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2020 SR5 LIFT KIT IDEAS

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by JXMILEM, Aug 5, 2024.

  1. Aug 5, 2024 at 10:09 PM
    #1
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    Would love to hear everyone's opinion on lift kits...

    I would like a lift kit that I can just bolt on or have a shop bolt on without adjusting the front diff.

    OR

    If someone thinks that's the best way to do it then I'd love to hear why.

    Right now I am considering purchasing just the OEM Toyota Fox Shocks however, I am open to others. Right now I have the Off-Road package on my truck with the OEM Bilstein's.

    I'd like to do 3" in the front and 2" in the rear. I have the TRD pro skid plate upfront with RCI Transmission skid, Fuel Tank skid, and Rear Diff skid plates.

    Any and all opinions are WELCOME!
     
  2. Aug 5, 2024 at 10:25 PM
    #2
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    Is this for looks, use, what? Kinda pointless to ask for suspension recommendations without telling us how they will be used or if you have a budget.

    At 3" you will need a diff drop and new UCA's no matter how you get the height. The rear can be achieved many ways but your use will factor in to that as well.

    The Fox Pro shocks get mixed reviews from folks, some like it since they are made for the Tundra and account for lean, most the negative is for their short life and then needing a rebuild. But those shocks run 2.5k (ballpark) and at that point you could go with these unless @memario1214 has already sold them (link below). But these could be a totally pointless recommendation once you provide more info.

    Not trying to be a dick. But you really haven't provided enough info for any of us to help you narrow your search in a beneficial manner.

    https://www.tundras.com/threads/fs-...ension-15k-mile-takeoffs.145853/#post-3663580
     
    TRDFerguson and JXMILEM[OP] like this.
  3. Aug 5, 2024 at 10:29 PM
    #3
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    I don't think you are being a dick. I don't know what I don't know so that is great info! I want more ground clearance and a better ride. I am willing to purchase UCAs as well. I'd like to keep my budget to 5K and under for everything.
     
    RobertD likes this.
  4. Aug 5, 2024 at 10:43 PM
    #4
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    @memario1214 will be a great vendor to work with and he might be able to work a bundle price for you depending on what you end up doing.

    Honestly if you just want more ground clearance and a better ride. You could save some and do a 2.5" lift up front (should keep you from needing the dif drop or new UCAs, but some shock bodies will need UCAs even at sub 3") if you are mainly on road and want more comfort, these Eibachs have been getting good reviews.
    If you don't have a rear sway bar, look in to the Roadmaster Active Suspension. It will give you some lift in the rear, provide anti-sway, and help when you are loaded. I'd go with their HD so it can be adjusted (i did go with that over the standard).

    Memario1214 is the vendor for Hotshot Offroad, great dude to work with. I'm linking to his site where there is more you can find to buy :spending:

    Link to shocks:
    https://hotshotoffroad.com/collecti...o-truck-coilover-kit-stage-3-4wd-14-21-tundra

    Link to RAS:
    https://hotshotoffroad.com/collecti...s/products/active-suspension-kit-14-21-tundra
     
  5. Aug 6, 2024 at 12:20 PM
    #5
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    Hmmmm…so do you think it would benefit to buy new UCAs regardless?
     
  6. Aug 6, 2024 at 12:25 PM
    #6
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    I'd defer to @memario1214

    But it really will come down to what you want to do. Most folks don't see a need to change the UCA if they can still get the stock one to achieve alignment. But, is it bad to upgrade it before its needed? Not to my understanding. I was just saying if you went to 2.5" instead of 3" up front, you could save some money. It sounds like you are doing this more for looks and comfort then needing the height for travel and off road performance. If the tire size you want fits with the 2.5" lift, that's money you save that could be spent on other mods.
     
  7. Aug 6, 2024 at 12:28 PM
    #7
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    Probably more for looks. However I’d prefer to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

    if I do something to my truck I want it to be done right.

    from my understanding it is the best way to achieve more clearance by upgrading your suspension than to do it any way else?
     
    RobertD likes this.
  8. Aug 6, 2024 at 12:30 PM
    #8
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    I have been off roading a couple of times and lord willing, I haven’t gotten stuck but more height would’ve been nice to have. I have pinstripes all up and down my truck so in the future I’d like to get my entire truck line-x covered.
     
