ReadyLift SST 3-inch Lift Kit

While the ReadyLift 3.0-inch SST Suspension Lift System for the 2007-2010 Tundra is NOT the “only” complete lift kit on the market, it certainly does seem as though ReadyLift has thought of everything.

Since the ReadyLift SST kit is designed to both lift and level the truck, the front end is lifted 3″ while the rear is only lifted 1″. The kit includes:

• One-inch lift blocks designed to raise the rear suspension, along with the required U-bolts and hardware that are needed to secure them to the axle.
• Front strut extensions that don’t require a spring compressor to install. Using a combination of increased strut length and spring pre-load, these extensions raise the front end of the Tundra by about 3″ (will vary from vehicle to vehicle).
• A 1″ front differential drop kit designed to preserve the factory CV joint angles as much as possible.

According to ReadyLift, the 3″ SST kit is able to accommodate tire sizes as large as 35 inches, although trimming of the factory skid plate to prevent rubbing. ReadyLift recommends a maximum tire size of 35″ x 12.5″, a maximum wheel width of 9″, and 6″ of back-spacing.

One nice touch with this kit is that ReadyLift designed the rear blocks to fit the exact shape of the Tundra’s spring pack and axle pad, making for a snug, custom fit. Not all kits go to this trouble.

Click here to view the embedded video.

No cutting or drilling is required to install the ReadyLift kit (unless you go with 35″ tires, that is), and as stated above you don’t need a spring compressor to complete install. This means that it’s possible to install this kit at home, only keep in mind that a lot of prying has to be done to get these types of strut extension kits to go together. Because the strut is significantly longer with the extensions, you might need a buddy to help you get the right kind of leverage.

According to the ReadyLift website, a professional shop should take between two and three hours to install the SST kit, so amateurs might want to add at least another two hours to that total. Also, regardless of where it’s installed, don’t forget about having a front-end alignment done once installation is completed.

One final note about installations – ReadyLift provides an almost ten minute long installation video that walks you through the entire process, front and rear, although it does skip the details surrounding the differential and skid plate spacer install.

Toyota's SEMA Brooks and Dunn truck concept used a ReadyLift SST 3" lift kit

Interestingly, ReadyLift mentions that not all Toyota Tundra’s present the same rake, even going so far as to say parking one stock Tundra beside another will often reveal a difference in rear ride height. The company singles out TRD editions of the vehicle as being the most level, but goes on to say that the difference in rake can be as great as one inch. The information accompanies a pitch for another one of ReadyLift’s products designed to level out TRD Tundras, so this could simply be a cause of self promotion combined with a disclaimer should buyers not get the results they are looking for with this kit. However, in terms of ease of install and quality of components, the ReadyLift SST kit looks simple, solid and worth its very reasonable price.

The specs on the ReadyLift SST 3" lift kit

Lift Kit Specs

The kit itself: 3″ in the front, 1″ in the rear. The kit uses powder-coated steel, similar to the Truxxx lift kit we reviewed a couple of years ago. As we have said in our ToyTec lift kit and Low Range Off-Road lift kit reviews, aluminum is probably the best material for lift kits because of aluminum’s light weight and corrosion resistance. Finally, the kit includes 1″ differential drop hardware.

The install process: This is an above-spring spacer kit, which means that install requires a little bit of muscle. However, there’s no need to buy, rent, or borrow a spring compressor. The fact that ReadyLift provides a nearly comprehensive install video is a very nice bonus.

Tires: The SST lift kit will accommodate 35″ tires according to ReadyLift. Very few lift kit companies will guarantee tire fitment like this, but evidently ReadyLift has done the research. Their leveling kit will accommodate 33″ tires instead of 35’s.

Warranty and Pricing: ReadyLift offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects on both the SST lift kit and the less expensive 2″ leveling kit.

The 3″ SST lift kit can be found for $329 on a variety of websites, but considering that AutoAnything offers free shipping, great customer service, and a discount on larger purchases like this, we would recommend buying it from them.

The 2″ ReadyLift leveling kit can be found for a little less than $200 on AutoAnything.com as well.

