New to Tundra and i'm an idiot. Halp.

For background, I just hit 30 and have no idea what im doing. I just bought my first Tundra after some serious repair abuse from my previous vehicles. I'm coming from an Audi S4. Before that I owned an A4, VW passat and Jetta. So I legit have zero understanding of trucks or lifts or anything. Treat me like a retard. I am a retard. I accept and own it. I am sorry.

ANYWAYS so I just bought this tundra because I've been severely abused by volkswagen and audi repair bills and finally just wanted to go to something that is 1000% reliable and everywhere I read says that is the Tundra. So, i bought a tundra. Yay. It is sexy and I like it. Just a basic truck that will do what i want for a couple hundred thousand miles without raping me with a minimum of 1k bills every couple months. (Legit the S4 left wiper broke and it was a 1400 dollar repair.)

So, FINALLY, to the question. I keep seeing the 3/2 lifts for the tundra and i've looked at like before and after photos and I really like it. Can someone just link me a Hey, Buy this. This is what you want. I dont want spacers that will fuck the truck up. I dont plan on going offroad but do plan on moving to Oregon soon where there is lots of off road logging trails and soft sand beaches and sand dunes etc etc. Someone just tell me what to buy. Please. I am an idiot.

Love you.
katkill3r

edit: just realized should probably tell you about the truck. 2018 sr5 crewcab. Stock from what I can tell.

Edit #2 heres a pic dont be dirty. https://imgur.com/4stzEt0

Edit #3 budget under 2000. Obiously less is better but more like best value for price is what i'm looking for.

 

First thing everyone is going to ask is what is your budget

 

Welcome from Western NC.

 

Under 2k. Like 2k is the high end would prefer under 1k. But I plan to own this thing forever so if i have to sink some money into it and it's worth it then i'm cool with it.

 

Welcome! Depending on budget, a quick easy way to lift 2 or 3 inches up front without going with spacers is a Bilstein 6112 coil over. For the rear match it with Bilstein 5160 and get a set of rear spring shackles.
Simple, reliable, straight forward to install and not going to break the bank.

 

This is what I went with. A lot of people run the 6112/5160 https://boss-offroad.com/i-30498926...eceive-tracking-within-5-7-business-days.html

 

If you want it to be as reliable as possible.....leave it stock.

if you have to have a lift, get bilstein 6112 in the front and 5160 in the rear

 

This, This is what I wanted. Thank you. Can you walk me through some of the options? Diff Drop? Brake line and ABS wire relocation kit? Billet Clamps? Front sway bar relo kit? Shackle Bushing? UCAs? I know this is a lot to ask, and i wouldnt ask it if i wasnt an idiot. thanks!
?BI

 

I believe you will need a diff drop if you have a 4x4, I did not use a brake line or abs relocation kit. The clamps are what are used to hold the rear shock and reservoir together. You’ll get mixed opinions on upper control arms. “Usually” you don’t need them with under 3 inches in the front

 

What part of Oregon are you moving too? Maybe wait till you get here. Ironman USA headquarters is in Wilsonville. Their Foam Cell Pro stage 2 kit with upper control arms and new rear leafs is right about your price point. The coil overs are rebuildable. I have zero personal experience with this kit on a Tundra but have their stage 3 on my wife's 2019 4Runner.

Link for the various kits they have. https://ironman4x4america.com/categ...=pricedesc&Make=Toyota&Model=Tundra&Year=2019

They are sold and installed by the majority of the local Toyota dealers as well.

Welcome to Oregon when you get here.

 

I actually grew up on the Oregon Coast and lived in Oregon until mid twenties and had to leave for work. But dear god do I miss Oregon. So when I say I plan to be in Oregon soon, I am trying everything I can in my professional career to get back to Oregon. As of now theres no set date, other then that I'm sad when I go to sleep that I am not in Oregon.

 

Okay so I have the 4x4 so yes of diff drop. Do i need the clamps for the rear shock and reservoir or no? Like ill get it if its needed but if its just unnecessary bs ill skip it.

 

Welcome from NY.

You can start here or send a PM to @Toytec Lifts and tellthem what you want to do and spend.

 

I believe it comes with some cheap Hose clamps. I think I bought these

 

couldn’t resist

 

Call Wheeler’s Off Road and talk to them. I’m not going to get into what’s best, everyone has their own opinion.

I went with the Eibach Pro Truck shocks and springs. Also the Icon expansion pack. I got 2.5-3” lift in the front and about 1-1.5” in the rear. I did this for about $900 (good sale at Wheeler’s).

Bilstein is the popular route here, but I had two different site vendors both tell me they thought the Eibach setup was a better value without sacrificing much performance.

Per Wheeler’s, I did not do a diff drop, brake line extension or carrier bearing drop. Stock UCAs and no alterations to the sway bar.

 

No to diff drop. You really don't wanna change the angle and put stress on the pinion gear. Better to have the added stress (from increased angles due to lifting the truck) on the CVs. Easier and cheaper to replace a CV than gears. That said, for either CV or gears to fail is very uncommon.
Tundras have very narrow leaf springs and they go flat very quickly IME. Therefore, I think an expansion pack (Deaver makes one) is better than just shackles. Shackle are however, still better than a block.
Just $.02 from a fellow idiot.

