What do I really need for a lift?

I want to upgrade my suspension. Let's be honest, I'm not a rock crawler, serious overlander, or Baja racer. I'm a dude who wants a suspension kit that is capable of going on some trails without worry and could handle some mild terrain.

My 2013 Tacoma is my daily driver so I don't need to drop 5 grand on a fully decked out kit. I'm looking at dropping maybe $1,500-$2,000... tops?

My question is: what do I really need to accomplish this?

 

Just get some taller tires on stock wheels. BFG KO2's or GY Duratracs. A lift isn't always needed especially since it's a mostly DD.

 

I have the KO2s and a leveling kit, but I would like to take my truck off-road more. Like I said I want to know I can go on trails when I want without worry about the stock setup.

 

Billy 5100’s and OME 95R’s. Maybe skids and sliders.

 

So you just need more ground clearance?

 

Yeah I'm assuming so? Maybe a smoother ride when on trails too?

 

So all I would really need is to upgrade my coil-overs and rear struts? I don't need to upgrade the leaf springs, UCAs, etc?

 

This is adjustable. 1.5"-3" someone else can chime in about UCA's.

 

you don't need anything at all to hit the trails. but if you think you need anything, it's tires. comfort on trails may be a good thing for one, speed in the sand for another, control on tarmac for someone else. spend some time thinking about what you really want. the truck is pretty neutral and can be modified in many directions.

 

You have a pic of your truck as it sits now?

 

I went with OME front coils and shocks, Dakar rear leafs with OME shocks. I included the front left spacer to correct the driver side lean. I paid extra to have the front coils and shocks assembled (well worth it). I think the whole kit was around $1,100 delivered and I did the install myself. The result was about 3” lift which has settled to about 2.5”. It is level, no lean...much stiffer than stock. BFG KO2’s add to the stiff ride. Went +1 on the tires...happy with the results. BTW, did the same thing with my FJ Cruiser (which I still have), so I am pleased with OME.

 

You can get a full kit including new leaf packs from Ironman for under 1600 if you want the struts built. Here’s my post on their Foam Cell Pro kit.
@oakcity has the nitrogen kit and has been happy with it.
Here’s another thread- https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ironman-4x4-foam-cell-pro.427407/

 

If you're just doing dirt/fire roads and mild terrain, you might not really need a lift at all. I did the Berdoo Canyon trail outside of Palm Springs, which is a bit past "mild terrain" but a far cry from most of what's around Moab, in a basically stock TRD OR PreRunner (I had sliders on it at that point, but hadn't done anything to the suspension at that point) without needing to hit the locker.

These trucks are impressively capable in a bone-stock configuration, if you want an inexpensive slight lift, you could get some 5100s to set the front a little higher and level out the back with a small (3/4"-1")block lift and some extended u-bolts (maybe a flip kit while you're replacing the ubolts anyway). Alsochanging to a slightly bigger tire will give you a little more height, with 5100s set to 0.65" or 1.1" lift on stock springs, you should be able to fit a 32" tire.

Removing the sway bar on the front could smooth out the ride on trails a bit, but you'll get a little more body roll on the street (which doesn't bother most people). For $2k, you could definitely get all new springs and shocks, but Dakars are probably going to lift you more than you're looking for in the back which would mean lifting more in the front to stay level.

 

As others have said, this truck is more than capable from the factory. How much taller are your tires from stock?

 

About $3,400, and 138 inches minimum:

 

I'd say with the tires and leveling kit I'm probably around 2". I appreciate the insight!

 

Thanks so much! Yeah the more I see what you guys are saying the more I am leaning toward maybe just new shocks. I would like to be able to do some trails with minor obstacles but like I said, rock crawling and whatnot isn't for me. I definitely don't plan on going to Moab, Lord knows I wouldn't know what the heck I was doing out there haha, so that sounds like the way to go.

 

You'll be fine. I suggest taking a Beginners 101 trail ride. Good luck.

 

I took my PreRunner (I do have a 2" lift, winch, and sliders) to Moab for Rock Therapy a few years back (I think I was the only 2WD truck in the group that year), and have been meaning to go back but scheduling has been a problem for the last few years, and then there's this year... Some of the trails are past what my truck can get up, but a lot of them aren't (check out the YouTube footage of someone driving Hell's Revenge in a Crown Vic, he probably took a lot of bypasses, though).

Pick up a few skills and you might find yourself looking to get more aggressive. It can be a bit of an insidious hobby, I wasn't much into off-road anythign until I got my truck back in 09, now I'm looking into getting an old FJ to build into a mountain goat to take back to Moab and do some of the trails that really do need power to the front wheels.