My custom-sourced lift kit

I have not posted for awhile but I now am downloading some Google Photos and wanted to share my lift install. For those of you who are looking for a relatively low cost option without settling for spacers, here's what I came up with. I was also motivated to go ahead with this since I was in need of new shocks and struts. If you compare replacement struts to what I did here, it makes the slightly higher cost pretty justifiable.

FYI I have a 2006 SR5 DC 4WD.

I did not have much disposable cash to throw at my old truck, so I wasn't really able to go all in on a $1000-$2000 lift kit, but did not want to go with the Rough Country spacer kit and and feel like I was sitting on a pile of rocks while driving on the highway.

I first dove right into the front lift and selected Eibach Pro lift struts off of ToyTec, which run $286 WITHOUT the springs. I compressed my old springs and threw them on the new struts, which I set all the way up at the ~3.1" mark.

I drove around for a few weeks with this setup to let them settle and see how I liked em prior to buying anything for the rear (No, I was not intentionally doing the dumb squat trend). Since I was already running with some Sumo Springs helper springs in the rear, which I grabbed off my old 08 Tacoma prior to trade in, I did not want to go with leaf springs. The helper springs do not add any lift, but they do provide less sag when towing or hauling, so I was afraid going with helper springs + upgraded leafs would have the ass end hopping all over the place. For this reason, I went with a 2.5" Rough Country bock kit plus extended U-bolts, which ran roughly $200 total.

To be safe, I also threw on a carrier bearing drop kit from Toytec for ~$20-30.

All together, it rides pretty damn smooth and performs well on and off road. I wouldn't call this an overlanding setup, but it gets you into some tough to reach hunting spots no problem. I've attached some photos below of the truck before and after the rear blocks. The pictures without the canoe on top are without the rear blocks. The pictures with the canoe have the entire lift.

If I have any advise to give for those who are considering something like this....

-I did all of the work myself, which is what really saved money. If you aren't installing, there might not be as much of a payback.

-If you are going to pick one spot NOT to cut corners on, just buy the struts with the springs on. It's a bit more money for WAYYYYYY less headache. Not to mention, it wasn't the "safest" thing I've ever done. Not the dumbest though, so take that as you will. I'll admit it got a bit scary when the bolts on the spring compressor were bending. Save yourself the possibility of extreme injury for the cost of complete struts.

-If you are using these exact struts, I'd consider the 2.5" option rather than the 3.1" option. I like the aggressive look of the front but I don't have much down travel. My tires are also pretty close to my UCA's. They are not rubbing, but they're not far off.

-I in no way claim that this is the best option. The best option is probably to drop a few grand and have a professionally installed full suspension lift. That being said, if you have a bit of cash to put on your truck and you're a DIY 25 year old dumbass that does too much sketchy garage work, fire away.


I hope I'm posting media the right way, I'm new to this. Let me know if there's a better way.