Netmonkey's build thread 2.0

So, I got a good bonus this year and I made a big change to my truck...

My previous lift was very conservative because I have to park in a parking garage in downtown Austin. I was afraid to lift too much. So, I had a friend ride in the bed of the truck and measure the clearances while I drove through the parking garage. We found that the lowest point with the least amount of clearance was the bar at the entrance to the garage. At that point, I had an extra 5 inches of clearance.... plenty of room for a larger lift and tires

I chose the Icon Stage 2 kit and the Icon Delta Joint upper control arms for the lift. I also chose Fuel Krank wheels and 295/60/20 Ridge Grapplers. A local shop gave me a great deal on everything and I could not pass it up.

I had read some reviews about the Icon's being too stiff of a ride, but I have to say that the Icons are absolutely amazing. Before, I had the 5100's on the middle setting and these Icon's are so much smoother than the 5100's were. It is unreal how much more compliant this setup is. Freeway cruising is amazingly smooth and the low speed bumps are no worse than the 5100's.

I was on the fence between 295/60/20 (34") and 295/65/20 (35") tires. However. I am glad that I went with the 34's. I only had to do a minimal amount of trimming (see my trimming thread) and my speedometer is only off by 2mph at 60mph (3.3%). Also, I only lost about 1mpg coming from a 295/55/20. Now the mileage is in the low 14's.
I did feel the power loss going up to the 34's. I cant image how it is for you guys with 35"+ tires. I can definitely see why you would want to re-gear

So here is where I am at now: 2016 sr5, Texas Edition, Crewmax, 2wd, MGM

• Icon Stage 2 lift kit - 3.5" in front, 2" in the back with Icon mini pack and shackles
  
• Icon Tubular Delta Joint upper control arms
• +2 Coachbuilder shackels: https://www.tundras.com/threads/installed-coachbuilder-shackles.66757/
• Fuel Krank wheels. 20x9 +20mm offset
  
• 295 60 20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
• DAP Tuned
• ********* system 1B audio system: https://www.tundras.com/threads/*********-system-1b-detailed-installation-and-reviews.29358/
• Sound matting - Detailed installation: https://www.tundras.com/threads/sound-matting-detailed-installation.31297/
• TRD dual exhaust - Detailed installation: https://www.tundras.com/threads/trd-dual-exhaust-detailed-installation.11546/
• TRD rear sway bar
• Valhalla's catalytic converter shields - Installation thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/valhallas-catalytic-converter-shield-installation.90578/
• Front dash camera: Garmin 55 - old install thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/das...90-installation-and-review.12759/#post-233769
• Rear dash camera: Garmin 55 - https://www.tundras.com/threads/rear-dash-cam-installation.41816/
• Front bumper liner trimming - https://www.tundras.com/threads/trimming-front-bumper-liner-and-mudflaps.63755/
• Automatic tailgate lock
• Drivers side grab handle
• Tint front side windows at 33%
• Tint visor strip at 25%

Here it is now:












right about 3 inches of clearance to the front liner:



about 1/2 inch of clearance at full lock. i am glad that i trimmed that liner


1 inch of clearance to the cab mount:


still plenty of room for the trimmed mud flap:


Thanks for looking

 

Great build! The suspension looks sexy down there.

 

How did you trim the liner?

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/trimming-front-bumper-liner-and-mudflaps.63755/

 

looking good

 

I like the look nice job. How does it ride?

 

Many people report that the Icon's are a stiff ride, but I have to disagree. Before the icons. I had the 5100's on the middle setting and those were really stiff at all speeds. The icons are a little stiff at slow speeds (under 20mph), but certainly no stiffer than the 5100's. Once you hit about 50mph, the ride is absolutely smooth; it is firm but compliant. It really is amazing. On the freeway, the 5100's were jarring, but the difference with the Icon's is night and day. Cruising on the freeway with the Icon's is so comfortable... it is a whole new experience.

 

Nice build yo! Getting something similar done in about 2 weeks.

 

Nice looking truck, good to see what another 2wd owner has done. I’m still exploring my options but definitely giving Icon a serious look. Though I have to say, I find their website very confusing. It’s sometimes hard to tell the differences between their different stages.

You mentioned in your original post that you have 3.5” up front — I thought their stage 2 package only went up to 3”? I’m not familiar with the “mini pack” you mentioned, is that providing additional lift?

 

Thanks

Yeah, Icon has 10 different kit stages; each one a little bit different than the previous one. Sometimes, it is a difference of just the rear shock. If you read the descriptions, you should be able to make sense of them.

With any adjustable coil, you can turn the collar to give you a specific lift height. For the Icon's, they say to limit the lift to 2" of exposed thread above the collar. When I had them installed, it was set at about 2" above the collar and that gave me 4.125" of lift. This was too much and it made the front of the truck sit way higher than the rear. So, I lowered the front down to 3.5" of lift. Since my truck is 2 wheel drive, I don't have to worry about the CV joint angles so 3.5" is doable. If my truck was 4 wheel drive, I would have kept the lift at 3". Also, if I was going to do any offroading, I would lower the lift to 3".

The Icon mini pack is a partial leaf spring replacement. The mini pack comes with 3 leafs that replace the 2 middle stock leafs. So, you go from a 4 leaf spring pack to a 5 leaf spring pack. This is supposed to give you 1-1.5" of lift. However, I only got about 1/2" of lift in the rear. So, to balance out the front and rear, I added the +2 Coachbuilder shackles. This added another 1.5" of lift in the rear. So now, the truck sits at 3.5"/2.0" of lift.