New Taco owner, would love some insights on this photo I’m using as a build model

Short story: I’ve inherited a 2014 DC/LB TRD Sport and I’m totally new to this.

I’ve been looking at mods and came across this image which is a very close model for how I envision mine to turn out (a good stance, somewhat aggressive). I’d love to know how far you think this has been lifted—I just don’t have a good feel for these things yet.

Related to that, any recommendations on shocks/coils/control arms for a noob? Mine are stock, but I’d like a better ride and want to make sure there’s enough room for the wheels I’m looking at—LT265/70R17 Yokohama Geolander X-ATs.

Thank you in advance for any advice or info you can share.

 

Welcome to the forum. You’ve inherited a great truck. I don’t know a thing about lift kits, but my advice is to spend money making sure maintenance items are taken care of first before you start spending the big bucks on the mods.

 

That is great advice and is actually the first thing I did. Just to have a baseline to start from, I dropped a hefty amount of $ on a number maintenance items that I didn't have any record of being done and some items that I knew were absolutely needed. Overall, she left the shop with a really good bill of health.

 

Do you intend to go off road and/or drive on sharp surfaces?

 

Nothing too serious. I’d love to do some mild trails, cross through some shallow creeks, etc. Maybe on a beach. Admittedly fairly pedestrian stuff. Rock/mountain climbing? No.

 

Well depends what your goals with the truck are. I’d say thats a 3” lift, could go bilstein or ome and add a leaf and add a front diff drop to relieve some stress off the cv axles. Now thats a good lift. A cheap route would be blocks. Seeing what youre gonna do idk if you would even want external resis or adjustables. You can keep the stock uca but you would benefit from an aftermarket one to dial in the alignment. I cant tell the wheels but they look like the moto millitia ones, i like the scs wheels, a lil poke to make it look like it doesnt skip leg day. Since your gonna be on deep water, reroute the rear diff breather on the axle. Make sure ball joints are good. I know some people experience vibrations after a lift, something to look out for.

 

My advice is likely "boring", but, don't do anything to change any suspension geometry until you decide how you are going to use your new truck. Stock Tacoma's are VERY capable off road. Often, only limited by driver skill. There are a lot of mods you can do to personalize your truck, without changing ride height or ride characteristics, just spend some time here for suggestions on spending your dough. I'm always intrigued by the numbers of Tacoma owners that drop "LOTS" of hard earned coin for the "LOOK", then spend 90% of the their time getting groceries, going to work. and cruising main street.

 

Bingo. I wouldn't even recommend LT tires until you know you're going to be driving in conditions where the extra plies are warranted.

I chuckle when I see people here having issues with suspension components, gas mileage, and driveshaft components and then you see that the truck has been modded out the wazoo and is carrying way more weight and angles than it was designed for.

Tacomas, like Jeeps, are victims of heavy vanity.

 

Good points. I'm just looking for something that's not 100% stock. If I can swap in new wheels and tires, and minimize how much of a lift it gets, I'm down with that.

 

There are literally hundreds of wheel and tire combos that don't require suspension mods. Wanna look different and not affect reliability - bed cover, tint windows, cool tube steps, change grill, leather interior, mega sound system..........