Setup Help - 2023 Tacoma

Hey everyone,

After shopping around for a truck and seeing these crazy markups at most dealers I ended up going with the 2023 Tacoma TRD Off-road below MSRP. Had everything I needed for hauling the small family toys and can play around with the truck too so win win already happy with the purchase.

I’m experienced with off-roading but mostly been with Suzuki/Chevy. Never had a Tacoma before and trying to find the right fit for my needs.

I am in Michigan so not much for rock courses, we do a lot of trails, mudding, and sand dunes around here so I don’t really need a ton of lift and articulation more so a little more ground clearance and able to fit a fatter tire I can air down as needed.

Already have a few parts in the shopping cart, stubby front bumper with winch mount that doesn’t require cutting up the plastic leaning towards the DV8 and a solid rear bumper that isn’t too massive leaning towards the Scitoo based on reviews and photos.

Won’t add much more weight wise outside maybe a roof rack one day

That being said I’m want to try to clear 32-33 inch tires that are 11.5-12.5 wide for my applications. Definitely want to stay on a 16 rim for the sand dunes. I don’t mind getting new rims or spacers just any pointers on the final offset I should be at for those tires.

I know this will not clear the factory suspension/wheel wells unless I want to hack it all up so also looking at which route I should go for a lift. Being a 2023 it’s a bastard year with model change over and I’ve been having to put in 2022 in most searches to get full results. I’ve noticed most people go with OME or Bilstein which I’ve used on other rigs and liked them. But that may be overkill maybe I just need a spacer/aal and control arm to do the same thing. I haven’t even looked at body lifts and their downsides or advantages yet, so just looking for pointers.

I noticed a lot of guys go tall and skinny but I really need to go a little wider and not seeing much with that outside the guys doing 6 inch lifts and 35s or bigger… If it’s not possible without the huge lift I may just invest in a rear winch too because I know I’ll get stuck

Thanks in advance guys.

D.

 

You will definitely need a cmc/CMR to fully clear the larger tires if you off road.

honestly man I would drive your kickass brand new truck for a bit before you start cutting and changing parts out

 

I’m trying to clear 32-33s not 34+ ‍smh

After putting in multiple tire sizes in the searches I am now finding a few guys running 3 inch front lift on stock rims with 305/70s on 1.25 wheel spacers with no cutting or rubbing so I’ll probably go that route as it’s right in the middle of what I need. Just need to find a decent 3 inch lift now.

 

Every truck is different. Maybe you get lucky, but more than likely you will need a cmc/cmr.

 

My setup is similar to your description. Check out my information and photos in profile.

 

the stock off road is pretty capable with out any mods......just better tires

 

You are still going to have to cut to fit 33s. You are also showing your inexperience by thinking a lift is a solution to fit larger tires.

 

I have a simple setup. Bilstein 5100’s all around with the stock springs. I’ve been running 265/75/16 General Grabbers (32 inch tire) for about 30K miles now and they have taken me all over the country without any problems. They’re hybrid tires so in between a mud and all terrain.

Tires as wide as you mentioned though, you would need something with more lift than the 5100’s but it sounds like you already know that.

 

I think you'll find out if it rubs pretty quickly the first time you try to back up while turning with any kind of incline. Post photos when you finish the upgrades, good luck!!

 

Maybe drive the truck stock and see what it needs first

 

oh I’m well versed on the challenges of fitting larger height and width tires where they weren’t intended to do. Specially with IFS and the additional headache it brings. I spent a lot of time talking with other guys before just rushing in. My last rig was a 02 Chevy tracker with 33-12.5s which everyone also claimed wouldn’t fit but it worked well and did everything I needed off road without any issues and minimal trimming after a combination of mods. You are always watching CV and driveshaft angles to make sure it’s not just damaging itself.

Heck we helped a member in Greenland do the same thing to his Vitara to run 35s in the deep snow. Something they claimed couldn’t be done without a SAS… It’s all about combining experience.

Im already seeing complaints on the rear lifts on the Tacoma and drive angles so I’m not just going to toss a square block or new leafs on it after noting that. Looks like the better choice is a smaller AAL and an angled block to keep the geometry right. So I’ll do that and research the replacement shock for that.

As for the fronts I’ll clearly drop the diff and get the UCA to make up for it but I’m now trying to find actual final Hub to Fender dimensions to get my placement right for the extra tire. I’ll play with spacers on stock rims to get the offset right before rushing into new ones. Not my first rodeo just looking for people with first hand experience to give me pointers.

 

Well not necessarily. Quite a few on here run 285s with the right alignment/offset and no CMC, just no front mudflaps.

@VaToy can confirm.

Also, can easily run 33x10 with mudflaps and no cutting whatsoever.

 

12.5 width he wants. 10 is alright. Adding an 1nch and a quarter to both inside and outside will need some modding I think.

 

I have a 2” OME lift. 2887 springs, nitro charger soft valves shocks and medium dobinsons leafs (dakars tend to squeak), love it! Nice, heavy duty kit.

One complaint, I only got 2 1/4” of downtravel and I can feel my shocks top out at times if I’m going a bit too quick over obstacles/curbs/speed bumps. Keep downtravel in mind when lifting Toyota IfS.

I wish I got extended travel front shocks for additional 3/4”s or so downtravel. I’m not gonna change anything for a long while though, this is not a big deal to me.

I wouldn’t do more than 2” on Toyota IFS, that’s plenty for off-roading IMHO.

By the way, you can fit 285/75/16 on stock suspension with right offset and alignment, it has been done. I dunno the exact numbers but I’m sure more knowledgeable members will chime in.

 

Definitely not 12.5 but a 285 will fit without chopping/cutting. it has been done by quite a few TW members.

 

I agree.

 

Do you know what overall gain you had with the 5100s I’m not finding any numbers online. I was leaning towards them but thinking I need a tad more as they seem to average 2-2.5 where I think I’ll need a solid 3 even 3.5 to make it work.

 

That’s what I’m noticing not many people are going wider. Not even taking the chance. I’ve been seeing it more in Spanish and Arabic forums for driving on sand when I google the wider tires… so now I’m translating ha ha.

It will end up like my last one… One part from Australia another from Canada and a custom piece from the UK lol

 

Also, FWIW my AT 255/80/17s (33x10s) have been absolutely amazing offroad, I don’t do much muddying though. Aired down to 16-18, these skinnies seem to perform better than wider tires. Some of my off roading buddies commented how I well I did in some sections versus their LCs on 12.5” 35s.

These E rated 255s only weigh 52 pounds and less rolling resistance than wider tires. This is gonna be my size for a long while, I’ve got zero complaints. To me they look great too, more “utilitarian”.

 

3.5” of lift?