I just got a US spec 2014 SR5 tacoma, its all stock, for now. This is my first tacoma before I've always rocked jeeps, either wranglers or grand Cherokees. The first thing I wanna do is get more clearance, I'm looking at a 3in front 2in rear leveling kit with 285-75-16 maybe 285-75-17 depending on the tires I'm able to get over in Europe. My question is would I a; be able to clear tires that size with a leveling kit without rubbing and still have room to flex?. b; how much would my mpg be effected going from 245-75-16 to 285-75-17? Down the line I do want to cold a cold air intake and a bully dog chip in it also, but i played around with it this past weekend and found myself bottoming out a little more than I would like. I mainly just do trail overlanding nothing too crazy i.e deep water crossings, huge mud pits, 80 degree climbs etc. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated either on the questions above or any advice on building it up in any way.
need some advice on 2014 SR5 4x4 tacoma build
- Thread starter johnzulu
- Start date
Enthusiast III
I had a 2013 Tacoma with 265 - 75 - 17 and they rubbed - dropped to a 265-70-17 and they rubbed occasionally - with a lift kit same as what you described. One caution if you are thinking of going really big on the profile of your tires for clearance is the need to change the gearing ratio of your differentials. I found the up-sizing to 265-70-17 tires really impacted my shifting profiles (automatic transmission) and overall power ranges. On my 2017 Tacoma I run good quality standard size tires - no impact on power or shifting - just need to be smarter on licking my line on the track. I put on an Old Man Emu lift package front and rear and added air bags for extra weight capacity on the back. Good Luck and great pick for a overland unit!
That's not going to gain you a significant amount of ground clearance as the lift technically does nothing more than allow the larger diameter tire. Stock tires are basically 31", so for every inch larger you will only gain .5" in clearance. So a 35" tire will only get you 2" additional clearance which can be a pretty good amount, but stuffing that size under a Taco requires tubbing fender wells, chopping the cab mount, etc,. I run a 2" OME Lift with 275 70 R 17's and mainly only get rubbing on the inner part of the lower fender valence(or whatever you wanna call it) on my 2013 DCLB Taco. Honestly when I get to the point of wanting more out of my truck, I'll go with a long travel kit and some 35's but more for articulation than clearance. My truck as it sits with a 32.5" tire does very well off-road.
On the cold air and Bully, I would get a snorkel and a K&N filter first. From what I gather, programmers and the like do next to nothing for our trucks unfortunately, and if you're doing a CAI it's still going to be a fender well intake, which is limiting you with a chance of water getting into your filter box. But that's just me. Get some good skids, then ground clearance isn't quite as important because you have much less chance of breakage.
On the cold air and Bully, I would get a snorkel and a K&N filter first. From what I gather, programmers and the like do next to nothing for our trucks unfortunately, and if you're doing a CAI it's still going to be a fender well intake, which is limiting you with a chance of water getting into your filter box. But that's just me. Get some good skids, then ground clearance isn't quite as important because you have much less chance of breakage.
Thanks for the advice. I did a little more looking around and found places that will ship out here. I came up with this lift and tires. With 17x8.5 or 17x9 rims. My budget is around $2000-$2500 for lift, tires and rims. I can get the stt pros here but I've ran the AT3s on so many rigs in the past, it is my daily driver so the tread warranty gives me peace of mind.
http://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-suspension-lift-kit-746-20.html
https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3/p/12964
http://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-suspension-lift-kit-746-20.html
https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3/p/12964
Pathfinder I
285/75r16 or 285/70r17 will rub unless you're close to 3" of lift up front and even then, you'll probably need a cab mount chop and plastic trimming. If your Tacoma is an auto, you will feel a loss of power unless you re-gear the diffs. Also, keep in mind that you'll have to mount 285s on aftermarket wheels with proper offset/backspacing to get the tire away from the factory UCA, or you'll need aftermarket UCAs (or both). Generally, I think the backspacing you want is 4.5 or less (less backspacing means the wheel/tire is further from the UCA). Don't quote me on the 4.5 though.