 

From your earlier posts it seems like you don’t do your own wrenching. With even the cheapest coilover 3/2 set up, you are going to be looking at $2000 installed.

And you haven’t even put tires on it yet. 3/2 lift on stock tires is pointless for logging roads / beach.

If you want dead reliable, then just throw a pair of good AT tires on it, and call it done.

 

Welcome to the forum and welcome to Oregon, neighbor. You have bought a great truck and it looks fantastic, as is. I know it is so tempting to begin the modifications and I can tell that you will. You mention the Oregon coast, sand, logging roads, etc. But, you don't mention where you are moving to in Oregon. It is a really wild state still and lots of topography differences depending on where you will live, work and recreate. I've lived in Astoria (NW Oregon coast), Portland (metropolitan concrete jungle) and now live in Bend (high desert and about 75% of the state). My fun trips with my Tundra take me all over and my needs are different depending on where I go, and the travel distances can be daunting, especially if you are not used to the west. I say that because a big lift and mud tires can be great if you don't travel far, but not so great if you want to explore NE Oregon, Snake River Canyon or the Owyhee. You mention that you are interested in a lift and have a budget of $2000. You should be able to pull that off easily with lots of options out there. I won't bore you with my opinion. Obviously, if you are good with a wrench you can save money, or do more, by purchasing and installing yourself. About 50% of the cost, fairly goes to the installer. Keep in mind, that most installers are selling you what they can purchase and make best profit on.

Consider this though. You are moving to a new state, a new community and I dare say, a new climate. Your needs and wants may change after you get here. I say this not out of sage advice, but from the perspective of someone who has experienced similar. That truck of yours is gorgeous as is. Consider arriving here in Oregon, scout out the territory, find your space and then use your newfound experience to decide where your money and effort may be better spent. For example, if you are at the coast, you may be tempted by surfing, fishing, kayaking. If you are in the Willamette Valley, you might want to golf or 4 wheel in a cart. If in central and eastern Oregon, you might be tempted by mountain biking, skiing, hunting or ADV motorbiking. This state has outdoor adventures galore.

As is, it looks like you truck can easily make the trip here, then do just fine browsing and exploring the state. And, most of us need our trucks to be a daily driver. Moderation in all things.

 

Like everyone else said, the best bang for buck is the bilstein 6112 front and 5160 rear shocks. Can get for $730-850 on ebay assembled, offers up to 2.5" lift iirc. Your savings will easily be spent on other mods

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! You probably know this already, since you have driven the truck a little, but be careful. Driving a truck is not like driving a car. It weighs more and has a higher center of gravity, which affects handling and braking ability. Lifting it will only make for a higher center of gravity, which could get dangerous if you don't understand the effect on how your truck moves during driving.

I agree with @TelemarkTumalo. Especially with a limited budget. Don't do anything unless you know you need it for the driving you will be doing. The Tundra is very capable with its stock design. You may well find that you can find better uses for that $2000.

 

this^

 

This is the wayyyyy.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/guide-different-types-of-lifts.546/

 

Hey I really appreciate your sage advice! I actually grew up on the Oregon Coast and am doing everything I can to get back. Because Of my work I can only move to Eugene or Portland, and I really have no interest in living in Portland (it's lovely, just not for me) so I'm looking to moving to eugene hopefully soon. I'm just looking for a setup that will allow me to get up to the mountains and snowboard in the winter and maybe take to the dunes / offroading occasionally. Obviously the lift isn't really needed for either.... but I want it. lol. Anyways really just wanted to say thanks for the warm welcome! Hopefully we can be neighbors soon!

 

But I see all these other sexy lifted Tundras and I want to be one of the cool kids.

 

No doubt about it, Tundras look great lifted or leveled. I hope your plans for moving back to Oregon work out for you. I moved here 28 years ago, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. Keep us posted on your truck build.

 

1. call wheelers off road in OR.
2. buy what they tell you to for a budget 3/2 lift (prob the bilsteins already mentioned, no diff drop, prob a spacer for drivers side).
3. mention the forum, get a discount.
4. borrow a jack, jack stands, a large metric socket set, and a torque wrench. better yet, throw it all in your truck, and take it along with some beer to a buddy who has said tools, and wrench away.
5. or, watch a youtube video or two for easy step by step instructions. if you can follow instructions on the back of a mac n cheese box, you can install assembled coilovers and rear shocks/shackles/add-a-leafs with a youtube video.
6. you are now a MAN who drives a damn TRUCK. you can DO STUFF. buy more tools to take home in your truck to do more stuff (this is at least 53% of the reason to own a truck).

and welcome to the forum.

 

Just a little update: Got the rear shocks installed this morning, waiting for the shackle to ship to do those. I'll probably let a shop do the coilovers up front, I watched some videos and it seems pretty labor intensive, and it's just me doing it. I tried to get my wife to help get the rears aligned for the bolt and it was easier to just use a screwdriver and a jack.

You guys got any good recommendations for tires and rims that will fit nicely with the new lift? Let me know.

https://imgur.com/a/M9KCQHi

 

Welcome from the Wasatch Front.