Bottom Line: The attention to detail seems excellent. The install video is great, the suggested tire size info is precise, and the fact that Toyota used this kit on a concept truck is a strong endorsement. If ReadyLift used aluminum spacers instead of powder coated steel, this kit might be perfect. In any case, the kit is definitely worth considering.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Long travel suspension for 2007 and up Toyota Tundras from Total Chaos

Sometimes, however, you get bitten hard by the rock climbing or desert racing bug and you want to make a more extreme modification to your pickup that will not only help you stand out from the crowd but will also give you a healthy dollop of extra abilities out on the trail. This is where Total Chaos Fabrication steps in. The company, which is known for their hardcore attitude towards pickup truck suspensions, offers a bolt-on long travel suspension kit for the 2007 and up Toyota Tundra.

What exactly is a long travel suspension kit, and how can it improve the performance of your truck off-road? Essentially, the kit significantly alters your vehicle’s suspension system so that it is capable of absorbing more punishing blows when driving off-road. The term “suspension travel” refers to how much each individual wheel can move up and down before it is arrested by the actions of the shock absorber, the spring, or its actual physical dimensions.

Performance driving on the pavement generally favors less travel in order to keep the motions of the car under control. However, when venturing far off the tarmac, the uneven surface off the road requires greater suspension travel in order to prevent a truck from bouncing out of control due to the constant shocks being transmitted through the suspension and chassis. Travel is also useful when negotiating uneven terrain, as the wheels can displace themselves a great deal independently of each other, making it easier to maneuver your truck.

The Total Chaos kit includes upper and lower A-arms, upper and lower uniballs, spacers, extended stainless steel brake lines, and extended tie rods. Using ICON Vehicle Dynamics 2.5 inch coil over shock absorbers (not included) maximizes the amount of travel available from the kit. The Total Chaos system increases wheel travel as much 16 inches, which raises the truck enough for a 35 inch tire to fit comfortably underneath.

Fiberglass front fenders are required with the Total Chaos long travel kit.

Keep in mind, however, that adding one of these kits to your truck isn’t a ‘minor’ modification. The Total Chaos long travel kit also requires the use of fiberglass fenders to accommodate the additional distance the wheels can move up into the truck body. In addition to the fenders, you’ll also need a set of coil-over shocks. If you have a four-wheel drive Tundra, you’ll also need to install extended axle shafts.

The Total Chaos long travel kit for the Toyota Tundra is one of the best ways  for you to give your pickup a lifted “trophy truck” because it also adds extra off-road prowess from improved suspension geometry. With the kit installed, the Tundra sits 3-4″ higher, can fit 35″ wheels, and offers more travel than just about any other lift kit option. Unlike the Pro-Comp stage II Tundra lift kit, there’s no need to cut any frame cross members when you install the Total Chaos kit.

Of course, there’s a catch: This kit doesn’t really come cheap. Without the fenders, coil-overs, or axle shaft extensions, the kit costs about $3,000. This isn’t really out of whack for a kit like this – the Pro-Comp stage II kit runs about the same price. However, when you add in all those required extras (fiberglass fenders, coil-overs, and extended axle shafts), professional paint work and professional installation, it’s conceivable this kit could run $10,000 out the door. Keep in mind we’re making some assumptions about cost here – you’ll want to price this thing yourself.  Still, this Total Chaos kit should be regarded as a premium accessory.

The Total Chaos long travel suspension kit is the real deal.

Bottom Line: This is the real deal off-road kit. 16″ of suspension travel is serious enough for all but the most aggresive off-road adventures. According to many off-road experts, this type of kit is the “right way” to lift a truck and improve off-road performance. While we agree that it’s awesome, we’d like to point out it sure as hell should be considering how much it costs. If you’re serious about off-road performance and you’re looking for a premium kit, the Total Chaos long suspension kit is for you.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

CST offers lift kits for the Toyota Tundra from 2 to 7 inches.

CST, a.k.a. California SuperTrucks, offers a simpler spindle lift kit for Toyota Tundra owners that offers excellent quality without adding in complicated component changes. The CST kits offer up to 7 inches of lift using custom-made spindles for the front end, along with a block and bolt kit for the rear of the vehicle. The spindles are made out of machined sheet steel which is then welded by hand. They are stronger than standard cast iron spindles, and are in fact even stronger than the factory spindles that came with your truck (special deal for TundraHQ readers – see below.)