FWIW - I ran 265/75r16s and factory wheels on my 09 auto Tacoma and had no change in power, no issues with shifting, no noticeable loss in MPG, and no rubbing with a 2" lift.
Rough Country is not know for quality products. The lift you linked is a drop bracket lift that utilizes blocks and drop brackets to lift the vehicle's factory coilovers and leafs. I would stay away from these types of lifts since you'll have to cut and remove your factory cross member and bolt theirs (drop bracket) in place, which is not reversible and not stronger as Rough Country claims. I'd stick to suspension lifts (using new struts/coils and leaf springs to lift). Look at Old Man Emu or even Bilstein 5100/Toytec coils if you're looking for a good budget lift. Also note that over ~2.5" of lift, you need new UCAs to get a proper alignment. So, back to tires; if you want to run 285s, you'll need greater than 2.5", so you'll need new UCAs anyway.
As far as CAIs go, your factory air intake is already a cold air intake (pulls air from the passenger wheel well). I wouldn't mess with it. I had a TRD CAI in mine and it did jack shit other than the WOOOSH sound at full throttle. Also, aftermarket low-flow filters (K&N, TRD, Volant, etc.) will only increase the amount of dirt and dust that makes it to the motor. When I put mine on, my throttle body was spotless. 20k after I installed the CAI, I ended up removing it and going back to stock because I noticed the throttle body was filthy.
You might want to stop by tacomaworld.com before you buy anything. They'll have lots more advice to offer (more coherent than my babble as well).
FWIW - I ran 265/75r16s and factory wheels on my 09 auto Tacoma and had no change in power, no issues with shifting, no noticeable loss in MPG, and no rubbing with a 2" lift.
Rough Country is not know for quality products. The lift you linked is a drop bracket lift that utilizes blocks and drop brackets to lift the vehicle's factory coilovers and leafs. I would stay away from these types of lifts since you'll have to cut and remove your factory cross member and bolt theirs (drop bracket) in place, which is not reversible and not stronger as Rough Country claims. I'd stick to suspension lifts (using new struts/coils and leaf springs to lift). Look at Old Man Emu or even Bilstein 5100/Toytec coils if you're looking for a good budget lift. Also note that over ~2.5" of lift, you need new UCAs to get a proper alignment. So, back to tires; if you want to run 285s, you'll need greater than 2.5", so you'll need new UCAs anyway.
As far as CAIs go, your factory air intake is already a cold air intake (pulls air from the passenger wheel well). I wouldn't mess with it. I had a TRD CAI in mine and it did jack shit other than the WOOOSH sound at full throttle. Also, aftermarket low-flow filters (K&N, TRD, Volant, etc.) will only increase the amount of dirt and dust that makes it to the motor. When I put mine on, my throttle body was spotless. 20k after I installed the CAI, I ended up removing it and going back to stock because I noticed the throttle body was filthy.
You might want to stop by tacomaworld.com before you buy anything. They'll have lots more advice to offer (more coherent than my babble as well).
Thanks for all the info. So I've done more looking around and I don't want to regear the diffs or deal with backspacing. So I found these shocks and going to 265/75/16 at3s. Is rancho known for being able to take a beating? I'll upgrade the skid plates if need be.
Rancho Quicklift leveling Struts + Rear RS5000 Shocks Kit - 05-15 Toyota Tacoma
Sent from my CS40 using OB Talk mobile app
Or this pro comp kit
Pro Comp Suspension K5081BP Stage I Lift Kit
Rancho Quicklift leveling Struts + Rear RS5000 Shocks Kit - 05-15 Toyota Tacoma
Sent from my CS40 using OB Talk mobile app
Or this pro comp kit
Pro Comp Suspension K5081BP Stage I Lift Kit
