2/1 or 2.5/1.5 with 5100's

I purchased the 5100 Boss kit from Boss4x4s that includes the Boss/Toyotec shackles, plus I ordered one extra shim to have a total of 4.

I am trying to decide on going with the middle setting up front with 1 shim or 2, and then going with 1" or 1.5" in the rear depenging on if I use 1 shim or 2 in the front. I want at least 1" of rake since I tow a heavy wakeboat in the summer every weekend. Right now stock, I am sitting at 2" of rake, and no Tundra lean but my truck only has 32k miles on it.

Which route would you go and would the 5100's in the rear handle the 1.5" lift o.k. in the rear?

Depending on how much my truck squats this summer the first time I pull my boat, I may add airbags to the rear if needed.

I decided on the 5100's since my truck is a pavement queen and it will hardly ever see and trail riding. At most it will see are gravel roads to the hunting camp and all the boat ramps I use are nice concrete ramps.

 

Man I really want to know the answer to this as well. I have these shocks in my cart right now.

 

If you want to do the 1.5", I would go with a rear shock with a little more travel. You might be ok going just .5" over, but I would rather not chance prematurely killing the shock due to over travel.

 

I'm curious about the rear as well. What happens to a 5100 at 1.5 or even 1.25 (think Coachbuilder 2" shackle)

 

I can tell you a 1" block can blow out a stock shock in less than 25k miles. I found out the hard way when I had my 2012.

 

I consulted with David @Coachbuilder1 and Darren at Boss4x4’s on my lift options. This is what I came up with:
5100’s all around, front on middle setting with one shim on driver’s side. This should give me a little over 1.5” of lift.
Added Coachbuilder +2 shackles in the rear, which would be 1.25” lift. After I add a new cap in the spring (200#), that drops the rear approximately 1/2”, that gives me 3/4” of total lift in rear. This would all equate to a 1 1/4” rake.

 

So they recommend the 5100's to be used over 1" in the rear or only because you are running the cap which will drop it below 1"?

If they recommend for the 1.25 m" CB +2 shackle, surely an extra 1/4" using the 1.5" setting on the Toyotec shackle will not hurt anything?

 

Yeah, I’m not sure about, it never came up in any of our conversations. Probably because I’d be just under the 1” threshold for the shocks. If I didn’t add a cap, I’d add 1 coachbuilder shim per side up front and still have the +2 shackles. I don’t think it would be an issue as I don’t do a lot off road. Get ahold of Toytec and see what they think. Plenty of people run those shackles at 1.5”.

 

I talked to Darren at Boss about his Bossed Out 5100 kit. Really nice kit. I asked about running the 5100's with 1.5" of lift. He said it would be fine, Bilstein is conservative on their specs. If your concerned go measure the length of your shock at ride height, then get the Bilstein specs for full collapse and extension ( I believe 4WP has them on their site), that will tell you how much travel you will have.
I was going to go with his kit but I really wanted easier adjust ability so I ended up going with Fat Bob's Garage 5100 kit that doesn't require removal to adjust height. I am going to go with a 1.5" block for now but that may change to AAL in the future.

 

Was thinking of going with the 6112s at 1.9” setting and 5160s in the rear with1.5” CB shackles. No need for a diff drop.

 

Just did this except with rear 5100 and 1” on shackle. Drives and rides amazing. Even on a brand new truck.

 

Any pics available? What size tire are you running with that set up?

 

Stock 275/55/20 at the moment. Will be going with a 295/55/20 soon. May add a 1” spacer as well.



Before and after

 

Beautiful truck!

 

Thank you, Sir!

 

Yeah, I had asked too when I initially talked to him prior to purchasing. Just curious since I really can't find any confirmed people running it at 1.5" on the Toyotec shackles. I see a few with the CB +2's.

 

Just what I have learned about the Bilstein's, they have nearly the exact same extended and collapsed specs as the OME shocks which are good for up to 2.5" of lift in the rear. As said by @TrooperDC4x4 , Bilstein is a little conservative. You should be fine. I'm running 5100's in the rear with a 1.25-1.5" AAL. Going to switch to 6112/5160 combo in the future with some Deaver's or Shackles I think.

