LEVELING KIT HELP

Leveling Kit Recommendations
Need some help/recommendations on what type of leveling kit to go with, just spacers or a loaded strut type.

Not looking for a DIY mod. I’ll be taking it to a shop to have it done but I’d like to have some know how/knowledge so I’m not taken/sold something I really don’t need.

Purpose is to get some nice looking tires. I’m thinking BFG 275/65r/18 KO2s and since I’ll have the leveling kit maybe 275/70s

I have KOs on my Tacoma and absolutely love them, they are QUIET and look AWESOME IMO

Definitely Do NOT Want LOUD NOISY TIRES. I’ve been driving along and a truck will pass me and with my windows closed it will sound like THUNDER as they pass me. I mean Crazy loud…not even sure how they could have a conversation inside the cab with all that racket.

Anyway, this is not a work truck and will not go off-roading. The closest to off-roading it will ever get is if I ever park on the grass. Hahaha

Really appreciate any suggestions on which type/brand of leveling kit you recommend
Thanks

 

https://www.shopcoachbuilder.com/collections/suspension-lifts/products/coachbuilder-strut-coilover-shim-provides-1-00-of-lift

I recently installed these because in the the end I didn’t want to spend money on new shocks when I have new ones. These will not get you perfectly level cause you will still have 3/4 to an inch of rake. But I tow and carry weight in the bed at times so I never wanted it dead level. Personally I think with an inchish of lift and 275/70’s will look great.

 

I did quite a bit of research (mostly on Tundras.com) prior to deciding on the Falcon leveling kit. They have a version for tow/haul that helps stiffen the rear for towing, and another that's just set as-is for those who don't tow a bunch or don't mind some sag while towing. Falcons are definitely more expensive than other options, but they're more likely to provide on-road comfort, which is what I was looking for too.
2007+ TOYOTA TUNDRA | falcon (falconshocks.com)

I found a local installer who's also a dealer, and you likely can as well. There are vendors here on this forum who may be able to help as well. There are plenty of threads - hours and hours of research you can do - pics, opinions, experiences - you're in the right place. If Falcon's aren't right for you, you'll find something that fits your needs.

Good luck, and we'll look forward to pics of your truck when you get it sitting like you like.

[Edit]: If you want to level for the look of it levelled, it's certainly a good look for a Tundra. If you're looking to level just to get the tires under the wheel wells, that size is stock for 18" rims, and you don't need a level.

 

275/70-18 fit on a stock truck, no lift needed. Suggest you skip a spacer lift and do a replacement coil over instead. Good value options are 5100s, 6112, Eibach pro truck lift and OME (old man emu) suspension. Also check out toytec for additional options, they have some good options too.

 

Appreciate all the above comments/suggestions.

I forgot to mention that the truck will have the TRD-Off-Road Package:
TRD-Off-Road Package (Limited) —includes upgraded standard wheels to 18-in. split 5-spoke TRD Off-Road Package alloy wheels and P275/65R18 tires. Includes trail-tuned Bilstein® shock absorbers, engine skid plate, fuel tank skid plate, front tow hooks (on 4x2 models; standard on all 4x4 models), LED headlights with black sport trim and LED fog lights, TRD Off-Road floor mats, and bedside TRD Off-Road decal.

So being that it does already have the trail-tuned blistering shock absorbers, would it be necessary to replace those? Seems like a waste if it already has these shocks installed. I don’t know… if I went with just spacers how would that affect the ride comfort?

Yes the leveling is for the look of the stance of the truck and also to make sure no tire rubbing.

Oh and just some more info…I plan on keeping the stock rims. I really like the look of them so I’m not sure but guessing that 275s are as wide as I could go with these. I like the look of how the rims and the brushed stainless steel steps look together. Toyota did release me a set of the steps they for some reason have on a HOLD and not releasing. Looks like the Squeaky Wheel got the Grease!

 

Think that’s what I got on my Tacoma.

 

Being a brand new truck, skip the spacer lift and install 275/70-18s and call it a day. They fit fine on a stock truck. Here is mine with that tire size. I also have the Off road and some other packages.

 

I have a spacer lift / leveling kit and there is nothing wrong with it, although most members on this site will tell you otherwise.
I have about 50,000 miles on my setup. I go off road every day through ditches and ploughed-over land development job sites etc. and I have never had an issue. The TRD shocks and the Bilstein 5100s that are recommended by many are almost the exact same shock, so I don't see the need to replace them.
Ride quality is not affected by the spacers either, although most members on this site will tell you otherwise. Ride quality is mostly determined by three factors; shocks, springs and tires. By adding the spacers you still have the same shocks and same springs as OEM setup, so nothing has changed. What happens is that people add bigger off-road AT tires that cause the ride to be harder, and then they blame it on the spacers. If the tires are the only thing that changed, then that's what causes a different ride quality.
(I know there is technically a slight geometry change by adding the spacer that could technically impact ride quality, but anyone who could feel that small difference by their butt-feel has a very sensitive butt, so I don't even consider that as a factor in ride quality)

Disclaimer: I am not against upgraded shocks; I am just saying that a lot of the negative information about spacers are not accurate information.

 

Looks great
How’s the noise level on those tires?

