Upgrading a stock?

I bought my 09 Tacoma this last fall of 2008. I am not a hard core off-roader as my spouse has a Jeep that we use for more of the hardcore stuff. However, out of all of our friends, we are the only 2 that have off-road vehicles. Our friends like to go with us but it is hard to fit them comfortably in a 2 door jeep. Our friends like taking my truck more (a couple of the friends are a bit hefty). Whenever we go, the extra weight makes me notice the stock clearance. I was looking into getting some bigger tires, maybe 285-70's or 285-75's. With that size of tire I would need a lift so the tires wouldn't rub.

A couple questions to you guys:
1. Should I get bigger tires and a lift?
If so, what tires and or lift do you reccommend?
2. If I stay with the same 265-70/75's should I get a small lift?
3. Should I just get tires that have more grip?

As my spouse has the Jeep, he knows information about a Jeep. Not about a Tacoma or a truck in general (specification wise). Any help would be nice as I wouldn't know where to begin looking. Thanks ahead a time.

 

well.....if you are wanting a lift....toytec has some nice options, or you can do as many have done and get a set of bilstein 5100's for the front to level it out. a 265/75/16 is the biggest tire you can fit without a lift....but it looks really good with a mild lift or stock height.....and i dont think that size looks bad with a 3 inch lift. if you do decide you want a lift instead of leveling.................coils in the front and aal in the rear and a diff drop....you'll be set. as for tires...........depends on what you want really. bridgestone dueler a/t revos or nitto terra grapplers are great tires for lots of driving conditions.

 

I just got 265/75/16's with a 2" Daystar Spacer lift. I am going to be changing that out to some Eibach coils that will give me 1.5-2.0 lift. The truck is sitting pretty good right now.