Need recommendations - ARB bumper

[Firescooby]

Hey guys...thought I'd ask this question instead of taking the chance of getting ass raped on the national board. :D I did search, but found so many things...and many I don't know about.

I've got a 2004 4wd DC, non-TRD with about 34k miles. I'm gonna try to swing getting an ARB bullbar sometime soon I hope. i won't be putting a winch on it any time soon. I'm mostly getting it for deer protection and looks.

Question: How bad is my front end gonna sag with it? What are some affordable options for compensating for that sag?

I already have some droop in the front end since new. I'd like to even it up after the bumper, but may not be able to afford it for awhile. i'm gonna need new tires soon and plan on going to 265/75/16 anyway.

I've seen SAW's, coilovers, etc. I'm pretty dumb when it comes to things like this. I can't really afford to spend $800 on a bumper and then $500+ for suspension upgrades anytime soon.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Paul]

Get some coilovers or deal with the sag....

[Firescooby]

Ok, but this is where I'm stupid.

What are my options for coilovers? Better...what are the most affordable and quality coilovers?

Please...forgive my stupidity.

[GOT COPE?]

Ok, but this is where I'm stupid.

What are my options for coilovers? Better...what are the most affordable and quality coilovers?

Please...forgive my stupidity.



My 882's seem to hold the weight fine, but Id suggest footing for some SAWs the 2.0's. You can get an ARB for $705 shipped I believe and the cheapest SAW's Ive seen were $7-750.

And the SAW's are the least expensive quality coilover that will support the weight of the bumper and eventual winch.

[crawlrunner]

Slide in some cheap, SMALL coil spacers (daystar, revtech etc) untill winch time. Then you will need new springs or coil overs.

[Marshytaco]

I think that no matter what type of lift you put on it, it will sag, eventually, under the weight. My stock suspension didn't hold up long after my ARB and my 882s have eventually sagged as well. The deal with coilovers is that if they do sag, you just crank them up a little bit to compensate for the sag. But, I think that over time, they will all sag.

[link817]

Old man emu 882's w/ N91 struts will be your best bet. They are half the price of coilovers and will give you a bit of added lift. If you don't want any lift but want to level out the truck look at some 881s coils. www.wheelersoffroad.com is a good source to look into. I loved my OME, but when i put that winch in it was to much weight for the setup.

[sploosh]

If you're ever going to put a winch in it you will need coilovers.
I have the Sway-a-way 2.0 coilovers (SAW's) and they work very well. There is no cheap way to put a 100 pound bumper on a Tacoma and not have any sagging. My advice is to not get the ARB till you at least have the $1500 it would take to do it correctly. Then you can put a winch in it whenever you want to.

[KMrunner]

If you are not going to get a winch anytime soon just get some 881 Old Man Emu coils and N91s struts. You should be able to get those for around $300. No need to spend $700+ on a set of coilovers. The 881's should get you where you need to be without breaking your wallet. If you get 882's now you will have to lift the rear. The 881's should level you back out with the addition of the ARB.

[RTaylor]

A popular thing with 4Runners these days is to run Tundra coils on 4Runner/Tacoma struts. I have stock Tundra coils from a 4x4 Double Cab Tundra and I love them. They are thicker wire than the stock coils, not much difference in height. They are soft on the road/trail, they flex really well. They are really cheap to buy them used. Just wanted to throw that out there, I dont know much about Tundra coils on Tacomas.

As far as your bumper goes, throw it on there and let see what you need. Wait a month or so, then price out different coil options. It will probably sag more or less than you anticipate, it seems every truck responds differently.

[Maddog096]

Go all out and do it right. GO for the 'HOES. Oh what that was only me and you want to save some money. I still say do it right the first time, save some more money then get the bumper and coilovers together because like its been said you WILL need coilovers so why waste the more money and buy the cheap shit first. I will of course recommend donahoes but you can always go with SAW's.

[Firescooby]

Thanks for the info guys!!!

[Firescooby]

If you are not going to get a winch anytime soon just get some 881 Old Man Emu coils and N91s struts. You should be able to get those for around $300. No need to spend $700+ on a set of coilovers. The 881's should get you where you need to be without breaking your wallet. If you get 882's now you will have to lift the rear. The 881's should level you back out with the addition of the ARB.

If I get the 882's, how much lift do you think I would gain WITH the ARB? AND what would I need for the rear?

Thanks

[sploosh]

The thing with OME, while they are very good, is that the only difference between the 880, 881, and 882 coils is length. The spring rate is the same on all of them, 500 pounds I believe. So the problem is when you start hanging crap all over your Tacoma and hopping boulders with it that weight just beats the coils into sagging. The coils on the SAW's have a 675 pound weight, plus if they do settle you can readjust them easily. OME kicks ass on a stock truck, but once you start putting stuff on your truck it will make them sag. Then, you can take the whole thing apart and put some trim packers in, whick may or may not level you back out. At least go with 882's if you want the OME.