 

I’m kinda thinking the same thing. Worst case scenario I’d only be pissing away a couple hundred bucks on spacers if for some reason I didn’t like the way it rode.

Looks like I’m starting to lean more that the spacer way. And that’s if I even do it at all since everyone seems to be in consensus that the tires won’t rub even going to 275/70s

 

They are Wildpeaks, and pretty quiet actually. Dont hear them around town, on interstate there is light hum but I get more sound from wind noise vs the tires.

 

My 1794 has the TRD Off Road package, with those shocks. If I weren't getting the Falcon's, I'd continue to love the Bilstein's. You should be able to put 285's on those wheels, and they should fit the wells no problem. Based on others' advice, the skid plate may rub, but that's a quick fix with an angle grinder or stout pair of pliers.

If it were my truck, I'd avoid a spacer-only level, but take that for the unsolicited free advice it is.

 

I have to respectfully disagree that small spacers such as a .25 (.50 lift) or .50 (1 inch lift) is bad. Anything over that I would absolutely agree. I have ran small spacers on two previous Toyota’s with IFS and have had zero problems with broken shocks, bad alignments, bad tracking on the highway, or ride quality. I ran them for over 60k combined miles and would almost bottom out the shocks daily (3rd world country roads) to make lights in NYC. For a newer DD that isn’t doing REAL off-roading they offer many more pros than cons, again for those size spacers ONLY.

 

Agreed. I installed a 1-3/4" Rough Country spacer lift (front only) on my 2018 and it felt nearly identical to stock suspension. A few months later I installed a 275/70/18 Michellin tire (E rated). It was a little less plush of a ride. I'd do it again. I liked the look of the truck much better after the leveling kit and tires were installed. By the way, this was a 2wd truck and I ended up with a slight rake after the leveling.

 

My question on 285s is: will they fit on my stock rims. Love the stock rims so I don’t know how wide of a tire they can go.

 

Price is also a quarter or less going with spacers. Looking at these 2 just for learning purposes. I’ll call the shop that did the leveling on my Tacoma and see what he says. Plus I’ll find out what kinda shop it really is if he’s really pushing the up sale to new shocks etc.

 

At a local customization shop, the Rough Country 1-3/4" front level cost less than $400 installed (labor / materials / allignment) in Nov. 2020.

 

2021 4x4 crew. I put a 2" level on mine (well a custom shop did), added 275\60\20 Cooper AT and couldn’t be happier. 99% level in my eyes, aggressive without looking like I’m trying to compensate for a "shortcoming" in the male department..

 

Have any pics of your setup?

 

Been drinking and it's FL sprinkling which means 9' of rain a second. Tomorrow morning dude

 

Lol sounds good, drink up!

 

Yep, they'll work fine.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/off...-setups-pics-and-info.95/page-87#post-2407765
Official Tundra Wheel and Tire Setups - Pics and Info | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

Here's what I look like.

 

Spacer lift durability likely depends on how you drive.

 

From watching the above video that makes perfect sense. If I were off roading or traveling on rough/course dirt roads I could see spacers would NOT be appreciate for me.

But in my case the odds of the shock ever bottoming out is slim to none since I won’t ever be off roading. Really appreciate that video because if I were someone whom will be off roading then I would not go with spacers. I’d spend the extra cash and do it right for the conditions.

I guess folks would call my truck a “Gentlemen’s truck” even tho a female will be driving it from to time. No Off-roading or towing it’s just going to be a daily driver and the only off road it will ever see is when I attend the annual fair when all the vehicles park out in a field. Hahaha.

I just love trucks……and muscle cars of course!

 

dude ditch the lift/leveling kit and install some Bilstein 5100 series ride height adjustable shocks. i think its 2nd notch from the top is level. Thats what I have put on my last 2 trucks and never had a problem. the spring compression is the only part i hate... make sure you compress it enough

 

Lots of guys go the spacer route and we don't see them reporting problems. Consider though some pot holes or bridge transitions and speed bumps can have you bottom out just driving at speed on the road.

If went the spacer route I would definitely on a regular basis keep an eye that stem on the shocks that can bend or break.

 

I don't want to argue FOR spacers nor AGAINST new shocks, but as mentioned earlier I have had spacers for the past 50,000 miles and use my truck on land development construction sites daily. I don't have a good picture of real rough terrain, but the below photo, might show some of the ruts from the off-road trucks that I often have to cross sideway or diagonal taking the truck through full articulation of the suspension. Yes, I have longer bump stops to keep the shocks from bottoming out and yes, it slightly limits the articulation, but in 50,000 miles I don't think I have had one occasion where it was a problem. Replacement shocks would not have made my truck any more capable out there.

 

You can drive any way you want, as long as you install the spacer lift correctly, which includes installing the bump stop spacer. The Bilstein 5100 comes with bump stop spacers also, and will also bottom out the adjustable shock at break it if those spacers are not installed. The benefit of the 5100 bump stop spacers is that the 5100 allows more travel so the spacer is smaller than the spacer that comes with a spacer lift, but the point is that the same failure can happen on adjustable 5100s. The answer is in correct installation - then you should not have any problems.

 

Makes sense. Was not aware spacer lifts come with elongated bump stops.