Lift - good or bad?

[gonyosoma]

Bit of a flurry of posts recently, all due to the new 3rd gen acquisition...

It has fitted a 2" Rancho RS5000 suspension lift and a 2" body lift with a kit bought in from the USA.

I didn't buy it particularly for the lift,and am wondering about removing the body lift.

Its mostly just for long family journeys, bit of camping, maybe a bit of greenlaning. But I quite like the ride height.

So - any disadvantages to having the lifts? Worse mpg/safety?

Or any advantages (other than being able to drive over bigger bumps)

And can I fit bigger tyres, and if so, is there any benefit to that??!

I'll try and stop asking stupid questions now.

[Wolfracer]

"The world - discuss..." would be a similarly broad topic...

In a nutshell, there are more disadvantages than advantages. Toyota built them the height they are for a reason.

But then again, who ever listened to logical reason!

[tweak'e]

the old rule of lift as little as possible and as high as you need.
i wouldn't do a body lift unless you needed it to clear tires.
2" suspension lift is fine.
bigger tires are great.

[Kiwisurfing]

the old rule of lift as little as possible and as high as you need.
i wouldn't do a body lift unless you needed it to clear tires.
2" suspension lift is fine.
bigger tires are great.

Ill second that, I have added a 2" suspension and a 2" body lift and 33" tyres to mine over the years, all be it really fun to have it that high its not really a daily driver anymore due to the height and more wallowy around corners at that height (worn shocks partly to blame here though)

As well as some passengers struggling to climb in (short relatives) I am 10 cm from not fitting into some malls and McDonalds drive through, thats what the cars for anyway

[gonyosoma]

OK, OK, maybe it WAS too broad a question...

Ok, lets make it more specific -

Will I get less mpg from the total 4" lift?

Will the 4" lift make the vehicle significantly less safe? (seeing as I'm taking the kiddies round in it)

And if anyone wants to throw in any more thoughts.....

[Wolfracer]

My 3.0 has 4" lift. Running 33's. it doesnt wallow. i take the kids to school and on holiday in it. they are still alive. fuel depends on circumference if tyre not lift.hth!

[Apache]

Bigger tyres will hurt your fuel economy. Bigger tyre = more weight to turn & gearing bolloxed.

However, they do look great!

[gonyosoma]

The plot thickens.....(and moderators...think I posted this in the wrong place and should be in mods..help!)

Ok so been surfing the tinterbob, and indeed this hallowed sites slightly erratic search facility. What did I discover from my homework, to help others on the very beginning of their surf journeys?!

Lifts can cause problems with boots, and having had a shufty underneath, mine look leaky as hell, and one like its pulled loose at one end.
1) is this caused by the suspension lift, the body lift or both?
2) what's the cheapest way to rectify...reverse the body lift, or do something else? (given I'm gonna haves to pay for labour at garage rather than do myself).

Need to find out if my brake load sense has been adjusted, and if the radiator has been moved to avoid any airlock.

Bigger tyres mean you need to bugger about with the gearing of odometers etc otherwise all your readings will be out, and even allowing for that they're still likely to chew more fuel.

So, for all you wise elders out there, how am I doing? And can you help with the above questions.

Mans gotta learn somehow.

[Kiwisurfing]

lifts can cause problems with boots, and having had a shufty underneath, mine look leaky as hell, and one like its pulled loose at one end.

1) is this caused by the suspension lift, the body lift or both?

2) what's the cheapest way to rectify...reverse the body lift, or do something else? (given i'm gonna haves to pay for labour at garage rather than do myself).

3)need to find out if my brake load sense has been adjusted, and if the radiator has been moved to avoid any airlock.

4)bigger tyres mean you need to bugger about with the gearing of odometers etc otherwise all your readings will be out, and even allowing for that they're still likely to chew more fuel.

so, for all you wise elders out there, how am i doing? And can you help with the above questions.

Mans gotta learn somehow.

1:

Suspension lifts cause this if lifted too far leaving cv's on harsh angles during normal driving, remedy is either diff drop, free wheeling hubs or just wind the tortion bars back a little but any lift is going to add some degree of angle to the cv's so easiest option is free wheeling hubs (thats what i did and saves the life of my cv joints)


2:
its not too hard to remove body lift with some help from a mate and a good write up on here, if your gear stick was lengthened (it most likely was as you cant drive without it lengthened after a bodylift) it will need shortening again by cutting and welding, front bumper would have had brackets added so remove these too, rest should lower nicely without too much hastle.


3:
easiest to post a photo of your engine bay to see if rads been lowered, it normally sticks up from the front about an inch and will be flush is lowered, and probbly missing the lower shroud


4:
untill you really change tyre sizes the speedo difference is minimal, i have 33's and 100kmh (about 60mph) on my gps is 94kmh on speedo, or speedo 100kmh is about 107kmh


Were a helpfull bunch here so any problems just keep asking

Pics of your surf are always welcome too (hint hint)

[Apache]

1:

wind the tortion bars back a little

better let him know where they are on his truck.

[legendgamesmaster]

However, they do look great!

wot 'e said!

[Wolfracer]

4: My Odometer is spot on to TomTom on 33's. No rectification. I thought it was common that surfs under read on standard tyres, so adding a few inches actually puts them right?

[Apache]

My speedo was spot on, on 33s too, but I wasn't talking about that gearing. The change of drivetrain gearing hurts performance a little, and fuel economy a little too.

Don't think the rad height on the 3.0 matters wrt airlocks as the filler cap is on the rad.

John, a couple more inches is always good - apparently.

[Wolfracer]

My speedo was spot on, on 33s too, but I wasn't talking about that gearing. The change of drivetrain gearing hurts performance a little, and fuel economy a little too.


Don't think the rad height on the 3.0 matters wrt airlocks as the filler cap is on the rad.

John, a couple more inches is always good - apparently.

true and true...

but Apache.... it's what you do with your extra inches that counts is it not?

[gonyosoma]

better let him know where they are on his truck.

I am wounded