Mr. Wilson....when I was up at AT Overland yesterday, we measured an extended cab tacoma's wheelbase and then measure mine. The wheelbase was the same. I think the flatbed measurement for hauling a fleet is 72 or 78 inches. Its only a foot to a foot and a half longer than the short box currently on it. The guys at AT didn't seem to think it would be a problem. I'm waiting for the final word from them before moving forward. At a minimum, the finch fits nicely in the bed of the truck.....wouldn't mind just a little more space, not too much more though.
The wheel base isn't the problem. It is the center of gravity. The fleet flatbed is very long. The distance from the can to the axle on your truck is very short. There is going to be a lot of weight behind the axle that is going to make the handling much worse.
My 2010 Tacoma has an OME front with the 886 coils (I have ARB bull bar and M8000 Warn with steel cable), Icon UCA's, and Dakar leafs with Bilstein 5100s in the rear. My tires are 285/70 17 on MB "Stryker" wheels. My only complaint is that at the slightest incline and ALL overpasses / hills, the truck down shifts to 4th. It went all the way down to 3rd while crossing the Raton Pass on I25 in Colorado a few weeks ago to keep it at 60-65mph.
I'm getting right at 14.5 MPG. I don't drive it fast, I accelerate like an egg is under the accelerator, and I try to stay below 70-75mph. With the BFG 31x10.50 (which looked funny with the OME lift) I was getting @18mpg. Now that I have the larger Cooper Discover ST Maxx tires (great video from down under on you tube showing them running over a blunt 3 inch metal spike), a 30 inch light bar on top of the bumper, and a Bestop Supertop, the truck is a complete dog... 14.5 mpg is miserable. Even with the supertop folded down I was still in the 14mpg range. I will be regearing to hopefully get back some drivability, and maybe MPGs. Your 6speed may fair better than my automatic, but I think regearing will be the best option for both of our trucks. I'm having lockers installed while the diffs are torn apart and if you're regearing, you might as well have that done too.
BTW, when I saw that giant, oversized spacer under the coil bucket on your truck, I immediately screamed at the computer. Spacers are a no-go unless you're a mall crawler. That stuff is an offroad breakdown waiting to happen. Some on here may not agree with me, and that's fine. I had that crap on mine for a while, although it was only a 2 inch "lift", it rode like garbage. The OME and extended travel UCAs are much better.
What ever you decide, good luck.
Rick
Raton Pass is a pretty good grade and it tops out at 7800 ft, all the stock gas trucks I've driven over it have down shifted and revved quite a bit to maintain 60-65 mph, including our 2015 4Runner. I wouldn't feel too bad about 3rd with your heavy 33" tires and the weight you have added. A couple years ago I test drove a new 2012 Tacoma that was dealer lifted with 33's and the constant hunt between 4th and 5th drove me crazy, I can see where re-gearing would be a great idea on these trucks.
Also are you taking into account the over 6% you increased your tire size from stock (30.6/32.7 = 6.4% assuming stock was 265-70-16)? If not your 14.5 mpg is actually about 15.5 mpg. Still not great but it's something![]()
RSB removed a 6" Fabtech drop bracket lift on his 1st-gen Tacoma and changed the truck over to Icon coilovers; it's documented to some extent here in his build thread: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/36571-RSB-s-Radiant-Red-Tacoma-buildWell the problem is, it isn't as simple as removing a few parts. To install the drop bracket lifts, the normal front differential mounts are cut off to install the brackets. So they will have to be welded/fabricated I believe. You'll need stock 4x4 spindles/knuckles. You'll need shorter rear shocks. The rear lift is probably a tall block, which can be removed, but you'll need new u bolts again.
I've never removed one of these personally but if you look at the Tacoma world forums (I hate referring people there), some people have done it and may be able to offer some hints.