7 inches is a serious height increase, and the kit includes coil overs to replace the factory shocks. CST also recommends that their custom control arms also be installed in order to reduce stress on the suspension system. 6 to 7 inches of suspension lift allows 35 inch tires to be used, which can definitely improve the off-road grip and capabilities of your pickup.

Note: The spindles are for 2wd trucks only.

CST's 7 inch lift kit allows installation of 35 inch tires

There are other kits available which don’t involve such an extreme height change. CST’s 5.5 inch kit keeps the stock front shocks, while requiring replacement shocks for the rear of the truck and allowing 34 inch tires to clear the body. The 3.5 inch lift kit can be used with either stock shocks all around or custom coil overs, depending on your budget. 33 inch tires are the maximum on your truck’s stock body with this level of ride height. The 3.5 inch kit will also essentially level the Tundra, removing the slight rake that new trucks have.

The advantages of CST’s custom spindle lift kits are that they are simple to install – in most cases less than 6 hours. Not only that, but they allow for a ride that is very close to stock, and they work with a stock specification alignment. This helps remove many of the headaches associated with driving a lifted truck on the street in day-to-day traffic.

One disadvantage of the CST spindle kit is that if you do decide to take advantage of the taller ride to run larger tires, it will be necessary to switch to after market wheels. CST claims that the back space on the stock Toyota wheel will cause larger sidewalls to rub against the spindle. This should be an important part of your overall budget outlook when considering the CST kit.

Special deal for TundraHeadquarters readers – Brad at CST has offered TundraHeadquarters readers special pricing for the month of May, 2009. CST 07-09 Tundra Spindles (part #CSS-T1-1) or CST 07-09 Tundra Coil Overs (part # CSR-3303) will be $900.00 including shipping (continental USA only, that price is per part number). Be sure to USE THIS CODE: THQCST01. This is limited to the first 10 customers, so act fast.

Does anyone have personal experience with the CST kit? Leave your review below!

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

ToyTec lift kits recently announced a brand-new coil-over lift kit for the Tundra. Here are the highlights:

• The kit fits the 2007-and-up Tundra, 2wd or 4wd models.
• The kit includes Bilstein 5100 maintenance-free shocks.
• The amount of lift is fully adjustable – anywhere from no lift to 3.5 inches.
• Since this kit replaces the factory coil-over assembly, there’s no need for a spring compressor. This is truly a bolt-on kit.
• The ride and handling of the Tundra is greatly improved, especially off-road.
• You can level out the lift by purchasing the rear-end lift blocks from ToyTec (not included).

We have yet to review the kit first hand, but ToyTec tells us this kit has greatly improved the handling and ride of all of their test vehicles.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

In fact, we recommend the Low Range kit right alongside the Tundra lift kit from ToyTec. The only difference between the two kits is their basic design – ToyTec favors an in-coil spacer lift design, and Low Range favors an above-coil lift design.

Low Range recently made a couple of updates to their lift kit for the 2007-and-up Tundra, further demonstrating their commitment to providing a top-notch kit. Here’s what they’ve done:

• The spacers have been re-designed to enhance looks. Responding to some customer feedback, Low Range says they’re now a little better looking installed.
• The spacers are still made from 6061 CNC machined aluminum, and still feature the pre-installed studs with flanged Nyloc nuts.

If you’re looking for an above-coil lift kit, we continue to recommend the Low Range off-road lift kit for the Tundra. Their commitment to improving their product and ensuring a completely satisfied customer is second to none.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Check out these photos of a featured Tundra (A Prize-winning Tundra) with a 6″ Pro-comp lift and 35″ tires.

A few after-market wheel companies have come out with larger rims mated to low profile tires that maintain the diameter of the stock package. This is pretty exciting considering the fact that Toyota went with an odd bolt pattern for a half-ton—5 on 150mm. If your favorite roads run to dirt, mud, sand and rocks and you crave the kind of traction gained with monster flotation tires, you’re probably limited to 33-inchers, just about an inch over stock. They’ll do the job just fine, but they lose a little in the gnarly category.

