New member needs help on lift recommendations, armor for 00 tacoma 4 cylinder

[2000taco]

Im new on here, I have a 2000 tacoma ext cab, 4cyl, stock, and I would like to fix it up. Here are my plans: 5" tuff country sus lift, 3" rough country body lift, 35x12.50x16, ARB front winch bumper, and rock rails. Feel free to comment if you thank I should change anything.


[Edit - Good Times - Thread title updated]

[Lee]

welcome to UY.

You are hitting this button: http://www.ultimateyota.com/smf/Themes/rt_smf_versatility2_lime/images/english/new_poll.gif

When you should be hitting this button: http://www.ultimateyota.com/smf/Themes/rt_smf_versatility2_lime/images/english/new_topic.gif

I took the liberty of removing the useless polls :)

[Lee]

now on to your lift idea, dude you dont need that much lift!! especially body lift!

stick to 2" BL or less, and a 5" sus lift is a little overboard for your cv's. If this is your first foray into lifting a toyota, please do some lengthy research because they don't require what jeeps and other trucks need in terms of lift heights.

i'd recommend a 3" suspension lift, and a 1-2" body lift from 4crawler and 33's. 35's are ok in some cases, but i wouldnt START there.

my advice comes from the perspective of actually wheeling... if this is for looks, the rules are different.

[2000taco]

Thanks lee, Yeah, the truck will mainly be for looks, Ive got a 87 jeep comanche for the rough stuff thats in the shop right now gettin a 4.7 stroker, 1 tons, and 40's. But back to the yota, your right I dont have alot of experience with yotas yet. Im just tired of it being stock I was wanting to fix it up alil. So what in all should i do to clear the 35's and not mess anything up in the long run. Thanks again.

[Lee]

if it's for looks do you really need 35's? youre going to rub unless you DO go the route of a crazy body lift or a sort of ghetto suspension lift... don't forget its not like doing a 3-4" body lift is simply installing pucks, you need steering extension, you need to raise the radiator, worry about brake lines, etc etc etc.

taco's look awesome on nice 33's lifted 3-4", that's the route i'd go, even just for looks.

if you REALLY want 35's you'll probably want to go with the 2-3" bl, the 3-4" suspension lift and you'll probably have some cutting to do to make sure you dont rub too bad.

just keep your cv angles in mind, even if you aren't wheeling, they can be vulnerable.

[2000taco]

I was thankin if I go with the bigger lift would the cv's be my only problem? If so, is there a upgrad for better cv joints? Where can I get them? Thanks

[Lee]

upgrades to cv's are typically a waste of money. you can do a diff drop to help.

your problems would probably show up as you built and drove it... ie you may find your pinion angle is bad (ujoints), your brake lines may be stretched, things like your front bumper which is mounted to the frame, not the body, will remain lower than your body and you will have a gap.... tons of things like that.

that's why keep it reasonable and not putting too much time or money into it makes more sense if it's for looks :)

[2000taco]

Thanks lee your helping me alot, What BL and SL brand would you recomend?

[Lee]

SL.. there are a lot of choices depending on your price range. front: coilovers (like sway a ways) are more expensive, where as something like a spacer lift is cheaper (cornfed). for the rear you could get a more expensive leaf pack or do an add a leaf.

Body lift, imo, there is no better than 4crawler.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Just to chime in as a second voice, I pretty much second everything stated by Lee in your thread. A little research goes a long way. Lifting that high seems like you are in for trouble with your CV's from day one.
I would also look to 3" or so suspension lift, you can go the Old Man EMu route, OME makes some good lifts if you arent going to be really hard on the truck. You can also do a toytec or cornfed spacer lift instead. If it is just for looks I wouldnt go with SAW's (Sway-A-Way) coilovers or antyhying, unless yoi plan on being a little rough with it.
Also, as far as the body lift, I think you can do no better than 4Crawler Body Lifts.

[2000taco]

04 rocko taco, thanks for the reply, it seems like 3" SL is the way to go. As far as price range $1500 is about as much as Id like to put in it for lift. Its a 5 spd 4cyl gearded 4:10 do you think it would pull 33x12.50? thanks

[4Runner202020]

i think he is talking about a 5in rough county bracket lift in which would put no extra stress on your cv's and combined with a 1 or 2in body lift will clear 35's. i had just a 4in suspension lift and cleared 35's with just minor rubbing at the pichweld. now i added a 2in body lift and i dont rub anywhere... hope this helps.

bobby

[2000taco]

4runner202020, yeah I was lookin at the 5" tuff country SL, you thank that will be fine for my cv's and clear 35's. What gears do you recomend? thanks

[4Runner202020]

since you have the 4cyl and manual i would go for 5.29's or 4.88's at the least... and you should clear 35's with that lift on the street and if you offroad and it rubs add a small body lift and you'll be ok.

bobby

[04 Rocko Taco]

Personally, even regearing a 4 cyl 5 speed, I would stick with the 33's if you plan to street it. You can fit 33's on a Taco with 2" of lift....

