With its projector-beam headlamps and a huge grill, the Toyota Tacoma aims to woo potential customers with its aggressive looks. However, those masculine looks aren’t fully complete until you lift this pickup truck by a few inches. The raised profile which it will then get would be the epitome of virility.
Liked what you have read thus far? Then you need the best lift kit for Toyota Tacoma whose benefits exceed the points we have mentioned above. It will increase your truck’s ground clearance and enhance its ability to operate smoothly on off-road adventures.
That isn’t where the good news end. The lift kits which we have recommended in this article won’t give one benefit (additional tire clearance) at the cost of another (better ground stability). They retain and even enhance both. So there’s no adverse impact on the vehicle’s center of gravity.
Best Lift Kit for Toyota Tacoma
ReadyLift 69-5510 Smart Suspension Technology Lift Kit
The ReadyLift Smart Suspension Technology lift kit offers many features to justify its installation beneath your Toyota Tacoma. Take its front steel strut spacers and a rear lifting add-a-leaf as an example. Both will enable you to install a larger 31-inch tire underneath your vehicle.
Despite transforming your truck into a taller and better looking model, this lift kit will help it retain its factory drive. It will do that by altering your ride to the safest height possible. That means that you won’t have to worry about your vehicle’s safety after installing this kit.
That isn’t where the good news end. Aside from maintaining your factory ride settings, this lift kit won’t cost a lot of money as well. It also comes with an instruction manual and a video to help you with the installation process. What more can you ask for!
Pros
- Allows you to install 31 inch diameter tire
- Maintains factory ride settings
- Transforms your truck into a taller and better looking vehicle
Cons
- Installation is a little bit tricky
ReadyLift 69-5212 Lift Kit
Here’s another lift kit from ReadyLift whose price tag won’t blow a hole in your pocket. It comes with front steel extensions that are one of the strongest on the market. You won’t have to worry about them giving way in the face of rock crawling or heavy-duty lifting.
Apart from withstanding the test of time, the strut extensions are designed such that they align properly with the upper frame mount and the control arm. That is what allows them to give your truck the lift it needs to portray aggressive and masculine looks.
Post-alignment installation will be required with this kit. But that’s what you must expect from a model that allows the fitment of up to 33’’ tires and an 8’’ wide wheel. ReadyLift states that an expert will take between two and three hours to install it.
Pros
- Allows the fitment of up to 33’’ tires
- Has incredibly strong steep upper strut extensions
- Warrantied for 5 years or 60,000 miles
Cons
- Post-alignment installation is necessary
Firestone W217602407 Ride-Rite Kit for Toyota Tacoma 4WD
There are lots of reasons why you might want to install this lift kit beneath your truck. The most important among them is that it’s specifically made for Toyota Tacoma 4WD. Paying for this model would mean that you won’t be going for a lift kit that was designed keeping any other vehicle in mind.
Aside from its specific nature, this lift kit’s ability to level the front of your truck with its rear is also unparalleled. It also excels at stabilizing your truck when it’s fully loaded and gives its load carrying capacity a shot in the arm. These two are features that you generally don’t get from budget lift kits.
To further sweeten the deal, this lift kit is ISO certified and offers an adjustability between 5 and 100 Pascal per square inch. Its package includes air springs, fasteners, upper and lower brackets and all the components that you might need to install this lift kit underneath your 4x4.
Pros
- ISO certified product
- Provides side-to-side and front-to-rear leveling
- Improves load capacity and stability
Cons
- Installation is tedious and time consuming
AIR LIFT 59561 Ride Control Rear Air Spring Kit
Most high-end lift kits that you see on the market cost an arm and a leg. The Air Lift air spring kit is different. It hasn’t let its worth-having features place an upward pressure on its asking price, thereby casting its net wide to attract budget-minded users.
The air springs that this kit uses to lift your vehicle are fully adjustable. You can raise them to the maximum limit when hauling a heavy load or rock crawling. Or you can opt for a more balanced lift when you’re towing a vehicle to or from somewhere. There won’t be any sag or bottoming out.
Other that the features mentioned above, this air spring kit offers a leveling capacity of up to 2000 pounds. It comes with all the instructions you may need for installation and carries a lifetime warranty that may erase all the doubts you may have in your mind about its ruggedness.
Pros
- 2000 pounds leveling capacity
- Eliminates sag and bottoming out
- Warrantied for lifetime
Cons
- Ride might be too stiff for some drivers
Daystar Toyota Tacoma 2.5" Lift Kit
The Daystar Toyota Tacoma 2.5’’ lift kit comes with everything you need to provide your truck with extra clearance. It offers extremely easy installation to let you assemble the lift kit without any help. The components that come in its package are all made of rugged polyurethane and are rugged.