    RobertD likes this.
  9. Aug 6, 2024 at 3:12 PM
    #9
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Staff Member Vendor

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    As @RobertD has stated here there's a bunch of ways to tackle this "problem". Some of these are cheap, some are expensive, some are good, and some are bad. It all comes down to use case. For example, the most common/popular setup that we sell for these trucks is the Bilstein 6112/5160 setup paired with Icon RXT leaf packs. The runner-up is definitely the Eibach Stage 2/2R setups that were alluded to by @RobertD

    I'll try and feel out a little bit of what your use case is here, and then I'll hit you with some options! When you go out in to the woods, are you just rumbling down forest service roads and the like? Do you tow or haul frequently?
     
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  10. Aug 6, 2024 at 3:59 PM
    #10
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    Forest roads, streams, crawling over large rocks on the trail in the woods.

    No towing or hauling ever.
     
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  11. Aug 7, 2024 at 5:40 AM
    #11
    Newmanater90

    Newmanater90 New Member

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    I went with the Elka Stage 2.5 shock kit. It gave me 2.5" up front and 3" in the back.
    Up front I went with the ICON UCAs. In the Back we installed the ICON multi rate leaf kit.

    Overall price was about $5500 for parts.

    I will say that I have put it through the test on the logging roads over the past few weeks and I cant believe how smooth and well handling it is. By far best truck I have owned.

    Truck5.jpg
     
  12. Aug 7, 2024 at 9:17 PM
    #12
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    That looks awesome!
     
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  13. Aug 7, 2024 at 9:19 PM
    #13
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    what do you think….eibachs vs. bilsteins?
     
  14. Aug 7, 2024 at 9:23 PM
    #14
    RobertD

    RobertD SSEM#123, ASCM#4 "I call it Vera" ~Jayne Cobb

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    Eibachs seem to ride more comfortably on road but are a smaller shock body. The Bilsteins should be able to handle more use in an off road setting. Also depends if you want adjustability while installed, the Eibach Pro series shocks can be adjusted while installed but the Bilsteins would have to be removed and taken apart to change which setting you have them at and only have the 4 options. The Eibach you adjust the collar to where you want.

    Both are good choices, just circles back to what you want for your needs.
     
  15. Aug 8, 2024 at 8:20 AM
    #15
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    I am leaning towards the Bilstein shocks. Would I still need to add a leaf in the back?
     
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  16. Aug 8, 2024 at 9:51 AM
    #16
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Staff Member Vendor

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    Again, both are good. I "personally" am a fan of the tighter and sportier ride of the Bilstein setup so I don't think that you'd be going wrong there at all!

    The shocks themselves won't lift the rear, so there's a couple of ways to do it. If you're unladen then the most popular option out there is going to be the Coachbuilder shackle. It'll give you the lift without sacrificing any ride quality. If you plan to tow/haul often I don't really recommend a shackle. At that point, your best options are going to be a full replacement leaf pack, a block, or an AAL. The full pack will be the best of the bunch for ride quality, followed by the block, and then the AAL.
     
  17. Aug 8, 2024 at 8:20 PM
    #17
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    So I'll go with the full replacement leaf pack. What would you recommend?

    Also, what do you think of these?

    https://jbaoffroad.com/jba-hd-hc-upper-a-arms-for-2007-toyota-tundra-2wd-4wd.html
     
  18. Aug 8, 2024 at 9:34 PM
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    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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  19. Aug 9, 2024 at 7:46 AM
    #19
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Staff Member Vendor

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    As far as UCAs go - These Dirt King ones are our current darlings. No crazy frills, and we haven't had a single issue reported with them. You can also pair them with some slick looking anodized caps if you'd like.
    https://hotshotoffroad.com/collecti...ts/ball-joint-upper-control-arms-07-21-tundra
    https://hotshotoffroad.com/products/ball-joint-caps-dirt-king-ucas

    JBA makes a quality product, and they used to be the quality budget option, but the admittedly have crept up in pricing over the past few years making them not quite as much of a no-brainer. BDS has always been known for quality in-house goods, but has always carried the price tag to boot. We can get them for you, but you're not getting anything by paying that higher price point. UCAs are not rocket science so if the arm fits your desired aesthetic and is made of quality components you're gtg.

