels. There are probably third member kits. Rock sliders and maybe some lights for that off road look.
You can run through a lot of money for a little modification, take it easy.

 

Thanks GorgeRunner. Yes, minimal lift/level front, and 16" wheels. Not even really worried about the off-road look. Do you know of a reputable lift kit supplier, or any high-quality posts on what issues I may have going to larger diameter tires? Thanks again!

 

Do a search here about lifting the truck. There's way more information than I can provide. Lift+shocks+wheels+tires is going to be a chunk of change.

 

You need to research in the 5 lug forum.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/5-lug.114/

Not much of our underpinnings are like the 5 lug versions. IE, parts don't interchange much and what you seek is harder to find.

On your 15" wheels you can run 235 75 15 tires with no clearance issues and get a 'real' lift over the 215s it comes with. Get wheels with weird offsets and such and the game changes.

The tire calculator will help you compare overall diameters, so if you go to a proper fitting 16" wheel (like from a Highlander) you can select a tire that comes close to the 235 75 in dia.

Remember, lift does not really provide tire clearance. It can actually make it worse. So it's the wheel specs and the tire size that matter most.

 

Thank you for the input. This all makes sense. I was looking at some puck lift/levelers for the front, but I'd like to keep the suspension at its baseline rest position, so I'm starting to see what is involved with that (control arms). Your idea about 235 75 15 max diameter/width in a 16 inch wheel is great too. I don't need/want a large lift, so I'm starting to see a path forward. I'll check out the 5-lug form, which I did not notice prior. Thanks.

 

Thanks... will do in the 5-lug forum.

 

For re-gearing and raising the rear end the easiest solution would be to put 4x4 springs and third member in. It'll let you flip to a spring over axle setup for added lift and re-gear for the taller tires they run on the Pre-Runner and 4x4 vehicles. Of course they downside is that it'll also give you a 6 lug rear bolt pattern. Maybe use the 5 lug axles in the 6 lug third member.

Raising the front is a bit more problematic. Due to the lower UCA mounting point raising the front too much swings the UCA down into the shock/spring assembly. I ran into this when I put coil overs on my base truck. Since they were designed for the X-runner I raised them up a bit to even the body out and over large bumps they would contact the inside of the UCA. Had to lower them back down and just live with the rake until I drop the back end. This could possible be alleviated by running adjustable UCA but I didn't look into it since I'll be changing mine out for drop arms.

 

This will be a bit ambitious, but lots of good mods in there.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-drag-5-lug-running-on-fueltech-ft550.809145/

 

My 2013 with 16" Highlander wheels and 235/70R16 tires, which are dimensionally almost identical to 235/75R15.
No clearance problems with this setup

 

I think this looks great! The wheels are nice. Did you have to do anything to get the speedometer correct? Any lifting going on there or planned? Thank you.

 

Thank you. I had identified that changing some front suspension is probably the correct way to do this (edit: by change, I mean change the height of the hard parts, not jack up the springs). From years ago, I learned that if you eat up travel one way or another, the suspension will not perform well. Would you mind giving me a bit more info on these "drop arms"? Is this basically lowering the spindles so the truck suspension articulation stays at baseline? Thanks!

 

Wow... yeah, not exactly what I was thinking, but was pretty fun to watch the dyno video. Those guys had some fun, and probably a bit of profanity, too .

 

I didn't change anything with the speedometer so it's not correct
I just have to remember I'm going about 5mph faster at indicated 55 - 65 mph.
Also remember the odometer racks up miles more slowly so your mpg is better than it seems.

 

Actually they raise the spindle so the body is lowered in relation to the tire and keeps the suspension articulation at baseline. The opposite direction of what you are wanting to achieve.

https://djmsuspension.com/product/2005-2014-toyota-tacoma-complete-3-inch-upper-lower-control-arms/

 

makes sense. Thanks.

 

I would like to copy what you have done with your wheels/tires. I've found these (OEM and aftermarket, two different finishes). Can you please tell me what you did for lugs and tire pressure monitoring system?

https://autorimshop.com/products/2007-toyota-highlander-16-oem-wheel-rim-w69397s
https://autorimshop.com/products/2007-toyota-highlander-16-oem-wheel-rim-w69397h

Thanks!

 

First you'll need lug nuts like these. Thread M12x1.5. The acorn shaped lug nuts for the steel wheels are incompatible. Plenty of sets online for $30 - $40. I don't recall where I got mine.



As far as TPMS goes I can't help you. I run these wheels without them and ignore the dash light. I'm thinking of making a TPMS pipe bomb but never seem to get around to it.
As for the wheels, have you considered used? You'll spend 1/2 to 1/4 of what you are looking at now. Check Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (i joined just for that) for wheels and cars being parted out.
Just curious, what part of the country are you from?

 

Thank you. I've heard of people just putting all 4 of the sensors in their spare tire.

I'm from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I've looked for used a little bit, but not much. I'll have another look.

Any chance you could post some picture from the front and rear so I can see the stance and how far it sticks out of the fenders (or not), Please ?

Thanks!

 

If you put them all in the spare won't you have to remove the tire to get them out so you can use the spare?
If you're not familiar here's what I meant by pipebomb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXOPocPqNE0

I looked in Craigslist and FB for Albuquerque and there are slim pickings right now. I forget the shear volume of stuff available in the NYC metro area isn't the norm nationwide.

And those pics