Much to the delight of many among you, this 2.5’’ lift kit won’t force you to replace stock shock springs. It will seamlessly work alongside the stock ones. The lift kit also levels the front of your truck with its rear to eliminate any raking issues that are a common occurrence with most models.
One area where we think this model could have done better is its installation instructions. Its multiple users will agree with our assertion that on some points, the pictorial diagrams didn’t match with the product on the ground. It’s therefore recommended that you pay a mechanic to have it installed.
Pros
- Improves ground clearance
- Allows usage of larger tires
- High-density polyurethane components
Cons
- Vague installation instructions
Supreme Suspensions 3’’ Front Leveling Kit
Supreme Suspensions is one of the most trusted lift kit manufacturers on the market. Models like this 3’’ front leveling kit are the reason why. It features aircraft billet aluminum front strut spacers whose durability is only rivaled by their functionality.
Every product that you’ll find in this kit is precision machined with the latest advancements in metal fabrication technology. All of them are also given a special coating during production. This allows them to withstand the most extreme riding conditions.
Similar to other lift kits from this manufacturer, the 3’’ front leveling kit too is simple to install. You can mount it underneath your truck without using any specialty tools. The kit also includes an easy-to-follow instruction manual that guides through the installation process.
Pros
- Easy bolt-on installation
- Ultra-durable
- Improves axle alignment
Cons
- Installation instructions are not specific to Tacoma
3"F+2"R Leveling Lift Kit Fit for Tacoma
Those of you who are brand conscious might not appreciate the fact that this lift kit doesn’t come from a well-known manufacturer. There isn’t the name of Supreme Suspensions, Daystar or Rough Country behind this model. But that isn’t to say that it is without any merits.
To illustrate this point, start with its safety features. This lift kit is made of aircraft grade aluminum biller and features 12.9 grade solid bolts that make it damage proof in almost all testing conditions. Its powder coating has enhanced its corrosion resistance.
Its rear lift block features cross gusset plate locked design to ensure stronger support than what is provided by other models on the market. Also, with their 9/16 thread pitch and longer length, its leaf springs U bolts assure a wider application.
To further sweeten the deal, its manufacturer has equipped this lift kit with two warranties. The first of them is a 30-day refund warranty while the second is a 24-month replacement warranty for the parts. That means you have nothing to lose if you end up purchasing this unit.
Pros
- Retains factory ride comfort
- Easy and fast installation
- Doesn’t require cutting or welding
Cons
- Unclear directions
MotoFab Lifts 2 inch Front Leveling Lift Kit
Most trucks suffer from a ‘raking’ issue as they roll off the factory floor. This problem lifts the rear of the truck vis-à-vis its front. It doesn’t have any effect whatsoever on the truck’s performance but looks bad to a keen-eyed observer. The MotoFab lift kit resolves this problem.
It does the same by lifting the front of Toyota Tacoma by up to 2 inches. The resulting raise in its height will eliminate the raking problem and balance your truck. But taking care of this problem and enhancing the truck’s looks aren’t the only unique selling points of this model.
Drivers who have installed it state that they were able to do so in less than 2 hours. They didn’t have to do any kind of disassemble any struts or coils. Though the fact that they had prior experience means that those of you who haven’t worked with lift kits before might take long to install it.
On top of the features mentioned above, another thing that sets this model apart from other lift kits in this review is its lifetime warranty. You can easily contact their customer service representatives in case you have any problem with the working of this model.
Pros
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Installation takes about 2, 2 ½ hours
- CNC machined out of billet aluminum
Cons
- None
Performance Accessories Toyota Tacoma 3" Body Lift Kit
If you’re unsure about the terrain you’re going to drive on your next outdoors trip, the Performance Accessories 3’’ body lift kit fits the bill perfectly. This front leveling kit doesn’t discriminate between any terrain, as its extra-tough build helps it become friends with any landscape.
It is capable of providing up to 3 inches of lift and that too without modifying the factory suspension components. This keeps the OEM suspension geometry in check and maintains the ride that your truck had when it first rolled off from the assembly floor.
Aside from that, its mini pack plated are powder coated to keep rust and corrosion at bay. Similar protection is on offer to its center bins, extended U bolts, and other hardware. Their high-strength spring steel construction further enhances the ability of these components to last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, despite all its plus points, there’s one area where this kit could have done better. The inflated price tag of this model means that the majority might not be able to afford it. That’s a shame once one considers that this model has (nearly) everything what you can look for in a Toyota Takoma lift kit.
