Am I gonna ruin it?

I love driving my TRD Sport. It handles, rides, corners, accelerates, and overall drives awesome, especially for a big truck. BUT, I want to install a 2.5"/1" leveling kit and slightly larger AT tires (285/65/18, probably Nitto TG's). Am I going to ruin the handling and ride of my sport by doing this? If there are any current sport owners that have first hand experience with this, I'd love to hear your opinion.

Thanks

 

raising the center gravity of a vehicle will lower its' cornering capability (as well as having a tire with a taller sidewall). however, overall handling and comfort will be determined by the type of lift that you use. using spacers will give you the worst ride and handling while new coil kits will give you the best ride and handling.

lifts from worst to best (and generally cheapest to most expensive).

• spacers
• shock replacement (such as 5100's)
• shock and coil replacement (such as 6112's)
• full coil kit (such as kings, icons, toytec, etc.)

I have the 5100's at the middle setting and, for my use, they are fine. the ride is a little stiffer than stock, but I don't have any complaints. if I set them at the top setting, the ride might be too stiff and I would be tempted to go with the 6112's or a coil kit (I have used toytec in the past).

 

I've considered the 5100's versus a spacer lift. How much front lift did this give you with them on the middle setting?

 

1.57"

I recommend the 5100's over spacers. the parts cost is a little more, but the install cost should be about the same.

if you use the top setting on the 5100's, you would get 2.24" of lift.

 

It looks like in your avatar picture, your truck has the factory 20's. Are you getting new wheels too?

 

Sorry if this offends anybody with a spacer lift, but I would rather leave it stock than use spacers. Which is why I waited and bought something more worthwhile. Now I’m waiting for my stock tires to wear out before I upgrade. I know you are excited and want that look that you get from a lifted truck. But it’s so much nicer when the lift also performs.

 

+1. Don't cheap out on this. Spend the extra coin - it is worth it.

 

My feeling is the entire truck works so well and reliably, anything I replace has to be as good or better than OEM. It gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling LOL

 

Buy once cry once.
I went with King's have have never regretted it... except when the wife saw the cc statement.

 

That’s what I really wanted but I just couldn’t swing that bill. Ended up with a used set of pro shocks and springs. They’re not the best out there but it’s a damn good start. We’ll see what happens when these wear out. For my use they work really good and better than the standard off-road shocks.

 

I agree with the guys above....do it right once. OP you sound like a guy who appreciates how his vehicle handles and would notice even slight changes for better or worse. I honestly don't think you would be happy long term with a spacer lift. You have a nice rig now...rock that thing stock and just save up for an improvement in both looks and driveability. my .02

 

Yes. I bought a set of 18" TRD off road wheels that I am going to have powder coated satin black, I think. Also considering an aftermarket 20" but I'm really worried about off set. Don't want them to stick out excessively. Flush or very slightly protruding is okay but I'm not a fan of tires way past the fender wells. No offense to anyone, just my personal preference.

Thanks for all of the opinions. Been doing some reading and it sounds like the 6112's are the way to go if I want to maintain ride quality and raise the front to level.

 

I was in this same dilemma a while back. For the money, ride and small investment, Bilstein 5100's are the way to go. Just get a full set, put them in the middle setting for the front, regular shock replacement in rear and you will be golden all the way around. Better ride and control, will feel better than stock and you will be out less than $500 for the shocks. I did the install on mine in my driveway, but I am super mechanical. The ride was WAY better, you can see my posts on it under my profile. I added a single coachbuilder shim on each front 5100 and I have about 1" rake difference between front and back. 381/2" front and 39 1/4 in the rear.

 

You can level if you want, but the 285/65/18 will fit stock. That's what I run on the TRD off road package.

 

And it looks good doing it!

 

Stick to 20+- 30+ offset to keep in wheel well or slightly out, no smaller than +20 offset. Size of tires will play a part as well. I have +20 and the are perfect for me, about an inch or two outside the wheel well with 285/65/18.

 

That looks good! Pretty much the exact look I'm going for. You have no lift at all in the front?

 

2017 SR5 CM w TRD off road package. No suspension changes. New wheels and tires is all. Removed front mud flap is all that was needed. The one behind the front tire didn't need moved but I did take it off. Fuel trophey 18" +20 offset with 285/65 toyo open country a/t II extreme.

 

I decided to stick with Toyota wheels to pretty much prevent them from sticking out too far. I thought I'd use spacers if I needed to bring them out a little. However, your pics have almost convinced me to go aftermarket. Thanks a lot for the pics and the info!

 

By the way jewsNbrews, how did you black out your badges? Plasti-dip, the covers available at stealership, other method?
Thanks

 

I purchased them all on line. I was going to try and paint the old ones but decided to give away on our freebies thread.

 

Steering rack holding up good?

 

yes. you will significantly degrade the ride, handling, acceleration, etc. by doing those things. the weight of E range tires alone will be noticeable.

 

Thats why you wait for your bonus to come in, give her a portion for the house and spend on!

 

When I bought my suspension I made sure to wash, wax and do all maintenance on her car. Then I bought a lawnmower and other care equipment and fired the gardeners LOL! As well as quite a few other things so that she could see I was being a good boy.

 

My buddy has a Ram with his wheels sitting out from the wheel well. That joker looks mean... I drove it and was surprised at how nice it drove. He had his work done at trucktoyz. I am still impressed

 

Just did mine without a lift. TRD PRO Wheels with 275/70/18 KO2s

 

Mine is on a 3.5” Old Man Emu kit with SPC upper control arms and a sway bar delete. The truck rides on 35x12.5s and feels way more planted and sporty than it did stock. Hands down won’t be driving a stock truck ever again haha. I realize this is a bit taller and larger tires than your asking about but just goes to say if you go about it properly you won’t be disappointed. .02

 

Stay away from spacers lifts/leveling kits and if all you want is 285x65x18 wheels you can fit those with out lifting the truck. I ran KO2's in that size without a lift for a few years before I upgraded to a mid travel setup.

5100's, OME, or ToyTec would be a better option for a lift and a 34+-in(295x70x18)/standard 35in tire. If you want to go the next step up you could do a mid travel kit.