Bilstein 4600 or 5100

5100 front strut has a detachable perch and 3 notches for perch circlip in the tube. On my gen2 I put it in the middle position that gives me 1.5" of lift and much harsher ride than I had with the stock TRD Offroad 4600.

Get a spring compressor like that one. Al the suspension work will be totally DIYable. In fact, dealing with the springs is the easiest part of the whole suspension work with this kind of compressors.

$120 8MILELAKE Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Kit Interchangeable Fork Coil Extractor Tool Set

https://www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Macpherson-Spring-Compressor-Interchangeable/dp/B01DP2CDJU

 

I agree gag on the block. Would never do that
So it sounds like I would only want to do 1 inch on the front since I want to keep the existing rake
so I add a leaf? One thing leads to another ha ha

 

You could add a leaf. It's a do-able option. The Icon 5110 will give you about 3/4" lift in the rear in an ideal situation, removing the overload (large flat piece at bottom of OEM spring pack).

Depending whether you're 4WD or 2WD, which circlip setting you can use with the 5100 varies. I can post up a chart of what's advised and what you should never do if you intend to go that route.

However, the 4600s with an Old Man Emu (OME) 2884 spring and Icon AAL out back should get your DC up about 1" at all four corners. This setup may be something Josh @ 1st Gen Offroad would pre-assemble for you if you want plug-and-play install.

 

Not really wanting an extremely harsher ride. I’m getting more and more confused. I didn’t think tundras had struts

Arent the yellow ones 4600’s?

just looking for the best way to get Bilsteins with a little bit stronger suspension than stock with a 1 inch or so lift on front and back

 

yes plug-in play would be great. It is a 2W/RWD, so not off-road

 

OK I found this on the 1stGEN site

 

Yeah, that's not a good kit for you. He won't have what you need on the site as part of an existing package, I checked. He can piece things together though, I think, based on other people's shopping experiences.

You may just want to give Josh a holler, I think he can set you up with everything you need for a bolt-on solution, including sending you pre-assembled struts at a small ~$200 upcharge or whatever. But before you do that, two things....

ONE:

Spring-wise, knowing you're a DC but 2WD (i.e. lighter) and don't plan to add any weight, you'd want to stick with OME 2884 spring, should ballpark you around ~1" lift give or take a quarter inch. A lot of people may push toward the 2885, but I suspect you'll land at ~1.75" of up front using Bilstein 4600 or 5100.

Josh owns a couple of double cabs himself, although 4WD. If you can get him on the horn, tell him what you want lift-wise, I'm sure he can advise you. Just make sure he understands yours is 2WD, and you don't plan on installing any armor up front, but you also don't want a hella big lift. But you're going to spend a small chunk, I'd guess $1,500-$1,800(ish), for this setup

TWO:

Your least expensive option (IMO) but a decent choice if you don't want to deal with all the bullshit or headaches that come with lifting is just to slap in a strut spacer up front and AAL out back, then buy a pre-assembled 4600 kit I mention in this earlier reply to refresh your springs and shocks: https://www.tundras.com/threads/bilstein-4600-or-5100.129849/#post-3308462

I know a lot of people will say "eeeewww strut spacer!", but it makes more sense when levelling. It's what @abcinv is using on his DC, it looks awesome, lets him run larger tires (275/70r17) without any significant rub, and he gets compliments all day long. He may be able to look back thru emails and see exactly which puck/spacer he chose. You're looking at ~$700 for the 4600s assembled with OEM springs, $200 for the add-a-leaf out back, and probably $150-250 on the strut spacer.

Here's his truck: https://tnstatic.net/attachments/user213395_pic18369_1490836465-1-jpg.555855/

 

2019 TRD Offroad came with 4600s in stock. I replaced them with 5100 to have at least stock ground clearance with all the stuff I mounted on truck (bumper, winch, skids, cap) and camping gear. It rode harsher immediately after converting to 5100 w/ 1.5" lift, on the same Michelin LTX tires. A proper AT tires made it only worse.

I liked how it rode on 4600s. Very comfortable, on par with my old Volvo.

 

When you say give Josh a holler, I just call 1stGEN?

 

I'm not sure how others have gotten in touch with him. "Holler" is just my way of saying reach out. Email, call, whatever gets through I guess. These days I feel like everyone wants to text or email, ever since smartphones really hit the mainstream.

info@1stgenoffroad.com

737-932-0532

 

yes, I had found that on the website after you said to give him a holler.

got him immediately. We went over all of the options, and it is already being prepared,

he was as advertised – fantastic

thanks again, shifty and all of the other contributors. I learned enough to make an intelligent decision, along with Josh’s help in f course

 

Thank you. I moved post as you suggested.