Thinking of putting a 3" lift in my 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport

I recently purchased a used 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport and thinking of putting a 3" lift kit in or a 2" levelling kit and then changing tires to 265/70/17. Just wondering what is the better idea and if someone has before and after pictures of a similar lift? Also I've been doing a lot of reading and not sure what would be the best company to go with for the lift and if I will need to change out the UCAs and if I will need to lower anything?

 

there are tons of threads about 3" lifts and which options are available. It all depends on your budget, but the general consensus is to avoid spacer lifts. Bilstein 5100's front and rear are a good option. You can add some 887 springs up front to give the 2.5-3" of lift. You can purchase AAL (add a leafs) for the rear to gain some lift as well. Do some research on the forum and see what you like and what your budget it.

cheers.

 

Don't do a spacer lift.

From what I have read here, the truck will explode.

 

I was considering the Bilstein Adjustable 3" lift kit with 5100 shocks and 2" ToyTec Add-A-Leaf. With this kit should I also purchase new Upper control arms as well and is there any other parts I should get?

 

Get UCAs. Also grease or anti-seize your LCA bolts. Do the front lift with new springs (887) if you want 3", don't do it with pre loading the stock springs (2.5") and then adding a small spacer - it will ride like shit. You'll like the 5100s, they're a fantastic budget shock/ strut. Prepare to address driveline vibrations after lifting your truck.

 

From what i read i was thinking 885 coils, but I'm new to this so there will be driveline issues as well if go 3"? What if I go only 2 1/2"?

 

i have the rough country 3" spacer in the front with 2" block in the rear. i like mine. in all fairness if i decided i wanted to start doing some serious off roading then i would follow the normal route around here and do like bilsteins or similar. i don't plan on any serious off roading just logging roads and mud so i think the lift i have now will be fine unless my plans change. people will tell you oh this is bad or that is bad it's really about what works for you both function wise and budget wise. i maintained my factory ride with the lift i installed and am happy with it figure out what you think will work best for you and/or what you like it's your truck

 

Playing devils advocate here. If your not really using the truck in an off road manner don't bother with a lift. There are many negatives to a lifted truck, higher center of gravity (roll over), worse gas mileage, vehicle vibrations, poor gas mileage, handling issues, etc. Personally I don't get why people lift their trucks "for the look" and accept all the negatives. If you need the height increase for off road use, lift away!

 

If you're only lifting it 3" the chance of a rollover in relation to stock height is not much of a difference.. Bad gas mileage would come from larger tires, not so much the lift itself.. vibrations would occur sometimes, everyones vehicle is different. Handling issues in my opinion are a lot better than they were stock.

 

Had a toytec ultimate kit on my 06, but with my new to me 13, I'm going to wait just a bit and see some more reviews/real world experience with the new bilstein 6112s. 2" is all I need for my purposes and will get me in and out of every place I need to go. Plus, it looks cool.

 

Toyota puts millions of dollars into these vehicle to make them ride and handle well. I don't think your going to improve the truck by putting a lift in it. Lifts make sense for off road use and make absolutely no sense for driving around on the street.

 

3" lift on my truck with 285/70/17's and it rides better than it ever thought about stock and handles just as well if not better

 

Call Toyota corporate because you have defide the laws of physics.

 

Can you post a picture of what your truck looks like with the 3" Rough Country spacers and 2" blocks. Also what size tires are you using? To be honest I'll be using the truck mostly on paved roads and only going off road during hunting season. When I'll be on logging roads.

 

Most of what you'll read here is a case of "if you do it any other way than what I did, it'll explode" nonsense.

I installed a 2" front spacer lift with 1" rear blocks and ran that for 50,000+ miles with NO complaints. It rode identical to the stock ride. (TRD OR) The only real negative is, if you off road hard with 'em, you can bottom out the shocks before you run out of suspension travel. That can potentially cause the shocks to break at their lower mounting point. Personally, I know of NO ONE who's actually done that. Best advice is do NOT go jumping dunes with a spacer lift.

At the 72,000 mile point, I decided the stock shocks were beginning to wear out. I went with Bilstein 5100's set @ 0" lift, then used OME 885 coils for a 2-1/2" (+) lift. On the rear, same 5100's and a Deavers 2" AAL. The ride is a little firmer, but still plenty "plush" for a comfortable highway ride. Off road performance is great. I still don't dive off the tops of dunes....

I got a tick over 2-1/2" of front lift, and got ideal alignment numbers WITHOUT aftermarket upper control arms.... Rear end is sitting 2" higher than stock ride height. It hauls a load better.....The truck actually rides and drives BETTER than it did in stock form.

In spite of what you may hear, you do NOT have to spend $5000 to get a good riding lifted truck. With a rear U-bolt flip kit to boot, I spent less than $800 and wouldn't change a thing.

 

sorry forgot the wheels are 17x9 4.5" bs -12 offset the tires are 285/70/17's and the truck actually does ride better than stock and handle as well or better my usage is the same as yours mainly on road except when i go hunting and some of the logging roads i travel sometimes can be rough but not rock climbing rough

 

Your posts just get more and more stupid. OP had questions and wants a lift - why are you trying to talk him out of it?



A well designed and well installed lift will improve the ride over OEM. Toyota engineered a good suspension but it's not the penultimate in ride quality. The laws of the physics statement

OP I spent a long time pondering suspensions and ended up with the OME kit -887s in front and Dakars in the back. A 3/4 carrier bearing drop got my driveline angles perfect and it rides great. I have an Al bumper, winch and sliders and that setup with top plate spacers got me just under 3" lift. Do your homework and happy building

 

The stock suspension components are a compromise. They AREN'T the best riding parts available. They AREN'T the best load carrying parts available. They AREN'T the best off road capable parts available. They ARE a compromise of lower production cost parts capable of handling what a very stock vehicle will see in average conditions. The concept that Toyota "engineered" them to be the highest performing suspension components known to man is laughable at the very least. Simply ridiculous at most..... One need look no further than the simple fact that stock rear leafs are failing and must be replaced in many cases to see just how inferior they are.....


Oh....and it's DEFIED, not defide.....You'd think a physicist would have at least learned to spell....

 

5100's are softer riding than stock. Paired with 885's makes for less roll in turns and less diving during breaking. Looks better and rides better than stock IMO. I got 2.25"s of lift that way and didn't need UCA's. 1.5" aal returned the rake to 3/4".