Pro Comp Lift on the '06 Taco

[spike6901]

Is anyone running Pro Comp's new lift kit on their 05-06 Taco? I have had mixed feelings about Pro Comp over the years. I had their 6" on a full size Bronco and it was really nice but their leafs seem to be pretty crappy. Also, I wouldn't buy their junk 3000 series shocks and this lift is a coilover type in the front. The description reads that you can fit 35" tires but does not say how much lift it provides.

I ask this becasue I am doing research on whether to get a Taco 4 door or an FJC and am looking at the mods for each. With a 4door taco, it will need a good lift so as not to high centered on everything. I got a full family so I gott have the room for them to join the fun. I realize the FJC will be a better 4wd but I sure would love to have a truck.

Also, how do you feel about running 35's and the strength of the front and rear diff? I would imagine that I would be dropping in 4:56 gears with that size of tire (if that is even possible). I would also imagine that a saw on the fender wells would also be expected but I ain't scard to cut.

Sorry, I am a newb with the new stuff but that is why I am doing my homework. My 40 is also getting jealous with all of this talk.

 

[Good Times]

dunno if any of the 6" kits are available yet. the 35's on the 8" front diff should be no problem except for the gearing. you'll be severely underpowered w/ the v6 motor. I've got the v8 in my 4runner (2003) w/ 35's and it's a bit sluggish. Gears are in the works but no exact ETA yet - hopefully end of the year?

Suspension wise, if you stay within the 3" mark, all 4 models (4runner,GX,Tacoma,FJ) share the front suspension. The rear shares the 4runner/GX to the dot. This means that all lift kits are already available ready to go.

You can't go wrong either way as both are capable vehicles. You should look into the 4runner as well as it's a good blend of the tacoma and fj. The only downside is the lack of the rear locker but nothing an ARB locker purchase can't handle.

Good luck

 

[cedarbarn]

35 inch tires on the 05+ taco are a big problem... The front cab mount will interfere with the front tires regardless of 3" lift or 6" lift. It is not like the 04- tacos, just hammer the pinch weld down. There is no pinch weld in the way, but there is cab mount attached to the frame.

33" tires will clear it all with a 2.5"-3" lift. That is what I am running, it is very capable offroad.

Gear sets are not available for 05+ front diffs.... So stock gearing is all we have right now. My regular cab 2.7 4cyl is 4.10 stock. The v6 trucks are 3.73 if I am not mistaken.

The FJ Cruiser shares the same front end as the 05+ taco, so no gear sets for them either.

 

[cedarbarn]

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention...

15" rims are not an option. The front calipers are too large to clear the rims. Unlike the 04- Tacomas grinding the extra casting off the caliper will not work. 16"+ rims only... AND not all 16" rims will fit. RockCrawler series 51 rims in 16", even the 16x7, will not fit without spacers.

I am running stock 16" steel rims, with 285/75/16 BFG M/T, Sway a Way 2.0 coils up front. The tires will rub the Upper control arm at full droop and full wheel lock. I have 25,000+ miles on this set up with no problems on road or off, just some missing paint.

The OME suspension system looks like a good option, my friend Jacque has the OME set up on his 06 double cab. If you are interested in the OME set up give Chris, Barb, Jacque, or Phil a call at Toyota of Dallas, they will hook you up.

 

[spike6901]

Thanks for the help. I run into the same problem with my wife's Heep Liberty. I lifted it and 31's are max and that is after cutting the pinch welds.

33's are big enough for my taste anyway on a daily driver. I also assumed that there were not gears out yet for the front diff. so thanks for confirming. If I go with 33's, maybe the Toy. 410's will be enough with the V6. I wonder if I can special order it with 410's? I definatly trust OME over ProComp anyday too.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

[70seriesaddict]

33" tires will clear it all with a 2.5"-3" lift. That is what I am running, it is very capable offroad.

So which lift kit are you running?

Will you go to solid front once a swap is available?

 

[cedarbarn]

I have Sway A Way 2.0" adjustable front coil overs. The rear is an add a leaf, with OME shocks for an FJ80.

Chris King (Valkyrie) and I figured out how to lift the truck... Back when nothing was on the market for it yet. I purchased the SAWS off of a 4th generation 4 runner. We could not find any rear shocks for it, everything was less travel than the stock rear shocks... Untill we glanced over at his FJ80 and the lightbulb went off. They fit, with same compression length, but an additional 2 inches or so of downtravel.

If I had it to do all over again, I would go with an OME set up all around.

The SAWS are a great product, but for what I do the OME set up would work fine.

Since the lift and shocks are not designed for the weight of the truck, the ride is stiff. It is working fine for me since I carry a lot of tools, etc.

 

[cedarbarn]

Currently I dont see any need for a solid front swap. The truck itself is a lot more capable offroad than I am. If I get to the point where my driving skills start exceeding the capabilities of the truck, then a swap may be an option.

When I get the $$ I will buy an aftermarket Unibal Upper control arm, (Camburg, Total Chaos, and Allpro manufacture them) Everyone is finding that with a 3" lift on the 05+ trucks the alignment numbers cannot be within spec. This has not been a problem for me, I have over 25,000 miles on the lift, with no strange tire wear. The aftermarket UCS's are designed to allow alignment within spec, with a 3" lift.

 

[2Tense]

The aftermarket UCS's are designed to allow alignment within spec, with a 3" lift.

I too read alot of posts on different forums regarding the alignment numbers. I have DR's @ 3" of lift, took the truck to an alignment shop and there was no mention of not getting it within tolerance. Looking at it, the tires sit flat, no crazy wandering, no unusual wear after putting 6,000 mile on.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[cedarbarn]

I too read alot of posts on different forums regarding the alignment numbers. I have DR's @ 3" of lift, took the truck to an alignment shop and there was no mention of not getting it within tolerance. Looking at it, the tires sit flat, no crazy wandering, no unusual wear after putting 6,000 mile on.

Just my 2 cents...

That is good to know. I have not had any trouble with my alignment... But others have.

 

[spike6901]

Back again...

I was hoping to revist this topic now that the time is near. I will be getting a 4 door taco and will beat the hell out of it. It is going to be trying to keep up with modified 40's.

I definatly want 5-6" of lift and right now there are two choices that I know of: Fabtech and Procomp Stage 2. I have heard mixed reviews of both kits (in general, not specific to this truck) but have seen a Fabtech kit and it was impressive to say the least. I had a Procomp on a Bronco and it was very nice.

They cost about the same so that really isn't a deciding factor. Does anyone run either of these kits? Were you able to fit 33x12.5's under it (I mean really fit without flairs, not just on the road)? I guess that really dosen't matter that much because I am not afraid of cutting them.

Thanks for you help!

 

[cedarbarn]

There are a few guys on the www.ttora.com forum that are running the pro-comp and fabtech lifts. As far as I know they are street queens.

 

[spike6901]

I read some stuff about the installs on these kits and holy beans! For an average guy, it looks like a weekend will probalby not be enough time and there looks to be some extra expanses that will be thrown in as well. I guess that is the price that must be paid for such a radical kit.

I did read, however, that the Fabtech kit actually reduces your wheel travel up front and I got to thinking about going a different route. Perhaps just a 2-3" coil kit, some fender modifications and 33's would be the way to go. Throw in some ARB's and you probalby still come out cheaper.

 

[MiniNate]

Just spent an outing with the trail team and man are those fjc's cool.