[sploosh]

If I get the 882's, how much lift do you think I would gain WITH the ARB? AND what would I need for the rear?

Thanks

It depends on engine and cab configuration but saying you have a V6 Xtra cab it can be anywhere from 3" to 2.75". With the ARB it would probably be from 2.75" to 2.5".

Originally Posted by hytenor
interesting but somewhat inaccurate.

6 Cylinder.......880.....881.....882.....15A/B.....Trim Packer
Regular Cab.... .5"......2"........3"........2.5"........... .5"
Extra Cab........5"..... 2"....... 3"....... 2.5"........... .5"
Double Cab...... 5"......2"...... 3"....... 2.5".......... .5"

4 Cylinder...... 880...... 881...... 882...... 15A/B...... Trim Packer
Regular Cab..... 1"...... 2.5"...... 3.5"....... 2.5".......... .5"
Extra Cab......... 1"...... 2.5" ......3.5"....... 2.5"......... .5"
Double Cab....... 1"...... 2.5"...... 3.5" .......2.5"........ .5"

Innitial lift can actually be more, especially on the 2.7s but the coils settle down rather quickly.
The different trucks will NOT get the same amount of lift in the real world. A Dcab weighs quite a bit more than a reg cab so won't get nearly the same amount of lift using the same coils. rear figures are based on nothing in the bed and no camper top. Trim packers are 5mm giving approx. 10mm of extra lift or about 3/8" or less.

real world figures after settling are closer to:
6 Cylinder.......880.....881.....882..... 15A/B.....Trim Packer
Regular Cab.... .5"......2"........3+"........2-2.5"...... .375"
Extra Cab...... .5"....1.5".....2.5-2.75"..... 2-2.5"...... .375"
Double Cab..... .0".... 1-1.5".....2.5"....... 2-2.5"...... .375"

4 Cylinder...... 880...... 881...... 882...... 15A/B.....Trim Packer
Regular Cab..... 1"...... 2.5"...... 3.5"..... 2-2.5"..... .375"
Extra Cab....... .75".... 2" ...... 3.5"..... 2-2.5".... .375"
Double Cab...... .5"..... 2"..... 3" ...... 2-2.5"..... .375"

even these figures will varry with driving style, trail use, addition of winch/bumper, sliders, heavy under-carriage armor, etc.

[KMrunner]

If I get the 882's, how much lift do you think I would gain WITH the ARB? AND what would I need for the rear?

Thanks

Your gonna get 2.5" - 2.75" of lift with the 882's and ARB. For the rear you could just get a procomp add a leaf (exp 13120) but don't forget you will need longer shocks for the rear also.

[sploosh]

ToyTec has some good AAL's made by Alcan and they also sell OME rear shocks too. You may also want to get a longer brake line. I have this set up and it was cheap and works fine.

[GOT COPE?]

Your gonna get 2.5" - 2.75" of lift with the 882's and ARB. For the rear you could just get a procomp add a leaf (exp 13120) but don't forget you will need longer shocks for the rear also.

Is that a long or short AAL?

Fabtech makes a long AAL p# FT205 he can get it $60 shipped for trdparts4u.

[Firescooby]

I think what I'm gonna do is get the 882's and an add-a-leaf. I mat get the bumper first, then the suspension upgrades.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

[sploosh]

Have fun.

[Firescooby]

Have fun.

I hope. I really hope I can avoid the deer before I can get it. I bet within the last 2 months I've had 4 or 5 close calls with the damn things.

[sploosh]

Same here, I work at night out in the back forty of a military base so I am constantly dodging deer, hogs, armadillos, coyotes, you name it.

[Firescooby]

Yeah, my wife has been giving me flack about buying an $800 bumper for my truck. I tried to explain to her that if I hit one now, it's gonna really screw my bumper up. Even though I have a $0 deductiblt, I told her I don't wanna have to do without my truck, then have a truck that's been wrecked. She doesn't fathom how much damage a deer can/will do.

From what I can gather, if the deer doesn't become airborn over the hood, there will be virtually no damage with the bullbar.

[sploosh]

C'mon, you know you just want it because it looks cool. :D

[Firescooby]

C'mon, you know you just want it because it looks cool. :D

Shhhh...she might hear you. She thinks it's "ugly". Of course I said..."yeah...it is, but it'll protect the front end"...LOL. I can't wait to bolt that thing on there. Of course, I gotta buy it first.