I'm kinda new to all this 4x4 stuff, so please bear with me. I recently bought a new '08 Toyota Tundra 4x4. I don't typically "go to the mud pit", but on occasion I might need to drive off road for work or to reach a destination in a park or such. Now, I've been told that since I live in Florida, I don't need any lift since we don't have large rocks or ravines to try to navigate, but since I did add nerf bars for looks and to step up into the truck with, I have effectively lowered my clearance by approximately 2-3 inches. I would like to lift my truck for looks and to regain and add some clearance. I was thinking around 2-3 inches, depending on what is available for my truck. I plan on keeping the tires the truck came with (stock Michelins). I have also been told that lifting my truck will change the way my tires wear, lower my gas mileage, affect my alignment, cause all my suspension part to wear out prematurely and all kinds of other not so nice things will happen to my truck. Because of this I have asked my dealer about lifting my truck, just to avoid any warranty issues. They say they can do it, but don't appear to be too confident about it and they tell me that all the lift parts are aftermarket. Can some one please give me some advice on all of the things I have been told, I'm getting a little scared about modifing my truck now. Thanks for all your help.  

the lift won't affect you gas milage, it's the larger tires that will do that. as far as your suspesion wearing out with a lift........it'll wear regardless, that's just the way it is. i don't think a 2" lift will harm anything and beings yer in florida, it might be benificial if you do any runs in marshy areas or if you're outrunning a hurricane (high water.......jk). you can go up a size or two in tires without really affecting your gas milage. it's when you get into tires that're in the 33+ range that you'll see problems. also, with the larger tires like that, you have to consider re-gearing your differentials. i'd get the lift, if the dealer is scaring you, i'm sure there's some offroad shops that will do the work and guarentee their work.  

Alot of lift kits componets wear at a slower rate than most factory suspension componets as well. Most manufactures still use rubber bushings where as most aftermarket companys have moved to poly bushings which last alot longer.  

i think what would be perfect for you would be some 2 inc front coil spacer or if u have some money some king coilovers with the 2  inc lift built in that would be awesome ride, handeling and looks on or off road, with that 2 inc lift you should notice a slighter higer more aggressive stance ur truck will have but belive my you just can't lift it with the stock tires it will look horrible my if you kept the same size with a more aggressize tread it would look better but i reallly sugest a 33 inc tire, it will look perfect, as to suspensions affecting alignment,thats nonsense after the lift is installed you just get a realignment and it should be just like if it was stock, and aftermarket parts are for the most part better than the factory parts  

chariotofmanliness:
the lift won't affect you gas milage, it's the larger tires that will do that. as far as your suspesion wearing out with a lift........it'll wear regardless, that's just the way it is. i don't think a 2" lift will harm anything and beings yer in florida, it might be benificial if you do any runs in marshy areas or if you're outrunning a hurricane (high water.......jk). you can go up a size or two in tires without really affecting your gas milage. it's when you get into tires that're in the 33+ range that you'll see problems. also, with the larger tires like that, you have to consider re-gearing your differentials. i'd get the lift, if the dealer is scaring you, i'm sure there's some offroad shops that will do the work and guarentee their work.

Actually lift does effect MPG as does anything else that effect profile over stock because it increases drag just as bigger tires do and then bigger tires without regearing forces engine to work harder at a lower RPM at same ground speed and make more HP too to overcome added drag and MPG can take a dump.  

true, but i was figureing he's only looking at a 2" lift, so his milage should be roughly the same.  

chariotofmanliness:
true, but i was figureing he's only looking at a 2" lift, so his milage should be roughly the same.

Even with same tires, MPG will likely drop some (even if it is a small amount) due to increased drag and turbulence under truck.  

Actually you didn't lose any "clearance" by adding nerf bars, as the bars are still not the lowest point of your truck(differential housing). Your bars are probably at the same level as your frame, and as far as loss of "clarance" under your sills, you just added a little extra protection that's all. Nerf bars aren't the best sill protectors but they're better than nothing, the one's on my Ranger have saved my sheetmetal a time or two. As far as lift is concerned a 2" lift will not harm a thing as far as driveline issues go. Like SnoMan says you'll lose a little mpg because of drag, but it'll be barely noticeable. If you put bigger tires, regear axles accordingly, you shouldn't need to touch engine or trannie.