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Leveling and Pulling question

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Armyretired25, Nov 9, 2015.

  1. Nov 9, 2015 at 5:48 AM
    #1
    Armyretired25

    Armyretired25 [OP] New Member

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    About to pull the trigger on a 2016 4x4 CM Platinum. I'm trying to get as many mods done by Toyota as possible because those won't be an "extra" to the truck in my wife's eyes. I'm headed in today to talk to them and they quoted me $999.00 for a "leveling Kit" and install. My question is.

    I want to be able to haul (7k utility trailer) at near max with this truck and don't want to have to worry about it due to the leveling kit. Am I correct to say I want to avoid Over Coils for the front and Box in the rear? What's the best combination for front and rear?

    Thank you for nay information you can provide.
     
  2. Nov 9, 2015 at 9:54 AM
    #2
    Airbagged

    Airbagged New Member

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    Camburg UCA Fox 2.5 front Fox 2.0 rear Timbren bump stops 20" wheels Coachbuilders shackles Coachbuilders tie rod ends 46 gallon transfer flow tank Flush bed cover Billet grill LED light bar front Led reverse lights TRD sway bar rear TRD cold air intake Locker down consol safe Towing mirrors Fender flares Magnaflow exhaust TRD shift knob Magnum running boards Paracord wrapped grab handles And more
    Coil overs would be the best way to lift the front, just not the cheapest and surely any decent set won't be installed by a dealer for that price!
    In the rear, a Coachbuilders +1 shackle will level out real good with a 2.5-3" lift. stay away from rear block lifts if possible, cheap blocks don't have a corrected pinion angle so you can throw off your drive line angle. Even good blocks with pinion angle correction built into them can make the rear end less stable because they move the axle further off the leaf spring, not so much an issue with a 1" block, but more than that and it's not really a quality lift. There is also the option for an add a leaf in the rear to get your added 1" or so height to level out, which in your case would help with your towing situation. Only thing with an add a leaf is your ride in the rear will be a little stiff when not loaded. 7k is a decent load so you may want to consider using a trailer leveling system when you tow or once you level your truck it will squat in the rear and bulldog so to speak. Timbren makes a set of load assistance bump stops that I use to keep the rear from squating to much when I tow.
    As for the front, you could do a set of spacers above your factory coil spring setup to add the 2.5-3" but don't forget to have your bump stops spaced down to avoid crushing the shocks if you bottom out your suspension.
    A coil over shock like fox,King, or Icon will be the best option and far more adjustable, but they don't come cheap!
    There is also the option to go with a Bilstein 5100 front shock that has three height adjustments, set to the top notch will get you the 2.5-3" to level out the front with a 3/4-1" rear lift.
    Personally I'm running a set of fox coil overs up front and rear Coachbuilders +1 shackles in the rear, I'm also running Timbren bump stops front and rear and a rear TRD sway bar. I use my truck to tow my camper on a regular basis, and set up the way I have my truck it tows the trailer great, and rides great unloaded.
    I put a picture for visual reference, hope the feed back helps.

    image.jpg
     
  3. Nov 9, 2015 at 12:25 PM
    #3
    FunGuy

    FunGuy New Member

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    I have been reading and trying to understand all this too. I can see many many people trying to do the best lift or level. I was looking at doing the pro shocks to get a good rid and small lift with the truck level. I called bilstein because evey dealership i spoke to seemed to be lost with my questions. I didn't want to lose performance, ride quality, or towing just to pick the truck up a little.

    After talking with some people at bilstein i was give a shock part number 6112 and 5160 as a good combo for our trucks. It levels the truck and gives it a good ride for a fair price. There is a link somewhere on here where a guy sends you a new top control arm to help with the angle change. So far this is what I'm leaning towards. From what I understand this will be 2.5 lift up front, and will give you same to better performance as a stock trd on road and a little better performance off road. I haven't found anyone that can tell me if its better then the pro setup but it is cheaper. If you want a higher lift you may be making a traid off. The bigger tires will hurt you on towing some.

    It seems everyone is looking for that perfect balance and best bang for the buck. I believe im going to stay less then 3" on my lift to keep the towing and performance with ride quality. I keep hearing king makes the best, then you add bigger tires, but then after all that the mpg gets bad. Im already at 14mpg stock. Hope this helps.
     
  4. Nov 9, 2015 at 12:39 PM
    #4
    Airbagged

    Airbagged New Member

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    2015 Toyota Tundra TRD off road DC
    Camburg UCA Fox 2.5 front Fox 2.0 rear Timbren bump stops 20" wheels Coachbuilders shackles Coachbuilders tie rod ends 46 gallon transfer flow tank Flush bed cover Billet grill LED light bar front Led reverse lights TRD sway bar rear TRD cold air intake Locker down consol safe Towing mirrors Fender flares Magnaflow exhaust TRD shift knob Magnum running boards Paracord wrapped grab handles And more
     
  5. Nov 9, 2015 at 12:43 PM
    #5
    Airbagged

    Airbagged New Member

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    Camburg UCA Fox 2.5 front Fox 2.0 rear Timbren bump stops 20" wheels Coachbuilders shackles Coachbuilders tie rod ends 46 gallon transfer flow tank Flush bed cover Billet grill LED light bar front Led reverse lights TRD sway bar rear TRD cold air intake Locker down consol safe Towing mirrors Fender flares Magnaflow exhaust TRD shift knob Magnum running boards Paracord wrapped grab handles And more
    The Bilstein combo your referring to is a good setup but not nearly as good as what comes stock on the TRD pro which is a piggy back reservoir 2.5 series shock.