To figure out your max tire size while staying within 10-percent of stock diameter, you have a couple of options. You could simply measure the diameter of the tires on your Tundra and add 10%, but you wouldn’t get the opportunity to use the math you learned in school. The stock tire size for a Tundra is 255/70R18. The 255 represents the width of the tire in millimeters; 70 is the percentage of the sidewall height in relation to the width. Since flotation tires are measured in inches, you have to work the conversion factor into the formula which goes like this:

Tire width (255) divided by a conversion factor (25.4) = width in inches (10.04)

Tire width in inches times percentage (70) = sidewall height in inches (7.03)

Two (2) times sidewall height in inches (7.03) + rim diameter in inches (18) = 32.05 inches overall height of the factory tires.

Hypothetically, you could jump to 35-inch flotation tires and stay within the 10% limit, but since there are some guidelines that recommend staying within 3-percent of factory tire size, conservative tire dealers (read most tire dealers) insist 33-inches is the limit.

Here’s a featured Tundra (Michael’s Trick Doublecab) with a set of 33’s.

There are some downsides to going with bigger tires. First of all, you’ll loose some low-end torque (especially when you go 10% bigger than factory). Fortunately, the Tundra’s 10.5-inch 4.30 ratio is so beefy you could loose a bit of torque and never miss it. Also, a vehicle’s ECU is programmed for shift points, speedometer and odometer readings based on the stock diameter. If you go big, you’re going faster and farther than the system realizes. While most of us can live with misreads on our gauges, you can’t use “I’m over stock diameter, officer” as an excuse to get out of a speeding ticket. Most premium full-sized truck re-programmers will recalibrate all of the above for over-sized tires, but, you guessed it, none have programmers for the Tundra. Hypertech, however, does offer an in-line speedometer calibration unit that plugs in behind your dash and corrects your gauges. If you go bigger than 33” on a new Tundra, it might be wise to invest in one.

If you’re feeling deprived by the lack of wheels on the market (no to mention re-programmers) just stand back and look at how nicely the stock wheel or optional 20-inch rims fill up the Tundra’s wheel well. You’ve got tire options and as more new Tundra’s roll out of the showroom, the aftermarket will eventually catch up.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Low Range Off Road’s kit installed on a 2007 Tundra. Note the level roof line and even front and rear fender gaps.

Starting with the kit itself, we were amazed at the parts quality. While most of the after-market parts we’ve reviewed have been good, the quality of this kit is second to none. Low Range used CNC machined 6061 aluminum for all their spacers – mirroring the ToyTec lift kit we reviewed last year. Aluminum is the logical choice for making a spacer. It’s incredibly strong, it’s light weight, and it’s impervious to corrosion. This is one of the main reasons we like the Low Range kit over the Truxxx kit (which is made from powder coated steel). Aluminum is the best material, and we don’t think you should settle for anything less – especially considering just how inexpensive these kits are becoming.

Close-up of the Low Range Off Road kit front spacer.

The Low Range kit also has precision machining – when you hold the front spacer in your hand, it seems more like something NASA would use than something you install in a pickup. The tolerances are close, the machining looks top notch, and all the parts (like the nuts and bolts) are OEM quality. There’s nothing cheap about this kit. Low Range did something else very smart when they designed this kit – they used metric sized nuts and bolts (just like you have on your truck). It’s nice not having to switch between metric and English when you’re working, so Low Range gets a gold star for that one. Low Range also included a nice set of bolts for your skid plate that don’t fall out of the plate when they’re loose – a nice touch.

Because Low Range used aluminum to make their kit, they were able to include a 3.5 degree taper on the rear blocks. While the angle is very slight, it has the benefit of restoring the factory driveline angle and reducing driveline vibrations. This level of precision isn’t available without using CNC machining, yet another reason to go with aluminum over steel.

Take a look at the front fender gap before (left) and after (right) we installed the kit.

The Low Range kit lifted the front of our test truck exactly 3″ and the back about 1″ (see before and after photos). The truck is level, an inch higher, and according to Low Range it can now accommodate tires as tall as 33″. As we’ve said before, we suspect you might be able to go bigger. In addition to the front and rear spacers, the kit also includes a 1″ differential drop kit to restore the angle of the front axles and ball joints to factory spec.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out the installation video and our new animated logo.

