Best 3” lift for 4Runner under 2k

I recently purchased a 2017 4Runner SR5 and I’m having a tough time picking out a 3” lift! I figured I’d ask some people with experience. The shop that’s doing my lift initially had a rough country 3” lift kit ready for me because I told them I was working with some what of a budget by after doing some research I’m deciding to spend the money up front and go with a legit lift kit. Now they are recommending an icon stage 1 lift. I was also looking at a toytec an arb/ome or possibly a revtek. I’m ignorant to all this stuff so go easy on me! Any feedback would be great and I apologize for the novel I’ve just written lol

 

Stay away from Rough Country, Revtek or any spacer lift if you can. They are not horrible but there are better options out there.

Icon makes a great product but may be overkill depending on how you are planning on using the rig. How do you plan on using it?

Many folks, including myself, piece together lifts utilizing Bilstein 5100 shocks. Below is my standard issue copy and paste explanation that seems to help most folks...

1.Spacers- Not recommend but many folks report they work just fine. They are cheap, but if used off road extensively can cause damage, ride quality will suffer as well.

2. Bilstein 5100 ride height adjustable shocks. You can set the front shocks to gain .85, 1.75, or 2.5 inches of lift using stock coils. At 1.75" lift in front you will be sitting just about level at the fenders, but will have slight reverse rake at the body. If you go to 2.5" you will need to either get lift springs for the rear or spacers. This set up will run you around $400-600. The higher you go the stiffer the ride will be due to preloading the factory coils.

3. Also utilizing 5100 shocks you can get some taller front coil springs to gain lift. Toytec, Wheelers, Old Man Emu make 1.6"-3" lift coils. This will add about $170-$200 to first option. This will make for a better ride due to your are not preloading your factory coil springs. You will also need either spacers or lift springs for the rear $50-$200.

4. Ride height adjustable coilovers. Many different brands to choose from (Icon, Toytec, Fox, King..) but they are all going to run from about $1000-$5000 just for the front. These are a nice option because you can change the ride height while they are installed on the vehicle from 0-3" without removing the entire coilover assembly. This option will also give you the best ride and off road performance. Only drawback to this option is that most of these will need to be rebuilt/serviced every 30k miles or so.

You will also need to take into account that when you do a lift you may need to add some after market upper control arms (UCA's) in order to keep you factory alignment in spec. In general most people can stay within factory specs with stock UCA's as long as you keep the lift under 2.5", but ever vehicle is different and even a 1" lift may require them. They run from $450-$1500 a pair.

 

Wow man thanks for all the info! My rig will be used as a daily driver 90% of the time with an occasional trip off-road. I’m looking more into just getting a complete kit instead of just piecing it together. Just seems easier for me seeing as I don’t have a ton of experience in this department. So i take it icon stage 1 will be overkill seeing as I’m not going to be doing much off-roading. Would the 3” lift toy-tec with 5100 bilstein coilovers make for a comfortable daily driver? I’m mainly concerned with the quality of the ride dropping off so drastically.

 

Sounds like the Toytec lift would be great for your application. If anything it will improve the ride and handling. It will be slightly stiffer but any lift will be, it will help with nose dive while breaking as well. Just remember that kit does not come with upper control arms (UCA's), you may need them after the lift to keep the rig in proper alignment, especially if you are going a full 3". The Light Racing adjustable control arms are quite popular and the lowest price option out there but they are still around $450. Again you may not need them but if you want to "do it right the first time" I would plan on it.

 

Got it, hey man thanks again for all the info, I appreciate you taking your time to help me out. Heading to the shop now to get this all squared away!

 

Very welcome. Let us know how it turns out and post some pics!

 

Definitely will do

 

I have the same issue. How about fox 2.0 Performance Series with or without reservoir Coil over and shocks with or without reservoir? I think the Fox 2.0 without Reservoir with UCA would cost $1500 plus with a complete kit almost the same as toytec Boss kit. I just don't know which is more reliable with the 2. With Fox with Reservoir would cost $2500 and up.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...Though I like Toytec with the looks because of its Red Color options.

Thanks for the tip Brochacho! You're a 4Runner guru. Learning a lot in this forum.

 

They are both reliable. Fox would probably ride and perform better but the I believe the 2.0 is limited to only 2" of lift. The fox's will need to be rebuilt at some point though..that is the way they are designed.

 

So would it look weird if I go for Fox 2.0? I’ve gotten them cheaper with complete set UCA and Icon rear coils. Cheaper than Toytec boss 3” kit.

 

My concern is what is the lift on the rear Icon coils? With only 2"of lift in the front you may have some pretty substantial rake action going on...also what size tires are you planning in running?

 

It’s a 2” rear coil. I have 255/75/17 BFG TA KM2. Eventually I might do same BFG KM 265 or 275/70/17.

 

Will there be an issue if Rear spring is also 2”? I don’t know fox 2.0 set up.

 

It will work but you will be maintaining the factory rake. Most guys whey the lift the also want to level out the front compared to the back. Most folks go with 1" taller front lift to accomplish this.

 

Yes the look I want to make it level or even front and rear. I thought of using leveling kit for now while I'm still under factory warranty for all my shocks. I really do appreciate your time sir.

 

Question related to the Fox 2.0 - understanding that they appear to offer only a 2" front lift, what are your thoughts related to adding a 1" spacer and complimenting that with fox rear struts paired w OME springs (2" lift)? I spoke to 88Rotors Offroad this am and he suggested this set up over a Bilstein 5100 & OME 3/2 lift...

 

I have fox 2.0 and if you want to go 3/2 lift, I highly suggest Bilstein. Fox 2.0 won’t be able to give you 3” unless you get the Fox 2.5. IMO.

 

3/2 isnt all that important to me (though I do like the aesthetics of that stance w 285s). I'm considering a 2/1 (Eibach perhaps) with 275s - ala the PRO. I've gotta decide

 

I went with 285 than 275. 2.5/1.5 you’ll be fine. You might achieve that with fox 2.0.

 

If I lift this runner I’ll either look at fat bobs coilovers or just use ome since I’ve run the old man before with good results

If I was spending big money I’d just go King. I’ve had the nice fox coilovers and they’re not up to par imo. The threads rust easily and being that they’re so fine they’re a lot more annoying to adjust than the nice meaty threads that Kong’s have. I’d also go RR

 

I agree. I have Fox and I noticed the middle thread is brown already because of rust. I should’ve gone King.

 

Exactly. They ride nice but kings rode even better and the finish is far superior. Couple that with easier adjusting and they’re a win win

 

We haven’t lifted our 4runner yet. But, after the Icon lift I put on my Tacoma, we will be more than likely sticking with Icon. May be a little more than some others but man the ride quality in my Tacoma is better than stock. The coilover setup can go to 3 inches but is set at 2.75 to help with not getting too stiff but honestly I believe the ride quality would still be great at 3. I’ve not heard a ton bad about Icon lifts myself.