Stock Toytec shocks limiting travel?!?!

So I went to pull my stock shocks on my 2001 4x4 V6 double cab in order to measure what size 5125 I'd need for 2.5" lift today. Started off by measuring the stock shocks at 19.5" and 20.5" and when I pulled off the stock Tokico shocks, the axle dropped an additional 1"
Now they measure 20.5" and 21.5" with the end of the shock sitting a good 1" higher than the bottom mount

How is it the stock shocks were limiting travel? I thought suspension was limited by the springs themselves?

Edit*** Tokico not Toytec

 

those look like aftermarket replacements. i think stock tokico shocks are black. if so, then they were replaced with shorter shocks incorrectly. but it's just a guess

 

apparently the blue tokico are stock on the double cabs? They sure are rusted enough to be the stock shocks.

Just strange they drop down an additional 1" I thought even touching the bottom of shock = bad!

 

well the limiting factor on the rear is the leaf springs technically so maybe they're just so worn out they allow a greater range of travel. anyhow that sucks, time to slap a new leaf pack and some extended travel shocks back there!

 

The limiting factor on downtravel on a tacoma is the shocks. The springs will usually allow for more droop than what the stock shock, or even a lifted application shock is capable of. Do to clearance under the bed, you cannot run a really long shock or else you will bottom the shock out on compression.

 

interesting... I thought that would top out a shock and break them pretty quick?

So if I am getting a ~2.5" lift, which would be worse for buying shocks;
1) limiting downtravel by *lightly* topping out the new 5125 shock (same as the stock config; about 1" difference)
2) limiting uptravel several inches to avoid bottoming out the shock (by extend bumpstops by 2-3" and significantly reducing up travel)

 

With a 2.5-3" rear lift the it seems like the only option for the Bilstein 5125's is choosing 1 or 2 from above:

From what I measured, eye to eye:
stock Shock Extended: 19.5 / 20.5
stock Shock Compressed: 12.5 / 13.0
stock Leaf Droop (no shocks on): 20.5 / 21.5
stock Leaf Comp (no shocks on, resting on bump stops): >12.5? / >13.0? (need to measure)

5125 lengths:
......p/n......................shock....................travel........comp......extd........valve
33-186566.......5" 5125 Off-Road...........5.33".......11.12"...16.45".....223/90
33-062518.......6.5" 5125 Off-Road........6.63".......12.03"...18.5".......255/70
33-186504.......6.65" 5125 Off-Road......6.65".......11.77"...18.42".....366/240
24-185684.......7.6" 5125 Off-Road........7.62".......12.83"...20.45".....224/100
33-185590.......8" 5125 Off-Road...........8.13".......13.58"...21.54".....255/70
24-065283.......8.2" 5125 Off-Road........8.23".......13.27"...21.50".....298/94
33-185606.......8.5" 5125 Off-Road........8.6".........14.06"...22.5".......255/70

$94 33-186542 Bilstein Shock, B8 5125 Series, Monotube, 15.12 in Compressed / 24.35 in Extended, 46 mm, Steel, Zinc Plated, Each

33-186542.......9" 5125 Off-Road...........9.24".......15.11"...24.35".....255/70
33-185552.......10" 5125 Off-Road........10.17"......15.91"...25.93".....255/70
33-186559.......11" 5125 Off-Road........11.0"........17.0".....28.01".....175/60
33-104652.......11" 5125 Off-Road........11.0"........17.0".....28.01".....255/70

$89 33-185569 Shock, 5100 Series, Monotube, Steel, Zinc Plated, Rear, 6 in Lifted, GM Fullsize SUV / Truck 1975-91, Each

33-185569.......12" 5125 Off-Road........11.94"......17.91"...29.7".......255/70

$103 33-185576 5100 Series Shock Absorber

33-185576.......14" 5125 Off-Road........14.3"........20.75"...34.9".......255/70