So torn (Lift decision)

So I'm torn between being a mall rider an overlander. Sad part is is that I live in central florida where it is pretty bland. I was the best of both worlds. I like the 6" lift but don't want to cut the cross members. But I love the 0-4" lifts capabilities.

I already know about the center of gravity and red all of the forum posts about suspensions. I just dont want to spend thousands of dollars and not be happy. Does anyone understand or have an suggestions?

IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OF YOUR TRUCK NEXT TO STOCK OR ANOTHER LIFTED TRUCK PLEASE POST THEM!!

I am open to a Frankenstein build.
I would like 6" but with reservoirs because why wouldn't you get reservoirs?

 

If your going to lift and put anything bigger than 33s I highly reccomend 4.88 gears.

 

Of course I already know I'll be getting Nitro Gears 4.88

 

If you want a 6" lift, then that is what you should get. Your truck your money. I would look at BDS and Fabtech for 6" DB lifts. Both offer coil-over options for the front.

You will not be cutting the axles, but you would be cutting the crossmember.

 

I already got in contact with BDS and they really helped me with the knowledge but specifically told me if you want to go off roading that it's not the best for it.

 

Yea that's my main concern for sure

 

Maybe you should talk to @KTJO 4x4
She is going the db lift route I believe.

 

Yes, and for the money that you would spend on the BDS coil-over set up (I also looked into that, as that was the direction that I was going to go as well), you can get a very nice King, Fox, ICON, OME BP-51, or ADS coil-over set up. That would get you about 3" of lift and still be able to fit the 33"s. You may have to do a CMC or some plastic trimming.

 

At the end of the day, it's still going to be your truck and your decision. One thing I would've suggested to myself in the same position as you two months ago (shopping for my truck)... Think long and hard about the TYPE of ride you want, as well as the capabilities you need and the look you want. Be honest about what you're going to be doing (be it on-road 90% of the time and off-road 10%, mall crawling 99% of the time and 1% camping at the beach or 50/50 on/off road, anything). You don't have to share it here, just make sure you consider it before dropping 3-10k on a kit, or Frankenstein one together. Ride with people who have similar suspension setups to what you're looking at and pay attention.

Anywho, that's what I learned AFTER buying my truck and suspension and not doing a thread like this. I just got lucky! Don't be like me, read stuff!

 

@KTJO 4x4 a little insight please on your decision?

 

Give her some time, meanwhile.... go look at her build
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ktjo-4x4-2017-trd-or-build-thread.496004/

 

Definitely the samething I learned with doing show cars before. I did air ride twice before getting it right. And to be honest it will probably be an 90% on road 10% off road.

 

I'm actually in love with her build....

 

Thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate it. My decision was based off of the fact that my truck already sits between a 4”-5” lift with spacers. It was an inexpensive route I took at the very beginning because one of the first things I wanted to do to my truck was get my Nitto Trail Grappler LT295/70R17 tires mounted on my Helo HE878 17x9 Black 6x5.5 -12mm Offset Rims. I also didn’t want to spend 5k-10k on a setup I wasn’t sure I wanted at the time. So I figured I’d take the first year and really get a feel for what I wanted to eventually do with my build. Started with small mods and now I’m working my way up to the bigger mods.

As for my decision to go with the BDS 6” Suspension System, (1) they are amazing at what they do. BDS and Fox are one of the best Suspension Systems out there. Fox alone has been around the longest of pretty much all of them. They can speak for themselves. (2) With my truck already sitting at the height it is currently sitting, I do not feel that another inch or two would hurt me by any means off-roading. I know a ton of people that off-road with their trucks here in the PNW and they have 6” lifts. @victory4x4 is a great example of someone that has the setup and does a lot of off-roading. (3) In order to get the stance I want with my 6” lift, I will also be running 35x12.50x18 Nitto Trail Grappler tires mounted on Helo HE878 18x9 Black Satin Black 6x5.5 -12 Offset w/ 4.53" Backspacing Rims. (4) I know a lot of people say you lose clearance with a DB setup, but that is simply not true. When I do this Suspension System to my truck, I will do the before and after measures/pictures to prove it. What you may lose due to the DB, you gain with the bigger tires. Equaling it out to the same clearance if not better. Again, my opinion and when I eventually do this Suspension System, I will take pics and measurements.

I’m sure there are a ton of other reasons why I have chosen this route but it really just came down to what I really wanted for my truck and what I plan to do with my truck. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, please let me know. I’m excited to see which route you choose.

 

Are you going hardcore off roading? I have the 6” BDS coilovers w/dsc and I still take it off-roading. I don’t do any hardcore off-roading but it gets me to the fishing spots that do require 4x4.

 

Where you go fishing?

 

All over Oahu. Mainly west side. But I go all over.

 

Whipping or dunking?

 

Both. Mostly whip and plug though.

 

OME