Tacoma needs a lift....

[CruisinGA]

Good buddy just picked up a '97 4wd Tacoma Xtra cab. Sweet drivin truck. Now it needs a lift pretty badly, what have yall used/are using, or have heard works well. He is on a budget (soon to be college student).
Probably run 289's or 32's.

 

[BenLC]

Cheap would be a spacer lift with an add-a-leaf.
A real good one is www.cornfedsuspension.com, or revtek make a good set.

If you can spend a little more I would look at OME with the 881 0r 882 coils and the N91 shocks with either a full leaf pack or an add-a-leaf. Just do some searches and you will find some good articles on the pros and cons of both.

 

[tacorocker]

Revtek makes an awesome 3 in lift for tacomas. I installed one on my 99 x-cab in december and still havent gotten over how cool it is. It actually improves the ride and handling characteristics of the truck and also improves articulation on the trail. I am running 33x12.50s right now with minimal rub (fenders while turning in the parking lot, very minor). The best part is, its cheap! (btw, I am a college student) Check out the manufacturers site for details, and wheelers offroad for a great deal on it.

www.revtek.com
www.wheelersoffroad.com

Good luck, I look forward to another taco growing up.
Eric

 

[CruisinGA]

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now we are considering that Revtek lift, and a combo of OME struts up front with blocks/add a leaf in the rear.
I'll let ya know how it turns out.
Any gearing issues with the 33's? I don't know the gearing on the truck.

 

[NW-sickboy]

OME @ cruiseroutfiiters.com

 

[tacorocker]

I have the 4 cyl (22RE?) and the drop in power after installing the 33's was noticable but not enough to be detrimental. It still rolls fine in the mountains, have to use 4low a bit more on the trails, but other than that the gearing is just fine. Oh, I topped it out today and could only get it around 85 mph on the freeway, compared to the electronically limited 105 I was getting with 31 inch tires. That will just keep me more of a law-abiding citizen I guess.

Eric

 

[CruisinGA]

Yeah he's got the 3.4L V6, the thing fawkin BURNS my worn out F. He should have power to spare with 33's.
Got it stuck for the first time this past weekend
Thanks for the ideas guys.

 

[offroadkid]

Go to www.ttora.com if you haven't already. It's a Nationwide Tacoma club. You can join the chapter in your state, and there's a message board with tons of info.

 

[Gus]

I have a 2001 Tacoma Extra Cab TRD with the V6 and 5-speed with the 3" Cornfed lift. The kit comes with everything you'll need, spacers, add-a-leafs, diff drop kit and all the necessary brake adapters. The truck rides a little stiffer, similar to a 3/4 ton full size, with the kit. I also installed Daystar greasable shackles on the truck, these things make a significant difference in the ride, they are well worth the $$$. Engine power suffers a little bit, I really only noticed the loss of power at top end, i.e. going up a long steep hill at 65 in fourth gear floored, you will lose some speed. I'm running 285-75R/16 (roughly 33x10.5) Bridgestone MT's on 16x8 Wheelers Off Road Steelies with 3.75" back spacing; the front tires rub on the back of the fender flare under any kind of suspension compression while turning. I wouldn't recomend 33's with only 3" of lift, the rubbing is really annoying, go with 32's, or you can do as I am, run the 3" suspension kit with a 2" body lift and have plenty of clearance for the 33's. All in all, I'm much happier with the Tacoma lifted than in stock configuration. As for options, BLOCKS SUCK, I had them in my Tacoma for a couple months and didn't like the sh!tty ride; add-a-leafs and shackles increase your load capacity and provide a better ride. Coilovers are very sweet, they giv you great ride and provide 3" of lift for the front of the truck, If you can afford them, buy them, I highly doubt you would regret it. If the money is available the ultimate is the Fabtech or Trailmaster 6" lifts (roughly $1500-$1800), plenty of clearance for 33's (35's will rub), you still retain a lot of the stock suspension parts so the ride is pretty good.

 

[CruisinGA]

Good deal, thanks Gus.
I think my buddy is going to try to save for some coilovers up front and slap some add a leafs out back.
I rode in a 4skinner with the Sway A Way coilovers up front and the ride was frickin awesome. We were jumpin it and you would never know it left the ground.

 

[desertdude]

these dudes seem to have something: http://www.donahoeracing.com/prod_detail.php?productID=14

buy the best and cry once

 

[desertdude]

PS you can price/buy them here: http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/donahoetoy.htm

 

[Gus]

Wheelers Off Road kicks a$$, I've ordered a bunch of stuff from them for my Taco, great selection of gear, decent prices and fast delivery

 

[calamaridog]

Definitely have him check out TTORA, and the Georgia Chapter. Spacers suck, but the best ones by far are Cornfed. Coilovers, such as KING and Donahoe's, are by far the best. Better than the SAWS (sway away). I run the KINGS and love them. They are adjustable up to 3" of lift, maximum recommended with the IFS. The OME set-up is also very good if he is on a budget. Whatever you do, use AAL or a new leaf pack in the rear, not a block.

 

[dirtrider15]

3" toytec lift, 882 OME coil lift, and 2 inch block rears, looks good and rides perfect, and full lift for $300

 

[Mars]

If he can swing it, stay away from spacers. If you are going to upgrade the suspension you should actually upgrade it, not just lift up higher, IMHO.

An in between option, price wise between spacers and the coil overs is to use Tundra springs/shocks up front. Fairly cheap lift, gets the height you need, and improves ride over the worn out Taco springs he's probably got now.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=163367&highlight=tundra
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=181802&highlight=tundra

Some info on it...

When I lift mine, it will be this lift, and complete new springs/shocks in the rear. Add a leafs just seem like a temporary fix to me. I'd rather spend the cash on nice leafs in the rear, and save up for the coilovers later.

BTW...285/75/16's or any 33" tire will rub like mad if you drive it outside the parking lot with only 3" lift. Some trimming and another 1" body lift just about clears it.

 

[Mars]

Wow...talk about a thread resurrection...I'm guessing he's already taken care of this...

 

[snoopandmike]

I would go with the OME......I put it on my 04' and love it.....I first had a set of 285's on and ran the complete con with no real issues.....have updated and put 315's on and had to do some minor trimming and incorporate spacers but still works great.