A side by side comparison for anyone who ever wanted to see it before they build it! Wish I had seen pics like this a few years ago. Thought it might help everyone out who's building a Taco. (Especially the newbs!)

Both are 97 Tacomas. One has a 3 inch Toytec lift and a 2 inch RB body lift with 33x12.50's on 15x8's. The other has a 6 inch Trailmaster with a 2 inch RB body lift and 35x12.50's on 15x10's.

 

Both sweet trucks but how could you not want the 8" lift after these pics...

The 5" lift looks like a lowered mini truck compared to the other one.

 

Those trucks look nice and I commend you for your hard work on them!

Notice that the truck w/ the bigger tires 35" and more lift 8" has the worst front ground clearance...looks good w/ the trailmaster lift but a waste of money IMO. That is about half way there for a SAS which would give you a "true" lift.

 

I noticed that too. Brian, why is that?

 

OMG, If I did that I wouldn't fit in the garage anymore.

Thems are shure nice rigggs! Tacos are so, so cool.

 

Is that 8" lift just for the looks? I didn't notice this at first, but went back after reading your post.

 

The reason the truck with the Trailmaster lift has less clearance is because the bracket kit lowers the diff, steering, lower a arms, etc. to keep the stock geometry, this will in turn give you a better ride, drive better, and be easier on parts like the cv joints, ball joints, etc.. The truck with the 33's either has spacers, taller coils, or coilovers which simply lift the truck due to taller springs and do not lower anything. This truck probably has a pretty stiff front end as did my old tacoma when I lifted it this way. I would also just spend the money on a solid axle swap.

 

I don't understand why everyone wants an SAS. I mean, I guess it really depends on where you wheel, but, Solid axles have their downfalls too. I personally like IFS much better than a solid axle front end. But, that's just because I'm not turning my daily driver into a rock buggy. Plus, if you're talking about a stiff(er) ride with a Tacoma lifted with coil-overs, imagine how it will be with leaf sprung Solid axle in front...?

Edit: I personally would invest in longer a-arms, longer cv's, and do an all around improvement on the IFS to get more articulation and travel, rather than taking the SAS route. But once again, it IS because of where I go offroad. I just think that SAS shouldn't be glorified so much to where a newb (or anyone for that matter) thinks that's the best option no matter what.

 

I couldn't agree more! But for some reason on the web the mentality is SAS or nothing at all! Personally I think it depends on your actual needs and what the truck is built for, but if you mention anything other than "I'm gettin' my solid axle ready" you're a mall crawler.

 

Not everyone wants to run the rubicon. Stock IFS and built IFS fulfill needs that a SAS can't sometimes, whether it be price or quality of ride.

 

for my wheeling I like IFS. I need something that handles well on road, especially with wife and baby. Plus, I don't want a trail ride and a beater for a commuter. I like driving my 4r. If I break an axle or CV I probably deserve it. I would like an older SA Toyota, but for now it is not neccesary or affordable.

I also like wrenching on my punny IFS myself then beating the piss out of it. That is rewarding

 

I'm with you guys! Like when Brian said I wasted my money because the money I spent was half way to a good solid axle lift......so a reliable, dependable solid axle can be installed and rolling for around $3000 complete?! Not that I'd want it anyway because it doesn't suit my needs, but that's hard to imagine. Every bit of the labor on my truck has been done in my garage by me and my family, but a solid axle swap is more than I want to tackle and how much would labor be? Let alone parts! But again, it still doesn't suit my needs. That's what I love though, it's assumed we all live at Tellico (or we should)!! My truck serves many purposes, but first and foremost it HAS to be my daily driver and dependable.

 

Ummm living at Tellico, what would that be like <day dream begin>


that and I have FZJ-80 envy

 

SAS'ing your rig is cool for sure... Its definetly good for strength. It takes a lot of frigging money and time though.

I got my TM lift for $300, and a SAS would cost over $3000 at least... So I wasn't close to halfway there !

I use my truck for 99% onroad, and I really only go offroading when I go camping in Baja. The IFS is fine down there, and the added height is better for all the washed out roads and occasional frame twisters.

I would rather buy an old SFA Toyota for rock crawling rather than SASing my nice new DD 4runner/Taco !

 

My suspensions cost a way way more than a solid axle swap. But I knew the pros and cons of both setups before I purchased. I think if you research everything all the way before you buy and run through all the possible scenarios and listen to people's experiences, you will be set to make an intelligent choice.

I'm happy with every penny I've spent and my vehichle performs as planned. Now if I tried Sledgehammer in my runner and failed, I wouldn't be disapointed, I know it isn't optimally designed for it.

 

SAS for the following reasons...

you constantly break your IFS parts becasue they can't handle you're gearing/power/torque anymore (if you've got 200 horses, 5.29;s, and dual cases, you are probably at this point, i've seen it in action)

You break IFS occasionally, but you are getting on trails that your dual cased, dual lockered, geared lifted beat up IFS can't get you up

You want a full on buggy that can roll over the toughest trails..

You have a bunch of money to blow, and would like a big project so you can really test your skills as a fabricator and mechanic...



Reasons NOT to SAS...

Some guy on the internet told you IFS was for sissies, or that you can't wheel "properly" with it

You've taken your IFS rig out twice, and it didn't go where you wanted it to, so it must need a SAS, even though you have two open diffs, and stock gearing

You've never broken your IFS junk,

Point being, if you haven't gotten your completely stock truck through some trails on the lower end of difficult, you don't need a SAS, and you need more time behind the wheel on the trail first, Unless you fall into the category of "i've got money, and i really want to try this project", in which case i say, more power to you

 

I basically like the 35's, I want em on my runner...