    Best bang for the buck, and perfect balance aren't really that realistic, if you want a real good ride and good suspension for towing, your going to have to spend some money!
    That's a picture of my front setup for reference, since the pictures I upgraded my tie rod ends to heim joint units made by Coachbuilders

    image.jpg
     
  6. Nov 9, 2015 at 1:00 PM
    #6
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    The ultimate kit that i installed uses the Bilstein 5100 coilover/shocks
    http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Ultimate-lift-for-07-Up-Tundra_p_391.html
     
  7. Nov 9, 2015 at 1:03 PM
    #7
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    Very good explanation. Agree with all of this.
    Spacers for the front are a bad idea. New longer coilovers are the best option.
     
  8. Nov 9, 2015 at 6:33 PM
    #8
    Armyretired25

    Armyretired25 [OP] New Member

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    Well....I'm smarter but yet maybe more confused......One post says stay away from blocks and then the next recommends the ULTIMATE LIFT FOR '07 & UP TUNDRA that includes blocks.

    I went back by Toyota today and sealed the deal, however again all the sales manager could tell me was "It's a Toyota lift, it's good". I asked to speak to the service department manager about this "Good" lift for $999.99 and was told that he had left for the day and I needed to call tomorrow to get a better explanation.

    I just don't wanna sound like an idiot when I talk to this guy or I could get some washers in the front and a lego box in the back. However, he did say that Toyota would warranty it and it would not effect anything warranty wise, which of part of the reason I'm wanting to get Toyota to do it.

    When I say "sealed the deal"....I agreed to a final price and put $1,000 down to have the truck moved here (4 states away) and start work on it, XP Package, blacking all the badges, dual exhaust...etc.

     
  9. Nov 9, 2015 at 6:50 PM
    #9
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I would pin down the sales manager and ask (me-demand) what exactly is this leveling kit comprised of that I'm paying $1K scratch for.
     
  10. Nov 9, 2015 at 6:54 PM
    #10
    Airbagged

    Airbagged New Member

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    Camburg UCA Fox 2.5 front Fox 2.0 rear Timbren bump stops 20" wheels Coachbuilders shackles Coachbuilders tie rod ends 46 gallon transfer flow tank Flush bed cover Billet grill LED light bar front Led reverse lights TRD sway bar rear TRD cold air intake Locker down consol safe Towing mirrors Fender flares Magnaflow exhaust TRD shift knob Magnum running boards Paracord wrapped grab handles And more
    If you look at the link he posted, it gives the option for an add a leaf or blocks.
     
  11. Nov 9, 2015 at 8:26 PM
    #11
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    Correct. I chose blocks as I don't have anything to tow. That will keep my rear suspension feeling smoother without a load. You would do best with the add a leaf.
     
  12. Nov 10, 2015 at 7:26 PM
    #12
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    2"CB shackles, bushings and 1 shim, lockerdown console vault, rear folding seat back mod, snugtop shell with opening side windows, 46g fuel tank, SDHQ sliders and hidden winch, Decked Drawers, Alcan leaf springs and got rid of the interior chrome
    What do you suggest as the best add a leaf? With the camper shell and toolbox I have already on the truck and the added weight I will get with the 46g fuel, I'm thinking that I would not stiffen the ride any noticeable amount. Just interested in some experience based opinions to help guide a purchase...

    Keep on truckin

    Did not intend to hijack this thread, sorry about that
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2015
  13. Nov 10, 2015 at 8:46 PM
    #13
    Airbagged

    Airbagged New Member

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    Camburg UCA Fox 2.5 front Fox 2.0 rear Timbren bump stops 20" wheels Coachbuilders shackles Coachbuilders tie rod ends 46 gallon transfer flow tank Flush bed cover Billet grill LED light bar front Led reverse lights TRD sway bar rear TRD cold air intake Locker down consol safe Towing mirrors Fender flares Magnaflow exhaust TRD shift knob Magnum running boards Paracord wrapped grab handles And more
    You may want to consider a rear airbag setup to deal with your extra weight, and even be able to deal with more if you decide to tow or load up the bed.
     
  14. Nov 20, 2015 at 11:52 AM
    #14
    Armyretired25

    Armyretired25 [OP] New Member

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    Ok...here's an update. I spoke to my Toy dealership and they told me the lift would be a $250.00 kit from readylift, an above coil spacer kit. This is NOT what I want. So I asked if I bought a kit myself would they install it. He told me he'd have to talk to his boss but he was in Atlanta till Monday. So, I called ToyTech and was HIGHLY impressed with there customer service. I spoke to a tech and we came to the conclusion that the
    Ultimate lift for '07 & Up Tundra would be the best way to go. So now I'll call the dealer back on Monday and see if they will install it. I'm still waiting on the truck to get here from NC so I have time to get this ordered and delivered.
     
  15. Nov 20, 2015 at 4:30 PM
    #15
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Get the 10% off by using "BLACKFRI" before 11/30 for 10% off!
     

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