    Leaf packs - Our favorite right now for a progressive pack is the Icon RXT pack. Have them running on a ton of trucks, and the price point is far below that of the nearest quality option which is the Deaver. Have them on my personal truck as well as a ton of member trucks. They review well overall. They can sometimes get a little noisy, but I have an easy fix for that which you can do right when you get them!
    https://hotshotoffroad.com/collecti...tundra-multi-rate-rxt-leaf-pack-w-add-in-leaf
     
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  20. Aug 9, 2024 at 9:10 AM
    #20
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    OK, this is what I have in my cart at the moment....do I need new bump stops? Also I realized I should say that I have Method Racing 701 that came with a +25 offset I think and I'm running 275/70/R18 tires which are oversized. Am I going to run into any issues with that setup?

    upload_2024-8-9_12-10-5.png
     
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  21. Aug 9, 2024 at 9:44 AM
    #21
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Staff Member Vendor

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    You’re darn close! You’ll need qty 2 of the leaf packs, but other than that they all play nice.

    New Bumpstops are not required. However, they are nice if you decide to run the truck a little harder. They’ll help make the hard run-ups a little less harsh!

    No wheel/tire setup concerns!
     
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  22. Aug 9, 2024 at 5:16 PM
    #22
    BR73

    BR73 Tundra LIFE

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    L/S Grab Handle GCS AT Cooler Kit 295/70 18's TOYO Open Country AT III Bilstein 6112 / 5100 Coachbuilder Shackles 12Volt systems remote start Dasaita Android 13 CF trim / chrome delete Redline shifter boot Stillen CAI
    I have the 6112 / 5100 setup with Coachbuilder shackles and run 295/70 R 18 tires with spacers and no problems
     
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  23. Aug 9, 2024 at 6:07 PM
    #23
    Silver17

    Silver17 Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Eibach pro 2.0s, toytec progressive mini AAL, ARE CX cap, Airlift bags, Harrop Supercharger, 650cc injectors, 77.5mm pulley, SABM, TRD Dual exhaust, Solid Offroad motor mounts, J&L catchcan, Powertrax LSD, FN BFDs with 285/75r18 Kenda R/Ts.
    I had 6112s and rear 5100s on my prior 2010. I have the Eibach pros on my 2017, but don’t have the remote reservoir rears just the standards. I prefer the eibachs personally, but if I was doing a lot more offroad perhaps I’d like the Bilsteins more. For a mostly on road truck the eibachs are definitely a nicer ride though compared to the stiffer Bilsteins IMO. I did have the 6112s at the top setting though so maybe that hurt the ride, I just remember it was more jarring. Probably can’t go wrong either way. You have good feedback here of course, but shock surplus has a lot of great comparison videos on YouTube as well if you wanted to do more research.
     
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  24. Aug 9, 2024 at 6:07 PM
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    QCTundra

    QCTundra New Member

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    Out of curiosity : What is the easy fix to the noisy Icon RTX leaf pack ? :) Thanks !!
     
  25. Aug 12, 2024 at 8:52 PM
    #25
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    OK, probably last question before I purchase from you...If I'm doing 2.5" up front do I need to diff drop? I'm running with the TRD skid plate so I'd like to keep that if possible.
     
  26. Aug 12, 2024 at 9:23 PM
    #26
    memario1214

    memario1214 Hotshot Offroad Staff Member Vendor

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    Nope. You'll be A-OK without one. On these trucks a diff drop actually detrimental as it moves oil away from the pinion gear where it's needed. CV angles are fine.

    Here ya go!
    https://youtu.be/Se7g4UCbZBc
     
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  27. Aug 12, 2024 at 9:33 PM
    #27
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    OK, thank you so much for your input and recommendations! I'm going to put my order in here by the end of the month.
     
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  28. Aug 12, 2024 at 9:35 PM
    #28
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    OK, sweet thank you!
     
  29. Aug 12, 2024 at 9:36 PM
    #29
    JXMILEM

    JXMILEM [OP] New Member

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    OK, thank you for your input!
     

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