How Much of a Lift, What's the Best Suspension for Rock Crawling

I'm considering buying a new 2021 Tacoma to rock crawl. I want to lift it and have seen multiple 6" lift kits but I've been reading a number of posts that mention that for rock crawling a 6" lift is not ideal; that a 6" lift is mainly only for looks, for mall crawling, but I'm wondering if this is true. I've seen BD and Rough Country 6" lifts. I'm interested in these because ideally I would want to run 35s, but I'm not entirely set on these if another setup is better. I want larger tires for better angles, better clearance, but I also need good articulation and flexing.

 

It’s only Monday!

 

Prepare to do a lot of panel cutting and trimming and different bumpers etc for clearance

 

Are the BD and Rough Country spacer/block lifts?

 

If I don't want to cut panels what would be the largest tires that I could run with a lift?

 

Go back to the drawing board and do plenty of research. If you’re going to rock crawl that’ll be the least of your concerns.
A jeep makes more sense if you’re going to have a dedicated rock crawling rig.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/intro-to-fitting-35s-3-lifts.594309/

good thread with lots of info. Pretty much anything bigger than a 33 is going to require lots of cutting if you truly want to be contact free.

 

Why do you want to raise your center of gravity for rock crawling?

 

Rocks are tall. obvi

 

I'd suggest just bolting up the biggest tire that will fit under the fender with stock suspension. Take it rock crawling and let the tires dictate what needs trimmed or removed. If your lucky, the tires will do some of it for you.

My view here is this is just a uncharted pipe dream, has a weak understanding of what "rock crawling" really is, or has more money than sense to purchase a 2021 anything to take real rock crawling.

If this desire to rock crawl is REAL, and the FOR SURE trail damages that WILL happen on REAL rock cawling trails is not going to be an issue, than save some money and buy a used 1st or 2nd gen with loads of miles on it, gear it and armor it properly and get out there.

If this desire to "rock crawl" isn't much more than taking it on a slightly bumpy trail, you can probably do it in a Prius.

 

What's the point in having a latest gen Tacoma if you're not going to see what it's capable of? If a brand new Tacoma gets beat up rock crawling then that's too bad. New car for me I guess, Lol.

 

A Jeep is always the preferred vehicle for rock crawling but no one has yet to tell me specifically what makes a Jeep so superior at rock crawling?

 

Well here is your rock crawler and some inspiration for your build. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNNu11AOtbQ

 

There we go! Something exactly like that. Although I'm guessing that build probably has the axles swapped.

 

If it's was my money i would not buy a $34-42 thousand dollar new truck and go rock crawling with it. I don't make 6 figures or have cash like that to burn.
If I wanted something for that I'd go find a Jeep Cherokee the XJ body that Ran good and wasn't rusted or beat to death already and mod that for your rocky adventures. They are less cash to buy, plenty of mod support for off roading them and they have front solid axle. That makes them easier to build for that use. They made tons of them and plenty are still on the road.

 

The simple fact that you said RC 6” inch to rock crawl, says you have no clue. Now if you have more money than sense and wanna drop 30-50k to turn a Tacoma into a true rock crawler. Then I say do it and post pics of the rig when done. We’ll be waiting for the pics of said rig but not holding our breath.

 

Realistically, anything over the stock size is going to rub somewhere

 

Jeeps are superior for rock crawlers because of the shorter wheel base (less likely to get high centered) and better approach and departure angles. Not to mention is a lot easier and cheaper to fit larger tires on a jeep than a tacoma.