Thinking of Installing rough country 2.5 lift. Any Thoughts?

Hey guys so I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma double cab over the winter, its finally warming up here in the North East so I'm going to start this project. I bought this truck with a bad rear end with diff lock and I finally found one so I'm going to swap it over now that the weather is cooperating.

I want to lift the truck up 2 to 3 inch lift depending to fit some 32" or maybe 33" tires not sure yet. Im not going to mud it or rock crawle it. Im going to use this truck as a nice camping rig toy to go up to Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire. As well as going fishing on the Cape and Long Island right on the beach.

So I was looking at this rough country 2.5 lift for $360 which I believe is a good price. Its a shackle rear lift so it comes with the drop shackle mounts and rear shocks for the front comes with lifting shocks I asked them they said I can use my same coil spring I'm going to purchase new coil springs anyways to fresh the suspension up.

Has anyone tired the lift or have this lift kit on your truck now. Give me your opinion how you like them and how are they on the road. Would love any input before I purchase it.

Here is the link on that lift kit:

https://www.roughcountry.com/toyota...Vl6rzQnvOvlnKjVjDmFa_YfrWcXrs_L4aAvzrEALw_wcB

 

Rough country is junk garbage

 

I'll just leave you with this.

There is a very good reason Rough Country is the cheapest lift out there.

You'd be better served to get a set of front/rear Bilstein 5100 shocks (fronts are height adjustable), and a rear add-a-leaf. You can re-use your stock coils, too. When I did my 5100s I was all in for like $400. I used a 1" lift shackle for the rear, though. An add-a-leaf might bump the cost to like $450.

 

I was thinking in doing the same thing. But started thinking I've had own tacoma that I bought in the past that had the extra leaf spring and I hated how it drove it was so stif in the rear there was no cushion at all, as a work horse it was great put tons of wight in the back with no sag I know because of that extra leaf spring.

Because of that experience I didn't want to go that rout unless someone chimes how to properly have that set up. Im an expert all thats mechanical and mechanically incline but when it comes to lifts yup I don't know nada there so many brands and price ranges I don't even know where to start.

Oh I forgot to mention I'm going to use this truck as daily driver because I'm plaining my 2003 Extra Cab don't have space to keep all my trucks one has to go. lol

So you think that Bilstein lift with be great as a daily driver.

 

I did the Bilstein 5100, stock coil overs, and a shackle on the rear leafs, gave me between 1”-1.5” lift and rides as well as factory. Definitely the best budget lift. If you want bigger I’d recommend staying away from rough country, I had a bad experience on a jeep once and vowed to never again use them.

 

@Hotdog11 did you just do the shackle or did you add a leaf spring as well?

 

Planing on doing something like this.

 

Just a shackle, I’ve heard AAL can make the ride more stiff, and not flex as well. I’m very happy with just a shackle, and I normally have a topper on the bed as well.

Now if you’re wanting a rooftop tent, on a rack, on the topper, with a bunch of stuff in the bed....AAL is probably the way to go. My truck is mostly for trails, and I take the topper off when wheeling.

About 8:50 is some good video seeing the suspension work with my setup. I added a heavy bumper and winch after installing my bilsteins, so I’m actually going to take them off and adjust them to their highest setting to account for the front sagging from extra weight.

https://youtu.be/ses33w1rCqs

 

Save your money, buy a nice set of coilovers and some good quality springs. You will be much happier with your truck. Good luck.

 

It was my daily driver for 6+ years with the 5100s. Lifting it with the 5100s and an add-a-leaf will make it stiffer, that's just how it works. the front increases the pre-load of the spring which make them stiffer. With a mild lift, (I had mine on the middle setting ~ 1" lift) it was barely noticeable, and rode better than stock (I think).

Some people (very few that I've seen) have complained that the 5100s ride stiff for their tastes. That's really just personal preference. I personally don't mind that my pickup truck rides like a... pickup truck. If you want a softer ride, don't lift it at all, or buy a car, lol... And for me, because my stock springs were old and worn out, making the stiffer actually helped.

If you want to lift it without making it stiffer, you'd need entirely new springs with a height designed form the start (longer coils, rather than making your current ones stiffer). Same for the rear. That of course costs more money... OME coils are very popular and a very well respected brand. So you could get new coils that are set appropriately for the weight of your truck, and are just a bit longer to get your lift. The coils are like ~$160 a pair. Then of course you need to lift the rear to match. Getting a longer shackle for the rear is a good way to lift the rear without increasing spring stiffness, but you can't go too far without screwing up the geometry of the suspension. I did a 1" lift with a shackle and was fine, anymore than that and you should really do another type of lift (add-a-leaf or new springs).

That said, an alternate way to lift a truck without making the springs stiffer and still keep the cost way down is spacers. Which is basically what the RC lift is. If it were me, though, I'd save up until you can afford a better lift that will last and not decrease the reliability/strength of the truck.

 

@Mully any suggestion in springs?

 

Nationalspringinc.com
Over 150 years in the industry.

 

@jbrandt yeah I understand I'm not expect a Cadillac ride..lol I road in lifted truck that actually felt good and others that omg my kiddies hunted after. lol Oh yeah I heard great things about 5100 shocks just concerned about the rear but ill take up @Mully idea and get a sets of quality springs for the rear. Question if I get good quality spring would I still need to do the shackle if so how big I'm thinking to do a 2" lift

 

For 2” it’s kind of either a shackle or a new spring (or AAL). The cool thing about the rear is you can do a new leaf and still add a shackle later if you want to go bigger. The shocks are specific to the amount of lift though.

 

If you get a custom set of springs from Nationalspringinc.com you than can run a stock or a lifted shackle. Here is one of my vehicles with national springs. Very flexible.

 

Now that’s a cool rig! I love seeing a classic Offroad too!

 

@Mully I checked there website so I have to call them to custom order the leaf spring? what is the process to order I ask because you have the experience with them

 

Im in love with that fj

 

This is what I plan to do. I have 1" shackles already, and the 1.5" lift from the Deaver J59s should be just about right for what I need.

 

Call them, give them details on your vehicle. You will discuss how the vehicle is used, weight carried, desired lift, type of spring bushings, Military wrapped and length. They will set you up. They have springs ready to go and can make you a set real quick if needed. I have been buying their springs or decades.