Installing the Low Range kit is very similar to installing the Truxxx kit – the toughest part is getting everything to go back together. Because the strut is a couple inches longer with the spacer attached, there’s a lot of prying involved to get all the bolts back in. It’s a lot of work, and if you’re not careful, it’s a great way to get hurt. If you’re going to do this install yourself, see if you can talk someone into coming over and helping you out (at least when it’s time to get the strut back in). It will save you time and frustration. At least Low Range provides a great set of instructions (13mb pdf) to make installation simpler. Truxxx and ToyTec would do well to copy the instructions Low Range includes with their kit, as they’re full color and they include lots of useful photos.

See the shiny aluminum spacer in the picture in the left, and the shiny aluminum blocks in the picture on the right? That’s all you’ve got to do.

Once again, we’re faced with discussing the positives and negatives of using an above-coil spacer lift kit (like Low Range and Truxxx) vs. using an in-coil spacer lift kit (like ToyTec). We’re not going to dive into this argument here (it’s going to be another post), but suffice to say there’s no evidence that one design is clearly superior to the other (just a lot of opinions). As long as you install the included differential drop kit, your CV and ball joint angles will stay within acceptable limits and your truck’s warranty won’t be endangered in any way.

The pricing of the Low Range kit is reasonable – $299 for front and rear spacers, a differential drop kit, and all the hardware is pretty competitive. Truxxx still lists their steel kit for $367 on their website, which is ridiculous when you compare the quality and materials of the two kits. We suspect that since the TireRack is now selling the Truxxx kit for less than $300, Truxxx will follow suit on their website.

Having said that, even if the Truxxx kit was $250 we’d still recommend the Low Range Off Road kit instead. The quality is much nicer, and spending $50 more for aluminum makes sense when you consider the rust factor. There’s also the fact that most home mechanics will appreciate Low Range’s better instructions and metric bolts. Finally, Low Range Off Road offers a lifetime warranty on their parts – you can’t beat that.

For a limited time, Low Range Off Road has agreed to waive shipping charges for anyone in the continental U.S. as long as you mention TundraHeadquaters.com when you order. If you’re outside the continental U.S., they’ll reduce your shipping accordingly when you mention the website.

Bottom Line: Low Range Off Road’s 3″ lift kit for the Toyota Tundra is top notch – high quality machined aluminum, a well thought-out design that includes a lot of nice touches, and well written directions. The price is competitive, and installing the kit is simple enough for a home mechanic to tackle. We recommend the Low Range Off Road kit over the Truxxx kit because of the higher quality and lower list price.

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Low Range Off Road Lift Kit Specs:

Dimensions: 3″of lift in the front, just about 1″ of lift in the rear.

Install Time: A competent mechanic can install this kit in 1 to 2 hours. Expect a shop to charge 3 hours of labor plus alignment.

Warranty: Low Range Off Road has lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship. Despite what you may hear from your Toyota dealer, installing a lift kit will not impact your Toyota factory warranty. However, you may have to fight with them a little before they honor the warranty.

Pricing: $299.

Special thanks to techs Ryan Prue and Tanner Tilton of Stevinson Toyota East in Aurora, CO for working on this project with us.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

See the ProComp install process.

The big news – the install requires a lot of experience. You’re going to need to cut one of the factory differential supports to get it to go, not to mention a lot of care and effort needs to be taken to get everything together. We’ve said this before about lift kits, but this time we really mean it – it’s probably best to let a professional install the ProComp 6″ kit on your Tundra.

The ProComp 6″ lift kit isn’t cheap – parts run about $2,500 (the stage 2 kit includes coilovers at that price – the stage 1 kit with spacers runs about $1,600). Install will run at least $500, and some installers may charge as much as $1500 (only that should include mounting and balancing a new set of wheels and tires). Speaking of wheels and tires, you’re going to need to upgrade your tires if you want your truck to look halfway decent. Expect to spend another $200-$300 per tire. That brings the total cost of adding a 6″ ProComp lift to at least $3,000 for the Stage I, $4k for the Stage II (installed cost). Of course that will depend a lot on the installer you use, where you buy your parts, and tires you choose. That doesn’t include the cost of upgrading wheels either – they can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars and go up into the thousands. We’re not trying to discourage anyone from buying a ProComp lift, we just want you to know what the costs really are. We’ve seen 6″ lift kits on other trucks, when combined with wheels and tires, cost as much as $8k.

