New Truck. Bumper Lift Questions

So I took the plunge and bought a 2006 DCLB last week. Silver, truck runs great as far as I can tell.

Anyways I've been doing some light offroading and of course managed to crack my front bumper. Of course I haven't gotten a new inspection since the one on my truck is good for a little bit so my coverage hasn't kicked in, so this ones on me. I figured why replace it with a stock bumper? Lets get some armor on this thing. Right now I'm leaning towards these two options.

3"Suspension lift, differential drop, steel front bumper.

Leave it stock and put on an aluminum bumper (alluminess or relentless).

Will putting the suspension lift on the front upgrade the suspension enough so I do not have to worry about the steel bumper weighing down the front end of my truck and causing unnecessary wear and tear? I plan on keeping this truck for awhile so I don't necessarily mind spending the money on it.

I do not want to drive around with a cracked bumper for an extended period of time so waiting 3-6 mo's for a bumper is kind of a deal breaker.

Should I just take the plunge and worry about the money later? or go with the aluminum bumper and slowly upgrade like I originally planned?

Thanks guys,
B

 

Don't get a body lift. Or spacers. I have spacers and I regret that decision.

 

diff drop doesn't really do anything on 2nd gens...I bought one but didn't install it after reading this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/118545-remove-differential-drop-your-05-tacoma.html

 

Good read, Thanks

 

As far as suspension goes, how much weight do you want to add and how much lift do you want after the weight is added? Do you plan on running a winch?

Eibachs are stiff, they have a 620 #/in rating and give you 1.6" of lift with 5100's at 0 and just under 2.5" when you set the 5100's at .85. They'll sag a little under the load of a plate bumper but are stiff enough to handle the weight.

885's I believe are 588 #/in and will give you about 2.5" of lift unloaded, 3" if you use a top plate spacer with them. I wouldn't preload the 885's.

886's are 656 #/in and are made to give you close to 3" of lift with 200+ lbs hanging off the front end (ARB bumper with a winch). Unless you're really putting a lot of weight up front, I wouldn't recommend the 886's. If you do go with them, I'd get the Nitrochargers instead of the 5100's. They seem to be a better match. (Source: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/196470-ome-885-886-eibach-coils.html)

 

I am in basically the exact same situation as OP. I'm not a serious off-roader but I am in the market for a replacement bumper. I'm seriously leaning towards the Relentless bumper but it has about a 5 month!?! lead time. I like some of the steel plate bumpers but I have never worked on my truck and I don't want to go messing shit up trying to save some money. I am also a novice at best when it comes to working on vehicles (we've all gotta start somewhere, right?) so as far as what I am gonna need if I do go with a steel plate bumper is a bit daunting. I'm going to throw a bunch of questions out so feel free to answer any of them you want.

As I understand things so far, if I go with a steel bumper I'm going to need to upgrade the front suspension with stiffer springs and more robust shocks, yes? (feel free to correct me on anything, I want to learn) Will I also need to upgrade the rear suspension so that it rides level? I don't do much hauling at all, so if there is no need to upgrade the rear suspension, that is just fine with me. As far as the front suspension goes, I can just get stiffer springs and heavier shocks to keep the same ride height or I can get a similar set up that will also lift the whole thing? If I go with the lift, what other items will I need to keep from causing uneven/accelerated wear with the lift. As geekhouse mentioned, I won't need a diff drop, but are there other parts I'll need?

 

Good info on the spring rates! I hope they are correct.

I just don't understand this. I see this same thing about 886's and 5100s all the time. Yet I've seen some of the very same people (and many others) saying that their 886's on Nitros top out moderately to severely over speedbumps and on the trail...to the point where some have ditched the setup altogether. That tells me the Nitros are a very poor match for the 886...not enough rebound dampening. And, I can't seem to find any actual owners of 5100's and 886's saying that they are unhappy with the performance at all. I occasionally see a set of pics posted of 886 springs on factory OEM TRD OR shocks where, apparently, the spring was too much for the shock and the shock literally folded. These are posted to say that 5100's are too weak...but I've not heard of any actual 5100 failures...only factory TRD OR bilsteins. If anyone knows differently, please post that info...or a link to that info in this thread.

I apologize if you're reading a certain 'tone' in my post but I'm getting so tired of reading suspension threads on this forum that are full of contradictory information and/or half-information. I'm about to give up on TW for suspension 'information'.

BTW, I'm not bustin' your chops, Geekhouse. I appreciate your contributions. I'm just responding to the info in your post which I've seen many other times. Your response was current so I was hoping I'd get more action on this thread.

 

It's all good

I would be interested to know if the people you mentioned ran 886's with the top plate spacer..also if they ran a bumper and winch with the 886's too..

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/159485-885-w-spacer-vs-886-no-spacer.html

In the thread above, someone said that he ran 886s and a spacer for about 2 years with stock bumper tore a CV boot, replaced the boot and removed the top plate spacer and hasn't had issues since. I plan on moving from 885's to 886's when I install a bumper and winch and remove the top plate spacer.

 

I'd like to know all the specs on these trucks too. Half-information strikes again! Haha. I'm hoping to chat with wheelers in the next couple of days and get their take on it.

 

Alright. Went with a steel Body ARmor bumper because it was cheap 900, no shipping and can be picked up at my local 4x4 shop. Went with the ToyTech ULK for the 3" lift and a new black grill with chrome trim. Threw in a K&N Air filter in there too.
Store quoted me 8 hours of labor to install the suspension kit, grill, and bumper. Does that sound about right?

Now working on finding some tires and rims. My local tire guy said continental is running a promo and I get one of those tubular go-pro looking cameras with a set of tires. woo.

 

I vote

3" Suspension lift, "NO" different drop, 33"s, Steel bumper

 

Hmm. The differential drop is already coming, it was only 30 bucks off if I didn't include it. I don't plan on doing too much wheeling, mostly flat beach driving and the occasional dirt road.

 

X2

 

Read this and tell me if you still want a diff drop.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/118545-remove-differential-drop-your-05-tacoma.html

 

Everyone dogs on BL's a mild BL, .5"-1", can help clear hugeer tires. Gave me more flex angles as well with >33" tires

 

I am trying to decide which way to go as well. I just finished building my front plate bumper and weighed it today at 180lbs with the winch. All I really want is to support the extra weight and level the truck. At this time I dont want to have to fool with the full 3 in lift the 886s seem to be giving.Causing me to have to lift the rear and get UCAs. But I am wondering if the 5100s at zero and toytec coils will be enough. They would be easier on the wallet for sure but will they hold the weight (Well). And the 886s say for at least 200+ lbs , so are they to heavy for my application. I Ive read tons of threads and there are tons of different lift heights posted and opinions. This is driving me freaking crazy.

 

Little older thread but he posted the same question/situation you are asking:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/165484-eibachs-strong-enough-plate-bumper.html

Not sure if you plan on getting a winch, skids or sliders but if you are, I would at least consider the 886s.

 

Rode real nice on the beach. Everything works great, bumper has a little rattle to it, working on modding that.

Thanks

 

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