From the factory, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma comes with tires no larger than 33 inches for the rock-crawling Trailhunter and dune-bashing TRD Pro. 33-inch rubber is optional on the TRD Off-Road, which is – without a shadow of a doubt – the sweetest spot in the fourth generation's lineup.
However, what if you own an SR5 and you want to fit 33s or 35s without spending a ton of money? That's where Rough Country enters the scene with a 3.5-inch lift kit. Before going any further, it should be mentioned that said lift kit does not fit models with rear leaf springs, TRD models with TRD Off-Road Suspension (a.k.a. Bilstein reservoir struts), the TRD Pro (features TRD-tuned Fox suspension), and the Trailhunter (Old Man Emu suspension).
Priced at $799.95 with free shopping at the moment of reporting, the Rough Country lift kit is a bolt-on affair that requires no drilling or cutting at all. It comprises all necessary hardware, Premium N3 shock absorbers, coil spring spacers, bump stops, sway bar drop brackets, a track bar bracket, a brake line relocation bracket, upper control arms, strut extensions, pre-load spacers, and strut shims.
Rough Country advertises it with an installation time of three to four hours, provided that you know what you're doing and that you have the right tools for the job. Think strut compressor, a jack and jack stands, 10- to 36-millimeter and 1/2- to 9/16-inch sockets or combination wrenches, a hammer, and – of course – pliers. After installation, remember to perform a steering sweep and do an alignment.
The off-road accessories manufacturer from Tennessee also recommends adjusting the headlights and retorquing all fasteners after 500 miles (a little over 800 kilometers) of driving. After that, every 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). Rough Country further claims that a qualified mechanic should inspect driveline and suspension systems at least every 3,000 miles (circa 5,000 kilometers).
Photo: Rough Country
Gaston Garrett II of Rough Country showcases the 3.5-inch lift kit below on a tastefully modified SR5. The i-FORCE 4x4 Double Cab truck is rocking 35- by 12.5-inch rubber shoes with +25-millimeter offset wheels. If you go for 33- by 12.5-inch all-terrain tires, the wheel offset is zero millimeters.
Gaston also claims that 35s with +25-millimeter offset won't result in any rubbing on the street. With the driver-side front wheel on a ramp, it sure looks like those 35-inch tires won't rub against anything even if you turn the steering wheel lock to lock.
The kit's control arms are designed to keep the ball joints at optimum angles in order to minimize wear and tear, whereas the rubber bushings enhance durability. The rear track bar bracket, meanwhile, is designed to recenter the rear axle and correct the roll center as close to factory specification as possible.
For the 2024 model year, the SR5 with the largest cab available and four-wheel drive will set you back $41,895 with the five-foot bed or $42,395 with the sixer. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid inline-four turbo is available to configure as well, but you'll have to start from the TRD Sport rather than the SR5. Including destination charge, the TRD Sport i-FORCE MAX can be yours for a cool $47,795.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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