A Good Take on Lifting

[Sagebrush]

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[izzy]

These trucks are so capable at stock ride height.

You really don't need to lift them lol
Just get full skids and maybe sliders and hit the dirt.

If you get skids and decent tire AND pick your line offroad and you still run out of clearance you should probably not be sending your daily driver on the trail you're on. Go buy a dedicated wheeling rig, and if all you're gonna do is wheel, a Tacoma (or truck in general) should not anyone's first choice.

Extra 2" won't help you, it'll just complicate your alignment and make your CVs wear faster on the way to Costco

And void your warranty for anything related to suspension parts..

Lifting is purely an aesthetic choice for 99% of owners.

 

[Sagebrush]

You really don't need to lift them...

But what about the malls?

 

[izzy]

All I'm gonna say to the lift crowd is just drive the damn thing, Toyota knows what they're doing.

You will back off an obstacle before the truck will get stuck unless you really don't care about making it home

 

[AspenThicket]

This is true!

I lifted my 2020 TRD OR DC and went with Eibach Stage 1. It was nothing but problems. Several alignments, new UCA's, chopped tires.

After spending more money, I finally settled on Bilstein 6112 and 5160 at.....guess what...only 1.5 inch to clear the tires and accommodate my winch bumper.

My 2025 is gonna stay stock.

Now, I have a friend who is an excellent fabricator who creates off-road vehicles for off-roading and he can make it work, but it takes his fabrication and a lot of money to get the right geometry to not mess things up.

 

[DaPinkCat]

I've had an 87, 19, 22 and now a 23 Tacoma. LIFT IT if you think it's a better looking truck. I only go to borrego once a month, I don't need 6" but it looks great and drive great. Who cares there parts will wear faster or that I get 12.9 a gallon. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. LIFT IT!! (make sure you go somewhere who knows what they're doing)

 

[TacoKiwi]

I've had an 87, 19, 22 and now a 23 Tacoma. LIFT IT if you think it's a better looking truck. I only go to borrego once a month, I don't need 6" but it looks great and drive great. Who cares there parts will wear faster or that I get 12.9 a gallon. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. LIFT IT!! (make sure you go somewhere who knows what they're doing)

I somewhat agree but the biggest thing an independent front system needs is flex. If you own a solid sway bar then find a way to disconnect it as that improves flex a ton more. I am springing for a 6MT TRD OR with the 4.30 gears and have invented a cable operated disconnect because the idiots at Toyota Canada didn’t realise they should have copied the same options available as USA where they offer the sway bar disconnect.

 

[TrailAdventurer]

TCCN puts out consistently great content, and this video is especially valuable for newcomers. The core message is simple and sound:

• Drive your vehicle in stock form before making modifications.
• Don’t make changes without first gaining real-world experience.
• You’ll be surprised by what your vehicle can do as-is.

When I got my first Wrangler, I was amazed at how capable it was once I aired down and hit the trail—more than enough for what most people reasonably need. We eased into overlanding, making upgrades gradually after each big trip. Each outing taught us what truly needed improvement. Five years in, we finally did a lift.

Back then, the peer pressure was all about going to 37s. I drove a couple JKs with 37s and ultimately stuck with 35s—something I’m still glad I did.

One area where I diverge from TCCN’s view: today’s vehicles are engineered for efficiency, not durability.

Lighter, cost-optimized parts often mean compromises in strength. Take ball joints, for example—they are able to be greaseless no-maintenance parts, because they're made with plastic sockets. These wear quickly under aggressive use. Replacing them with high-quality, all-metal joints with zerk fittings significantly improves longevity when properly maintained. Heavier-duty components often provide better road feel and confidence.

On our Wrangler, I bent a stock lower control arm. Since switching to robust aftermarket replacements, we’ve had zero issues. I'm not abusive, I need to drive it home, but I've had no issues since.

Now, with our ‘25 Tacoma (aka "Riddick"), I plan to keep things simple.
Aside from 34” tires and likely spring and brake upgrades as the build evolves, I don’t foresee major suspension changes. That said, I’ll continue to monitor wear closely and upgrade with higher-grade aftermarket parts as needed.

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