 

Just be careful. Toyota is notorious for blaming others for warranty issues. If something happened to the rear and they see you are using the wrong shock. They will try to blame that.

Hell I hit the dome cap off on accident with a maul handle. I hit both parts of the light trying to make sure I didn’t loosen it. Long story short, I blew a fuse. So I stopped in to grab a fuse since I was driving past. Tech said oh I see you wired your dash camera into the fuse box. This will cause issues. I told him yeah 6 months ago. Then said what really happened. Just shows they immediately try to blame someone else.

 

I'm currently running 5100 leveling shocks up front on the middle setting. I have 5100s for the rear sitting in a box in the garage. The @BOSS4x4s rear leaf adjustable shackle should be here today along with the @BOSS4x4s shims. I will install the shackle at the highest setting. 1.5", and install two .25" shims on the driver's side and one .25" shim on the passenger's side. These shims are good for .5" of lift each. I will also be setting the 5100s up front on the highest setting, 2.5"..ish I believe. That should put me a hair under 3" up front. I still haul and tow so I want some rake. I will also be installing 18x9 305/65-18 rims and tires.

 

See my response.

 

I will be and will post pics this weekend when I finish the install.

 

I was planning on installing mine Saturday at a friend's shop, but our local Mardi Gras parade will be going on Saturday so will try for Sunday or the weekend. Looking forward to seeing the pics! Hopefully it will help me decide what height to go with.

 

I will do the rear Saturday after work and the front Sunday morning. I'll post pics then in my build thread.

 

Just remember rear 5100’s are good for up to 1” of rear lift. If you go higher look at the 5160’s for up to 2” or icons for up to 3”.

 

I believe the 5100s are: https://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/bilstein-5100-vs-bilstein-heavy-duty.cfm

Bilstein 5100 (listed for 0 - 2" lift)
Collapsed length: 15.33 in
Extended length: 24.8 in
Travel: 9.5 in

The OEM shocks on the Sport are:

Stock replacement (Bilstein 4600) TRD shocks.
Collapsed length: 14.98 in
Extended length: 24.45 in
Travel: 9.47 in

I'm unsure as to what the OEM non-TRD Bilstein shock(s) parameters are.

So going with a 1.5" shackle shouldn't be an issue for the 5100s.

 

I read your link. It says they are 1” longer than oem stock for a small lift. Like I said a 1” lift. They will be fine for your appplication.

 

As of right now, I have decided on 2.5" front with the 1.5" in the rear, it may change this evening to 1" in the rear after measuring the front change once the 5100's with 2 shims each side are installed this evening.

Right now my measurements are 36.5" front and 38.5" rear on both sides.
Dimensions are based from the ground to underside of my fender flares, and my stock tires are 285/55r20's.

Here are the before pics, after pics will come tomorrow once install is finished:

 

Raised Bilstein 5100s to top setting, added two @BOSS4x4s shims to the driver's side and one to the passenger's side. Also installed the @BOSS4x4s rear shackles on the top setting and installed Bilstein 5100s in the rear. Here are before and after pictures...


Bilstein 5100s middle setting stock rear:



Bilstein 5100s top setting two @BOSS4x4s shims on the driver's side and one on the passenger side, @BOSS4x4s shackles top setting and Bilstein 5100s in the rear:

​

 

So want to do this with mine.

 

I will try to post pics tomorrow if it's not raining here.

After installing the 5100's on the front at the middle setting with 2 shims and Toyotech shackles set on the 1.5" setting, I am now sitting at:

DF = 39"
PF = 38 3/4"
DR = 41"
PR = 40 1/2"

Dimensions are based from the ground to underside of my fender flares, and my stock tires are 285/55r20's.

I gained 2" in the rear with the shackles set on the 1.5" setting like @r1-superstar did. I was going for 1"-1.5" to keep some rake for towing. Now I will see how it settles in the next few days. I guess since I still have about 2" of rake, I won't need airbags for towing.