Spacer lift vs. Full lift kit

cowaggon

cowaggon

New member
Hey guys, I'm pretty much a newbie when it comes to getting lifts. I have a 2011 SR5 4x4. I know from all the literature everyone would "recommend" doing a full lift kit vs the spacer lift. I've been doing research lately as I have saved enough for the 285 terra grapplers as well as enough to get a 3/2 spacer lift. I've spoken to a highly recommended offroad shop here in the little rock area and I explained that I'm not going to be doing any sort of rock crawling. The most I use my 4 wheel drive is snow in the winter and getting to my duck blinds in hunting season and hitting a few trails to go camping. I don't need anything beefy and I'm mainly doing it for looks. I know 3" is a pretty big spacer lift but for the price and what I'm looking for it kind of seems like it's the way to go, I already like the way the car rides and handles.

I've done a search and I really haven't found anything in the 5th gen section. Some of the 4th gen guys seem to think it's ok but I wanted to talk to some of you and get your reactions. I guess I could save for the full kit lift but I honestly don't think I'll ever do that kind of wheeling to warrant an extra $1k for something that's just cosmetic to me.
 
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Check out THIS spacer lift. Looks great to me. I may wind up doing this.

Also, read up on using Billstein 5100's over FJ coils. That's a popular option that doesn't seem to be too expensive, especially if you can do it yourself. Which I can't. lol
 
I did see that lift. I was wanting another inch out of my lift. I see that cornfed is making a 3/2 lift for the 5th gen 4runners which intrigues me. He's got pretty good reviews and it's only $220 and I can get the offroad shop to install them for me for $150 so for under $400 I can get a 3" lift.

I didn't want to go with the bilsteins yet until I needed new shocks. That was going to be what I upgraded to when the time came for new shocks. With $800 in tires I need to make sure my plans are actually valid or I'll just be throwing away $400. I think I would really just keep the spacers on until I could put a little money away for a full lift (tax return season)
 
Turn Down - thanks for the props!

cowaggon - cornfed makes some good stuff and they are local to my area. I heard good things from those who have their 3/2 lift. If you go with that, you should invest in a front differential drop ($30 on Toytec.com) to avoid issues from the steeper angle. Also, I agree on 5100's - I plan to upgrade to those as well when the time is needed for some new shocks.
 
I used to rock a revtek spacer lift on my old 3rd gen 4runner... it did everything just fine. I ended up replacing it when the suspension was noticeably fading. I swapped it out for an Old Man Emu set up.

On my current 5th gen I opted for the full adjustable coilover set up out of the gate.

However, Based on what your intentions are and if your looking to save money and get your desired lift... I think the spacer lift would be perfect. I would recommend Toytec. Great guys over there and great products.
 
The spacer lift isn't necessarily a bad way to go. When I first lifted my 2010 SR5 I went with a toytec 3" front spacer and 2" rear toytec coils. The problem I ran into when I lifted my truck that much without replacing the shocks was that any bump, ridge, or pothole in the road caused my truck to thump or thud, which began to make me nervous. I love the lifted look so I went a step further and replaced the rear shocks with bilstein 5125's which made a world of difference in the rear, but I was still experiencing that rough ride in the front. I recently purchased the toytec front coilovers with bilstein 5100's in front. I was told the same thing when I started...do it right the first time or you'll regret it. Well, I don't really regret it, because it was what I could afford at the time and didn't want to wait to distinguish my 4runner from the moms at the grocery store. Just my thoughts. Also, my truck is a daily driver, not a rock crawler.
 
Detroit, do you have any close up pics of your rig without the rocker panels? How does it clean up at the wheel wells? Just curious, it looks good.

Wander, which rims are you using now? The all black ones or the chrome accent ones? What model / size are the all black ones?
 
if you're doing your own install then get spacers for now untill your suspension effs up and you have no choice but to go proper

if you're having a shop install it.. why pay for 2 install and 2 alignment.. do it right or wait till you got the money to do it right
 
Thanks for all the input everyone. The feedback is much appreciated. This is one of the best forums I've ever been on and probably THE most helpful. I think I'm going to start with the spacer lift and run that until it's time for a suspension overhaul. That'll give me the look I'm going for and will give me more time to save 1500 and the bright side is I will already have my tires. The wife is harping me about not getting new tires until we need new tires so I might be waiting until closer to winter and I'll use the winter weather as my excuse but when I get them put on I'll try and get some pics up.
 
because it was what I could afford at the time and didn't want to wait to distinguish my 4runner from the moms at the grocery store.

Exactly what I'm doing now. Getting icon stage 2 installed today. Used the spacers to fit the bigger wheel n tire combo.
As a side note I will be selling my spacers after the install. I have the toytec 3" front and 1.5 spacer for back. I will be posting it in the ads section very soon.
 