SO lift it three inches if you want, and if you go with a spacer lift in the front, and either an add a leaf or shackles in the rear, you'll come out a LOT cheaper than 1500.

Also, I would try to stick with a narrower tire, try to go with a 33X10.50 vs the 12.50. This limits the tires you can run, as a lot of manufacturers dont make this size, but it has less rotational mass, and will help a long way in keeping your truck streetable.

[2000taco]

4runner 202020, 04 Rocko Taco, I'd like to say thanks for everything, I belive Ill go with the 5" SL, 35's just because I want it to be noticed, and maby 4:88 gears. As soon as it is done Ill post the pics so yall can check it out. Ill be on here as much as pos so If I can help out in any way I will. Also, 04 Rocko Taco I noticed that your from GA, Well Im form NC not to far away I was wandering if have heard of Uwharrie National Forrest OHV Trails. If so maby one day we can meet up and wheel. Thanks again, 2000taco

[04 Rocko Taco]

DEfinitely heard of Uwharrie. Do you know where Tellico is? Just outside of Murphy?
We are a big even there the weekend of October 17-19. All Toyota's. It is the southeast TTORA Toyota Takeover. You should cruise down in your Taco, check it out.

[2000taco]

Man Ive heard of it but have never been, always wanted to go though. The only down fall is, is that Im currently finishing up a 15 month tour in Iraq and set to be back at my duty station (Fort Carson, CO) at the end of this month, and we dont get to take leave until Nov 1st. I didnt even know that it was goin on, As much as I hate to say it Ill have to set this one out. But, when yall do go take alot of pics, Im sure that yall usualy do anyway. Ill send ya an e-mail then youll have mine and if ya dont mind send me some pics.

How hard is it to install a 5" Tuff Country SL? Reason Im a askin is because Off road LTD in CO is sayin that theyll install it for $2730 after taxs and thats not with my military discount. Do you think thats a good price or should I do it myself? Thanks man.

[4Runner202020]

i live in colorado actually... but ask around and i'm sure you can get a better price. i have never personally installed one and i know they are a pain but i would be willing to help if you wanted to do it yourself. we have a good group of people here that go wheeling a lot too that would help... i have seen pictures of one done in a driveway but i know it was not easy. read up on the instal instructions and see if you think its doable.

here is a good write up of someone doing it in their driveway.

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24410&highlight=bracket+lift+install

bobby

[2000taco]

You live in CO, well how cool is that im sure you know all the off road trails. Well, even if I dont do it myself we'll have to go wheelin or somthin. I do alot of huntin and fishin but have never been out west. My dad is drivin my yota out to CO in a few days itll be there when we land and ill be all over the place tryin to find all the wildlife. But, ill check out the web site and get back with ya on it. It cant be that hard, at least I wouldnt thank so, but we'll see. Thanks man

[2000taco]

I checked out the write up, it looks like alot of cuttin and stuff that you would only have one chance at and if you cut too much or somthin youd be screwed. So what I think ill do is try to find a place that will install for the cheapest. Do you have any recomendations? Thanks for the finding of a write up, that truck looked good he done a good job. What kinda wheels do you think he was a runnin I liked them? Ive been lookin at some that look about the same but I was wanting black bullet holes with the black bead lock and the bolts for the bead lock to be silver that stand out bolt color. Thanks again.

[4Runner202020]

i'm not sure about the wheels if you search around i'm sure you can find them though. and i dont know any places down in the fort carson area but in denver there is a place called high country 4x4 and they do good work. might be on the expencive side though. and there are three places i know of up here in fort collins that do good work too.

bobby

edit: here are some you can call to get quotes.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4RNWN_enUS220US221&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=off+road+shops+in+colorado+springs&spell=1

[Seanz0rz]

i really dont want to see you put on that bracket lift... id much rather you go with longer coils/shocks up front (www.sonoransteel.com) with a diff drop. keep the b/l no higher than 2 inches. you can fit 35's with some trimming. the idea behind wheeling is to get as much ground clearance as possible while retaining as low of a center of gravity as possible. even a spacer is ok. the bracket lift is going to put you up so high, and cost sooooo much money, and i dont think you will be happy with it. wheel for a while and youll want a solid axle up front, or long travel.

please, please skip the bracket lift!

[4Runner202020]

i wish i dod a bracket lift but i didn't have the money... so i decided to go with the most susp. lift i have seen without a bracket lift. i have nearly 4in of lift in the front and wish i would have just gone with a bracket lift... i have not broken anything due to the lift yet. for anything but crazy rock crawling a bracket lift will be fine in my opinion...

bobby