Spacers vs Adjustable shocks - same travel?

Hey y’all,

Do adjustable shocks set to 2” of lift (like a billstein 5100 or OME nitro charger with an 887) reduce your travel just like a 1” spacer (for 2” of lift) would?

tried to use the search bar a bit for this but couldn’t find a definitive answer. Other than the boogieman stories of spacers basically blowing up your truck under extreme conditions, this seems like the only other reason to not get spacers

 

No, the shocks have proper travel for the lift.

 

Spacers that go on top of your oem coilover do not change shock/wheel travel, just adds lift height.

Most aftermarket adjustable coilovers will offer more shock/wheel travel. Thats something you would need to confirm with that specific shock

 

So my travel wouldn't be affected by using spacers over a coilover assuming the coilover has the same travel as OEM?

Did y'all happen to write an article on this? I'd love to read about it. For my case, I won't be hitting washboards for hours at a time, nor do I need the extra 1-2" of travel from OEM (I'm just looking for a 2" lift with no comromise to travel or ride quality). So if there's no difference in travel from OEM using a spacer, I'll probably be going that route.

 

Remember that spacers also induce additional stresses. Buy once, cry once. Or buy once, break something, buy the one you should've to begin with. Not really our place to tell you what to do.

 

If you put a spacer lift on and bottom out the shocks they are now the bump stops and you will likely bend the shock.

 

You’ll definitely want to extend your bumpstops an inch or two so you don’t snap a shock in half like some of the horror stories.

 

Like others have mentioned just make sure your bump stops are stopping your shock from bottoming out.
Wheelers stocks spacers.

 

Going back to the original question... do spacers reduce any of your travel compared to the adjustable coilovers (assuming same travel length OEM vs coilover)?

 

No, but how many people are going to install a strut spacer and cycle the suspension to set the bump stop without a spring?

 

I do plan on wheeling it tbh

 

Then spend a little more on 5100’s instead of a spacer for the front. It’s much easier in the end and jot much more money.

 

https://accutuneoffroad.com/why-are-tacoma-spacer-lifts-so-bad/

 

Boogieman stories to me, I was surprised to learn only a handful of trucks here run actual coilovers (vast majority run spacers or spindles on a dropbracket) and they've been more than fine on trails

 

Watch this video, I used their Bilstein kit for my truck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzgZQK37_Y

 

Your down travel is limited and your uptravel can destroy your shock, so, technically you may have the same amount of travel, but it is different. The only upside to a spacer lift is they are cheap. At first.