Last edited:
What do you recommend?

I am looking to do a 3/2 spacer lift on a 2013 SR5 4Runner. My first option was a RevTek and second was a ToyTec… but the parts dealer at dealership is telling me to do a ProComp lift. From what I have seen on this site, no one has a ProComp lift.

Can you offer your opinion on this? Does anybody have a ProComp lift on their T4R?
 
my $0.2

If you want a spacer lift....just take your pic. You will see plenty of good results on here from the Daystar product.

If you are talking about spending $400, you really should consider my set-up. (4) Bilstein 5100s w/ the front set at the highest setting and then the Daystar 1.5" spacer in the back. Less than $400 and 4 hours of you and a buddy getting to know your truck gets you a much better outcome than a straight spacer lift. Once you decide you want to upgrade (and you will), you can build on the Bilstein set-up with your desired coils for the rear and your desired coils or coil-overs for the front.

If you are looking for the cheapest way out, go with the Daystar KT09134BK

If you can spend a little more, go with the Bilsteins and a spacer for the rear
 
cowaggon said:
I've spoken to a highly recommended offroad shop here in the little rock area and I explained that I'm not going to be doing any sort of rock crawling. The most I use my 4 wheel drive is snow in the winter and getting to my duck blinds in hunting season and hitting a few trails to go camping. I don't need anything beefy and I'm mainly doing it for looks.

I guess I could save for the full kit lift but I honestly don't think I'll ever do that kind of wheeling to warrant an extra $1k for something that's just cosmetic to me.
Click to expand...

If you are serious about that, then get your spacer lift and get off this site.

Seriously, this is how it begins. Before long all the talk about what great off road vehicles T4R's are will lead you try your truck on some harder trails. You will meet somebody local to you and run a few trails together. You will have a good time, but begin to realize some shortcomings. This is good, but if it was only....

And so it begins.

Modding a truck is a lot like getting a tattoo. Nobody has 2 or 3 tattoos. They have 1 tattoo, they have more than 1 and they are planning their next or they're covered in tattoo's from head to toe.

Get your lift and get out or you to will be sucked into the vortex. You've been warned.

David
 
FatTiresRollin said:
If you want a spacer lift....just take your pic. You will see plenty of good results on here from the Daystar product.

If you are talking about spending $400, you really should consider my set-up. (4) Bilstein 5100s w/ the front set at the highest setting and then the Daystar 1.5" spacer in the back. Less than $400 and 4 hours of you and a buddy getting to know your truck gets you a much better outcome than a straight spacer lift. Once you decide you want to upgrade (and you will), you can build on the Bilstein set-up with your desired coils for the rear and your desired coils or coil-overs for the front.

If you are looking for the cheapest way out, go with the Daystar KT09134BK

If you can spend a little more, go with the Bilsteins and a spacer for the rear
Click to expand...

How much lift did you get with this set up? I'm going to do 5100's, but want minimal lift due to "wife factor". I was going to just raise the front and get rid of the rake (1.75 in front; zero in rear), but if I can keep the lift to an inch or two, I old probably get away with it.
 
Snowdogyyz said:
How much lift did you get with this set up? I'm going to do 5100's, but want minimal lift due to "wife factor". I was going to just raise the front and get rid of the rake (1.75 in front; zero in rear), but if I can keep the lift to an inch or two, I old probably get away with it.
Click to expand...

If we are talking numbers, I believe my pre-lift measurements were somewhere around 34-35" up front (ground to top of fender arch) and 36.5" or so in the rear. I was leveled out right at 38" with stock tires after the install.

I think when wives hear you talk about lift, they are thinking about the giant monster truck, redneck looking pick-up trucks rolling around town. 2-3" of lift is noticeable, but not obnoxious. I have "wife issues" as well, and surprisingly she doesn't mind the lift.
 
[MENTION=84527]FatTiresRollin[/MENTION]

Thanks! Haha, now I have something else to chew on. This is a really good suggestion.
 
FatTiresRollin said:
If we are talking numbers, I believe my pre-lift measurements were somewhere around 34-35" up front (ground to top of fender arch) and 36.5" or so in the rear. I was leveled out right at 38" with stock tires after the install.

I think when wives hear you talk about lift, they are thinking about the giant monster truck, redneck looking pick-up trucks rolling around town. 2-3" of lift is noticeable, but not obnoxious. I have "wife issues" as well, and surprisingly she doesn't mind the lift.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That's not too bad. Roughly 1.5" total (once you even out the rake). I had 3" (ICON) on my FJC and she hated it (plus 285's). Wouldn't be too bad for that much lift on the 4runner! Thanks for the info.
 
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