Our suggestion for finding a good installer is always the same – talk to your local Toyota dealer and find out who they would recommend. You should also email some of your local 4×4 clubs and find out if they recommend a particular shop. Buying the parts is easy, but installing them is complex. It’s OK to spend a lot on installation if the installer comes highly recommended. If someone messes this kit up…well, you get the idea.

The great thing about the ProComp kit – it allows you to put some big tires on. ProComp recommends tires sized 35″ by 12.5.” Here’s how that compares to a stock tire:

The angles are a little different, but if you compare the mudflap behind each tire, you’ll see the difference is profound.

With the good – great stance, huge tires, lots of off-road performance – comes the bad. Expect your truck to get somewhere between 12-14mpg if you add this lift. The lift kit disrupts the airflow under the vehicle and negatively effects highway mileage, and the over-sized tires will also reduce your gas mileage because of rolling resistance. The lift will also make climbing in and out of your Tundra even harder – not to mention loading up the bed and hooking up a trailer. Finally, the raised center of gravity increases the risk of rolling your truck. Forget about driving at high speed around tight corners – this kit will slow you down in the curves quite a bit.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a way to distinguish your truck, or if you’re thinking about doing some serious off-roading, the ProComp lift is a great way to go. They’re a trusted brand with a reputation for quality. But, for many, spending $4,000-$5,000 on a lift kit that will ruin the gas mileage, make loading more difficult, and increase roll-over risk doesn’t make much sense. If you’re going to step up to this kit, more power to you. Just make sure you understand the trade-offs.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

Based in Tucson, Arizona, Truxxx started out installing after-market parts for truck owners in the Tucson area before becoming a manufacturer. All Truxxx lift kits are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. The spacers are powder-coated steel, and the nuts and bolts are cadmium plated with serrated flange heads and built-in washers. We dislike the use of steel – it’s heavier than aluminum and the powder coating can be chipped, exposing the spacers to the elements…but this is a minor complaint. Overall, the kit is of good quality.

Before.
After.
Click photos for a larger view.

The Truxxx kit is designed to raise the front of the Tundra 3? and the rear 1?, thus leveling the truck while also increasing the height about 1?. Our test vehicle raised exactly 3″ in the front and just a little bit more than 1″ in the back (see before and after photos). The end result is the lifted truck looks better, is level, and can accommodate a much larger set of wheels and tires. The Truxxx website states the kit can accommodate wheels as tall as 33″, but we suspect you might be able to go bigger. Just make sure that you install the kit before you buy the bigger wheels.

The kit includes 3? spacers for the front, 1? blocks for the rear, and a 1? differential drop kit to restore the angle of the front axles and ball joints to factory spec. Like we’ve said before, we like kits with metal spacers (like Truxxx) instead of polyurethane (like Daystar). Metal kits don’t require re-tightening, and they tend to wear much better (see our Tundra Leveling Kit post for an example of polyurethane gone wrong) over time.

Installing the Truxxx lift kit is in some ways simpler than other kits we’ve seen – the kit doesn’t require the use of a strut compressor because the spacers simply sit on top of the strut rather than inside the strut. That one feature makes this kit much simpler for the home mechanic to install. However, once the spacer is attached to the top of the strut, the strut assembly becomes much longer. In order to re-attach the spindle to the lower ball joint, you’ll need to use a jack on the A-arm or a ratchet assembly (see the install video) to get everything close enough to bolt it together. This step is less complicated than dis-assembling the strut, but that’s not to say it’s necessarily easier. The instructions for the kit also recommend you completely lower the truck to the ground before attempting to reconnect the swaybar. That’s also because of the strut assemblies increased length – you need the weight of the truck to compress the spring so you can get the parts close enough to bolt them together. That being said, you’ll probably need a prybar to get everything bolted up.

Click here to view the embedded video.