Pros
- Keeps the C of G lower
- Won’t alter OEM suspension geometry
- Allows use of larger tires
Cons
- Pretty expensive
ReadyLift 66-5001 1" Rear Block leveling Kit
Some of you might be thinking that this product has been included in this review by mistake. After all you came here for a lift kit but this one is a leveling kit. Surely then there must have been a mistake. Let us disappoint you by stating that that’s not the case. This product deserves a place in this article.
Wondering why? Because there’s virtually little (if any) difference between lift and leveling kits. Both of them are designed to lift the body of your truck, increase its ground clearance and let you install larger tires. A leveling kit is better in this regard as it involves vehicle’s front-raising hardware.
Having settled this debate, it’s time we look at the specific features of this leveling kit. The most notable among them is its meager installation time. ReadyLift assures that anyone who has a mechanical experience won’t take more than 1 hour to mount it underneath their truck.
Also, while most other models in this review are designed to eliminate rake, this one will put a slight rake back in your truck, thereby making it easy for you to haul and tow things. Also, like all ReadyLift product, this leveling kit too comes with a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Warrantied for lifetime
- Puts the rake back in the truck
- Meager installation time
Cons
- Some users have experienced problems with its hardware
Best Lift Kit for Toyota Tacoma – Buying Guide
Here’s what you should look for when selecting the best lift kit for your Toyota Tacoma:
Type of lift kit
Depending on your driving style and the terrain on which you drive, you have three options when it comes to the type of lift kit. They include suspension lift, body lift and leveling lift. All three types have their good and not-so-good points which we’re going to discuss in this section.
Suspension Lift Kit
Available in three types – spring-over-axle (SOA), shackle reverse and lifted spring – suspension lift kits will increase your pickup truck’s tire clear from both the front and the rear. You can also count on these kits to modify suspension characteristics including travel and angle of control arms.
Provided you’re able to spend more than an average buyer, you can have your suspension lift kit delivered with a host of accessories. You can get control arms, bump stops, transfer case lowering kit, brackets, track bar and brake line brackets by paying extra up front.
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Body Lift Kit
These kits are preferred by drivers who don’t regularly go off on off-road adventures. The operating mechanism of this lift kit is the reason why. Unlike the suspension lift kit that raises both the front and the rear of the vehicle, it only increases the distance between the frame and body of the vehicle.
That’s the main reason why you may see truck drivers using them win combination with another lift kit to fit larger tires. Those of you who are looking for an affordable option to lift your Toyota Tacoma by less than 3 inches might want to go for these kits.
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Leveling Kit
Most truck drivers complain that their model rolled off the showroom or the factory floor with a rake in its suspension. That means that the rear end of their vehicle was sitting above the front. There are a few reasons why that happens, including the weight of the engine, but it is natural.
However, just because the issue is built-in doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. Leveling kits are a proof. They lift the front of the truck just enough for it to sit even with the rear. You can also count on these kits to increase your model’s ground clearance.
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FAQs
Q: What are the benefits of lift kits?
A: One of the unique selling points of lift kits is their ability to enhance the looks of your vehicle. Adding your vehicle, even by a few inches, will add a touch of style to its ride. It will make it look as if your vehicle’s body is hanging in the air, thereby making your ride look huge.
Aside from that, the increased ground clearance and enhanced approach angle that lift kits lend to vehicles increase their off-road performance. They also protect your model’s undercarriage, especially if you’re a rock crawler. And it goes without saying that you can add larger tires after adding a lift kit.
Q: What to consider when buying a lift kit?
A: First things first, the kit should be easy to install. Its installation manual should be written in a language that is easy to decipher for a common driver. Provided you’re looking to install the kit on your own, make sure the kit has a few online videos that can guide you throughout the process.
Secondly, take the conditions in which you’re going to drive into consideration when buying a lift kit. Trucks like Toyota Tacoma generally have a higher center of gravity and therefore require two-to-three inch lift kits, especially if you are a frequent off-roader.
Lastly, most truck manufacturers warn that making any modifications to their vehicle’s design will void the warranty. Lift kits aren’t exempt from this warning. Check with the dealer from whom you purchased your Toyota Tacoma if you are worried about this point.
Q: How can I make my lifted truck ride smoother?
A: There are various things you could do including adding reservoir shocks for vibrations’ relief and installing traction bars, custom leaf springs and coilover shocks for dampening relief.
Conclusion
Apart from being tough and durable, Toyota Tacoma boasts a powerful transmission system and offers great ride quality. Its large cargo bed, driver safety assistance as well as incredible towing capacity are some more reasons why drivers prefer it.
However, if you’re a frequent off-roader or a highway driver eager to attract looks of fellow drivers towards your truck, you have no choice but to install a lift kit. The added height and the increased tire clearance it will give to your Toyota Tacoma will make this truck an eye-candy.