While we’re talking about the increased length of the strut assembly, it’s a good time to mention that there’s a negative to having a longer strut. The distance between the upper and lower control arms is increased, and therefore the ball joints and CV axles are at a larger angle. This larger angle will accelerate wear and tear on these parts. The Truxxx kit reduces some of the impact of the increased strut assembly length by including a 1″ differential drop kit, but it’s not a complete fix. The real long-term impact of this change is debatable, but all things being equal a spacer on top of the strut will increase wear and tear on ball joints and CV axles. Of course, the big advantages with this type of design are simpler install (no strut compressor) and better ride (other spacer kits pre-load the spring and reduce ride quality).

Like almost all after market parts we’ve ever installed, we think the instructions for the Truxxx kit could have been better. While the photos were good, the instructions might not be very clear if you’ve never installed a lift kit. Of course, we’re sure a first timer would figure it out. One other issue with this kit, also minor, is that it’s not compatible with the TRD skid plate. The two rear bolts on the TRD skid plate aren’t long enough after the differential is dropped, and Truxxx didn’t provide new bolts to make the TRD skid plate work. We had to order a couple of bolts online. However, Truxxx did provide bolts to re-attach the standard skid plate (which is all most people need anyways).

Pricing the Truxxx kit was interesting. On the Truxxx website, the kit is listed for $367. That’s a lot of money for this kit considering you can buy an aluminum ToyTec Tundra 3″ Lift Kit for $289 (or less). Granted, the ToyTec kit requires a strut compressor (and therefore more expense in installation), but it’s also lighter and it might be better for your ball joints and CV axles. We did find the Truxxx kit on TireRack.com for less than $300, and we’re sure you can find a similar price with a little bit of effort.

Bottom Line: The Truxxx kit does exactly what it’s supposed to – level the truck by raising the front end 3″ and the rear end 1″. This kit seems to be popular with home mechanics, and we think we know why – installing the Truxxx kit is simpler than some other kits because it doesn’t require a strut compressor. Just keep in mind that simpler isn’t necessarily easier, you’ll need to do some prying to get everything to bolt together. The price on the Truxxx website is high, but you can find it for less elsewhere. Check out the price of the Truxxx kit at the TireRack.com. It’s better than you’ll find anywhere else (at least it was when we posted this link).

If you don’t mind spending more on installation, we’d recommend the ToyTec lift kit for the Tundra instead of the Truxxx kit. ToyTec’s kit is made from aluminum, it’s less expensive, and it’s better for your ball joints and CV axles (but how much better is up for debate).

Truxxx 3″ Tundra Lift Kit Specs:

Dimensions: Kit adds 3″ of lift in the front, slightly more than 1″ of lift in the rear.

Install Time: A competent mechanic can install this kit in 1 to 2 hours. Expect a shop to charge 3 hours of labor plus alignment.

Installation Tips: First, get yourself a ratchet strap. That will help you compress the spring a little when you’re trying to re-attach the spindle to the lower ball joint. Second, when you’re installing the differential drop, think about removing the bolts that hold the steering rack in place. You can then put a prybar between the steering rack and the frame and you’ll have some finger room when you’re putting the nuts on the new bolts for the diff drop.

Warranty: Truxxx has lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship. Despite what you may hear from your Toyota dealer, installing a lift kit will not impact your Toyota factory warranty. However, you may have to fight with them a little before they honor the warranty.

Thanks again to master tech Jerrod Jewell and Mountain States Toyota. Jerrod is always a pleasure to work with (and patient with our video demands too), and Mountain States has got the be the best Toyota dealer in Denver. If you want Mountain States to install your lift kit, ask for Fred Karford in the service department.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks

First, they’ve added some machined skid-plate spacers so that the skid plate does not touch the front differential after the diff has been dropped 1″ (the front diff is dropped to preserve the factory axle and ball joint angles).

New skid plate spacers

Second, ToyTec has updated their instructions to be a little more user-friendly. However, ToyTec did remind us that they recommend professional installation due to the specialty parts needed to complete the lift and the benefit that experience will bring to the install. As we’ve said before, for $200-$300 you can the kit installed AND get the truck aligned.

Read our full ToyTec 3″ Tundra Lift Kit Review and our ToyTec 3″ Lift Kit Installation Guide to learn more.

Check out this list of available Toyota Tundra shocks